TYC indefinite fast enters day 11, 49th day prayer for kirti monk held

New Delhi, May 5 – As the hunger strike by 3 TYC executives here at Jantar Mantar enters its 11th day today there is a visible sign of deterioration in their health, said the organization’s president Tsewang Rinzin. 

 “Temperature soars above 40 degree Celsius here and the physical condition of the three hunger strikers shows a clear sign of deterioration. It has been ten days since they last ate anything solid. Living only on water in this heat is daunting yet they remain resolute and determined in their endeavour”, said Tsewang. 

 The three executives - Dhondup Lhadar (Vice President), Tenzin Norsang (Joint Secretary) and Konchok Yangphel (Finance Secretary)- had begun the fast on April 25, 2011, in protest against the repression in Tibet’s Kirti monastery as Chinese authorities detained over 300 monks and beat to death two elderly Tibetans on April 21. 

 The TYC demands an immediate withdrawal of the Chinese troops from the Kirti monastery and end to the so-called “Patriotic re-education” campaign being forced onto the monks since past few weeks. 

 The TYC also wants China to allow a delegation of Tibetan Youth Congress to assess the situation of political prisoners inside Tibet. 

 "The continuing siege of Kirti Monastery, kidnapping of over 300 monks and killing of three elderly Tibetan by Chinese army recently is clear violation of human rights of the Tibetan people and I strongly urge the international community to support the Tibetan people,” Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress said at the start of the hunger strike. 

 He further added, “the critical situation in Ngaba, Tibet needs to be addressed by the UN and also in the China-US annual human rights meeting”. 

 Chinese authorities have tightened security and its stranglehold on Ngaba in general and the Kirti monastery in particular since March 16 this year when a Tibetan monk named Phuntsok set himself ablaze in protest against China marking exactly 3 years since the bloody crackdown by Chinese troops on Tibetans of Ngaba in 2008. 

 Monks of the region's most prominent monastery continue to be subjected to "patriotic reeducation" sessions whereby they are forced to denounce the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, sources said.

 Yesterday marked the 49th day since the death of Phunsok, a 20 year-old monk of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County after he immolated self against China’s repression on March 16, 2011. 

 The regional chapters of the Tibetan Youth Coongress al over the world are commemorating the 49th day of Phunstok’s death with prayer offerings and candle light vigils. 

Meanwhile, TYC President Tsewang Rigzin and General Secretary Tenzin Chokey called on Sameer Sheth, Chief of Global Issues unit at the US Embassy. Mr. Sheth expressed his sympathy at the situation in Ngaba and assured that the Tibet issue is a priority for the Embassy of the United States in India and that it closely monitors developments in Tibet as well as in exile. The two handed a letter of appeal to be forwarded to the Honorable Ambassador, Timothy Roemer. 

“We urged the US government’s intervention into the situation in Ngaba,” said Tenzin Chokey. 

TYC is scheduled to meet with the Deputy Head of the Mission and Political Officer of the Delegation of the European Union tomorrow afternoon. 

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