The president Tibetan Association of Washington, Ms Tsering Yuthok and president of the Seattle TYC, Mr Tsultrim Dorjee, recieve the Flame of Truth relay/Tibetan children of the Sunday cultural and language school during the relay

SEATTLE/UDAIPUR: With the tragic self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet continue, the exile Tibetans seek global support to end the Chinese government’s repression in Tibet through the flame of truth relay campaign.

The north America leg of the Flame of Truth relay started from Washington DC, US, and Ottawa, Canada, simultaneously on 2 September. In Canada, the relay travelled through Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver BC and entered Seattle last Saturday (6 October). It will conclude at San Francisco on 10 November after travelling through Portland, Salt lake city, Colorado and Los Angeles.
 
In US, the relay travelled from Washington DC to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Connecticut before arriving in Vermon last Saturday. It will conclude in Minnesota on 3 November after travelling through Ithaca, Chicago and Madison.
 
In an e-mail message to Tibet.Net, Mr Tashi Namgyal, a member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, who is leading the relay campaign, said: “The torch relay led by Mr Tashi Tsetan from Vancouver BC arrived in Seattle with a rousing reception by members of the Tibetan community including children. The relay moved on to Sakya Monastery amid a fleet of cars draped with Tibetan flag.  Tibetan school children sang national anthem and a minute’s silence in memory of all those Tibetans who self-immolated for the cause of Tibet was observed to mark the relay’s arrival at Sakya monastery. Following this, every one signed a petition to be submitted to the United Nations on 10 December.”
 
The Tibetan Association of Washington, Seattle Tibetan Youth Congress  and other Tibetan support groups have planned programmes, including a signature campaigns in down town Seattle and a candle light vigil around green lake, the main attraction of evening hang out for the Seattle folks, on Lhakar day on 10 October.

Clockwise from top left: Mr Karma Yeshi, MP, meeting with Mr Gulab Chand Kataria, Member of State Assembly and members of BJP, Mr A. G. Trivedi, General Secretary of Shanti Peet, Tibetans and Indian supporters taking part in candle light vigil to mark the flame of truth relay in Udaipur

Meanwhile, the flame of truth relay in India led by Mr Karma Yeshi, a member of Tibetan Parliament, has reached the lake city of Udaipur in the western state of Rajasthan.  
 
On 7 October, a day after the relay reached the city, Mr Karma Yeshi addressed a press conference about the worsening human rights situation in Tibet in view of the increasing self-immolations by Tibetans in protest against the continued occupation by the Chinese government. He told reporters that the flame of truth relay campaign had so far covered over 100 regions in 25 states of India.
 
Mr Karma Yeshi led a delegation to seek urgent support from prominent Indians in the city to end the tragic self-immolation incidents in Tibet. The delegation received strong support from A. G. Trivedi, General Secretary of Shanti Peet, Mr Gulab Chand Kataria, former home minister and current Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Ms Kiran Maheshwari, former MP and current MLA.    
 
The relay and a candle light vigil were organised Tibetan Market situated in Samore Bagh yesterday evening this evening. Over 100 Tibetans and Indian friends and supporters joined the rally. In his address, Mr A. G. Trivedi, General Secretary of Shanti Peet, said, the sun will rise again in Tibet and the Tibetan people will one day enjoy their freedom with dignity like any other human being. He expressed his continuous support for and solidarity with the peaceful struggle of Tibetan people. Local senior citizens also joined the rally and expressed their support by signing the Tibet petition.  
 
The flame of truth relay was scheduled to leave Udaipur for Baroda city in Gujarat today.