20,000 Tibetans Mark Prayers and Fast for Peace in Bylakuppe
Thursday, 4 September 2008, 4:21 p.m.
New Delhi: Some 20,000
Tibetans living in Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe, in south India,
along with members of the regional chapter of Indo-Tibetan Friendship
Society, observed the 12-hour mass prayer and symbolic fasting for
world peace, initiated by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, on 30
August.
The Tibetan Solidarity Committee – convened by the Kashag and
the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile – is leading exile Tibetans’ activities
under its unified leadership based on non-violent and Middle-Way
Approach to bring an immediate end to the ongoing Chinese repression in
Tibet.
Headed jointly by Mr Phuntsok Tsering, representative of
Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe and Mr P.K. Devaiah, president of
Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, the synchronized prayer sessions and
symbolic fasting were held in various monasteries, schools and in the
Tibetan community hall at Bylakuppe.
Starting from 7 am, while observing fast, people prayed for
peace and happiness for the entire humanity and end to suppression of
fundamental human rights of Tibetans in Tibet.
While addressing the gathering, Representative Phuntsok Tsering
read out the Kashags’ statement on the importance of organising the
important non-violent action.
Later, Mr P.K. Devaiah also addressed the gathering and
explained the significance of the event. He explained that the fasting
is mainly aimed to enhance the collective merits of the Tibetan and
Chinese people, and to reinforce their commitments to non-violent
principles in their fight for the truth of Tibet.
He said it also aims to bring relieve to all those Tibetans,
who are suffering under the brutal Chinese oppression and remember
those, who sacrificed their lives in the peaceful demonstrations in
Tibet since 10 March this year.
He further said the action also called for a meaningful
discussion between the Chinese leadership and envoys of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama to bring a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of
Tibet.
The prayers are offered for the long life to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr Devaiah added.
The president of the Rotary Club of Kushalnagar, Rtn Mahesh
Nalwade, accompanied by the secretary and other members, also joined
the fast.
Similarly, the president of the Kushalnagar Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, Mr Rajashekar and all his committee members participated
in the event. Before departing, both the presidents of Rotary and
Chamber of Commerce addressed a large contingent of press, including
electronic and print media.
On 31 August, the national news channel aired a special program
documented on the non-violent campaign and extensive reports were
published in all other local newspapers.
–Report filed by P.K.Devaiah ji, President, Bylakuppe chapter of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society
