DHARAMSHALA: Tibetans in Dharamsala commemorated the International Day in Support of Torture Victims on 26 June. The event was organised under the banner of Tibetan Torture Survivors’ Program of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Health in association with Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, an NGO looking after the welfare of political prisoners of Tibet.
Health Secretary Sonam Choephel Shosur explained the significance of this year’s theme “Right to Rehabilitation” and also emphasised that the rehabilitation support provided by the Tibetan Torture Survivor’s Program is in alignment with the theme.
Gang Lhamo, secretary of Gu Chu Sum and member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, spoke about Tibetans undergoing unimaginable torture in Tibet under the repressive policies of the Chinese government.
Lobsang Yonten, a former political prisoner from Tibet and a retired CTA staff, narrated vivid and riveting accounts torture that he suffered in the Chinese prison.
Live acts and a photo exhibition on various methods of torture employed by the Chinese authorities in Tibet were demonstrated. Voice of America’s new documentary film on self-immolation protests by Tibetans against the Chinese rule, entitled “Fire in the Land of Snow”, was shown during the event.
On the same day, the health department and Kunphen Organisation for Substance Abuse Prevention jointly organised an awareness campaign to observe the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The event was aimed to create awareness about harmful effects of drugs particularly among the youths and to mobilise the community regarding prevention of drug addiction, the health department said.
The organisers distributed to the general public pamphlets, T-shirts, and DVDs of a HIV documentary film produced by the health department. As part of this event, Tibetan schoolchildren and teachers carrying banners with slogans like “Think Health, Not Drugs”, “Drug free Dharamshala” took part in a procession around the main market of Mcleod Ganj. Similar activities were also conducted in Tibetan settlements and schools to mark the day.
