DHARAMSHALA: Thirty-six students from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (ITCO) are in Dharamshala on a four-day visit organised by India Tibet Coordination Office under the Department of Information and International Relations. The media students’ visit here is part of ITCO’s annual programmes to introduce them about the Tibet issue.

The students are currently pursuing M.A English journalism and have come here to learn about the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet issue, culture and the history of Tibet.

Mr Tsering Wangchuk, the press officer of the Department of Information and International relations, shared a brief history of Tibet and introduced the Middle Way Approach to the students at the Tibetan Community hall at Mcleodganj on their first day of visit today.

Speaking about the border issues he said “Tibet lost its role as a peaceful buffer between India and China following its invasion by the Chinese communist government in 1950. Moreover, in 1954, India signed Panchsheel or Five Principles of Peaceful co-existence with China. These led to Chinese aggression on India in 1962, which has left a festering border conflict between the two countries.”

“India and China must find ways to resolve the problem of Tibet to achieve a lasting solution to their border disputes,” he added.

Following the talk, the students asked many questions regarding how best India could support the Tibetan cause.

Furqan, a student at IIMC, said he was not much aware of Tibetan issue until he learnt about news of Tibetans setting themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government.