Indian Tibet Supporters Call For Human Rights in TibetThursday, 11 December 2008, 2:30 p.m.

New Delhi: Commemorating the 60th International Human Rights Day on 10 December, the Indian supporters of Tibet Support groups called on China to respect human rights in Tibet, at a sit in demonstration organised by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause (CGTC), the umbrella organization of all Tibet support groups in India, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.A group of about forty Indian youths from Youth Liberation of Tibet joined the demonstration at 2 p.m., which concluded at 5 p.m. Similar demonstrations and public rallies are being held in other parts of India by the Indian Tibet support groups to condemn the human rights violation by the government, especially the Chinese security agencies inside Tibet. Other leading organizations, including Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India Tibet Friendship Society, Himalaya Committee for Action on Tibet and Youth Liberation Front for Tibet, participated in the event. “At the time of selecting Beijing for 2008 Olympic Games, various international organizations, especially the Olympic Committee has assured the world that this decision would encourage the government of China to improve human rights conditions in China. But we are sad to note that even after the Olympic Games in Beijing, human rights conditions inside Chinese occupied Tibet have, rather, gone from bad to worse,” said Dr. N.K. Trikha, National Convener of  Core Group in his opening speech.Mr Vijay Kranti, national co-convener, said: “The cultural, religious and civilization identity of the Tibetan nation is being totally destroyed. As a result of illegal occupation of Tibet by People’s Republic of China, thousands of Tibetans are condemned to live in exile far away from their homeland. Both of these situations reflect serious denial of human rights to the people of Tibet.”  In his address, the president of BTSM Delhi chapter, Mr. Arvind Garg, said a peaceful resolution to the issue of Tibet would facilitate friendly and peaceful relations between India and China.  The Indian Tibet support groups underlined that the best way forward to resolve the issue of Tibet is by conducting substantive and meaningful negotiation between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the government of People’s Republic of China. Later in the evening, the Indian supporters joined a candle light vigil, led by the students of Tibetan Youth Hostel and Burmese friends.