DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration, held a prayer service yesterday, in remembrance of the sacrifices made by the peaceful Tibetan demonstrators who took part in the protests of 1989 in Tibet.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, attended the prayer service along with the members of Kashag, Tibetan Parliamentarians, Tibetan Justice Commissioners, Tibetan civil servants, and the local Tibetan community.

“Every year on 8 March, we organise a prayer service to express solidarity and pay our respects to those who have lost their lives during the peaceful demonstrations of 1989. Similarly, we have organised the prayer service this year,” an official from the department of religion and culture said.

Hundreds of peaceful Tibetan demonstrators were killed after Chinese authorities declared martial law on 8 March 1989 and opened indiscriminate firing. The demonstrations began after a group of monks, nuns, and laypeople took to the streets to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day.