People of Himalayan Regions of India hold Peace Rally for Tibet

Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 4:28 p.m.

Lochen Rinpoche (second from right) flanked by local MLAs’ of the Reckong Peo, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh take part in a peace rally in solidarity with Tibetans, in Peo on 26 April 2008

Dharamshala: The members of Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet and the people of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, have submitted a memorandum on Tibet to the Chinese President Hu Jintao, the United Nations’ secretary-general, the prime minister of India and the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.

The petition forwarded on 26 April, strongly support His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s stand of reconciliation and dialogue and appealed to President Hu Jintao to exercise restrain and invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue of Tibet.

A large gathering of around 3000 people congregate after a peace rally in solidarity with Tibetan people, in Peo on 26 April

The members strongly condemn the Chinese government’s inhuman way of handling the recent Tibetan people’s peaceful protests in Tibet and the ongoing rampant human rights violations in Tibet.

They strongly oppose the ban imposed by the Chinese government on the unfettered access of international media to Tibet.

They appealed to the Chinese president to invite an independent fact-finding team from the United Nations to ascertain the causes of demonstrations in Tibet and to allow foreign media to report the current situation.

Lochen Rinpoche leading a peace procession in support of Tibet in Pooh village in Kinnaur, on 3 May

“We also appeal to you to release the Panchen Lama who still in captivity and whose future is uncertain.”

“We the people from the Himalayan region of India shall stand by in support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people until the issue of Tibet is resolved peacefully.”

On the same day, prior to submitting the memoranda, the committee held a peace rally in Reckong Peo, which was attended by some 3000 Tibetan supporters.

Lochen Rinpoche joins a peace march attended by some 3000 people, carried out from Hungrang village to Sumra in Kinnaur on 11 May

On 3 May, a peace procession condemning the Chinese government’s human rights violations in Tibet was carried out from main entrance of Pooh village. The rally gradually gathered strength with the participation of some 250 – 300 people, which culminated at a main Buddhist temple.

While addressing the gathering, Lochen Rinpoche and Geshe Thubten Tshering briefed about the Chinese government’s inhuman treatment of Tibetan people in Tibet. They said the people of Himalayan regions must take the responsibility to support the non-violent stance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in order to urge China to end its repressive policies in Tibet.

Around 3000 3000 people taking part in a peace march from Hungrang village to Sumra in Kinnaur on 11 May

On 11 May, a large peace rally headed by Lochen Rinpoche was carried out from Hungrang village to Sumra in Kinnaur. Around 3000 people took part in the rally.