Tibet Signature Campaign Draws Many at WSF
Tibetan monks pray for peace in Tibet at a stall in the World Social Forum (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) |
Mumbai, 20 January: “Tibet is Peace is Tibet” was one of the messages signed by participants as Tibetans at the World Social Forum (WSF) took signatures from participants on a 230 metre long white cloth seeking support to their appeal “Make Tibet a Zone of Peace and Non-Violence.” Thousands of participants thronged to sign and make their voices heard along with other messages calling for the “Release of Panchen Lama”, “Free Tibet, China Go Home” etc.
Yesterday’s statement of Mr. Pema Jungney, the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (www.tibet.net) to the World Parliamentary Forum (WPF) was received warmly by the parliamentarians. Mr. Jungney who was registered to this Forum as a representative of Tibet spent the entire day at the WPF.
A candlelight vigil for world peace was organised by the Tibetans and joined by WSF participants with joy and prayers. Tibetan children again performed at one of the WSF events finishing their cultural show with a Hindi song about the struggle of the Tibetan people.
The Tibetans will attend the closing ceremony of the Intercontinental Youth
Camp this afternoon to show their solidarity with the aspiration of the youths in this world.
The highlight of the Tibetan Delegation’s activity today is the Human Rights briefing at the WSF venue. Noted Buddhist scholar Sulak Sivaraksha from Thailand will release the annual human rights report for the year 2003 of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Dharamsala, northern India.
During the past few days, Tibetan delegates also came across several participants from China and Tibet. The extravagant publications and exhibit materials displayed by two Tibetans from Tibet cast doubts over their claim of belonging to an environment organisation.
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