Long time Indian supporter embarks on solitary cycle campaign for Tibet cause

DHARAMSALA, Dec 19: A long time Indian supporter of Tibet has embarked on a two-month long cycle campaign for the cause of Tibet and India’s borders.

Mr Sandesh Meshram, General Secretary of India-Tibet Friendship Society, Nagpur, India who has been associated with the Tibetan struggle since 1986 kick started his solitary campaign titled “Save Tibet Cycle Campaign” from Nagpur on December 10, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Passing through a number of towns in five Indian states (Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), Mr Meshram’s cycle campaign will cover a distance of about 4000 Kms within a span of 50-60 days.

In a statement released in Hindi, Mr Meshram lists the following as aims and objectives of his cycle campaign:

1. To pressure the Chinese government to allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and provide freedom to Tibetans as per the wishes of the Tibetan self-immolators.
2. For early release of all the Tibetan political prisoners languishing in various Chinese jails, including the 11th Panchen Lama Gedun Choekyi Nyima and Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.
3. To allow independent international journalists and delegations from various international youth organizations to assess the real situation in Tibet.
4. To stop Chinese government’s human rights abuse in Tibet.
5. To stop escalation in deployment of atomic-nuclear weapons along Indo-Tibet border as well as India’s north-eastern borders.
6. To get back 40,000 sq miles of Indian soil occupied by China and claims made by Chinese government on Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to be taken seriously by the Indian government.
7. Removal of Chinese army from Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred pilgrimage place for the Indian people.

Mr Meshram, who had participated in hunger strikes, marches and cycle rallies during his 28 years’ association with the Tibetan struggle, urges the Indian government to utilize international platforms to exert pressure on the Chinese government to meet the above mentioned demands. He also urges the Indian government to present His Holiness with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour.

Mr Mesharam further urges the Indian government to take all necessary steps to find a quick resolution to the Tibet issue as it is in India’s interest and also calls on the Indian government to give official recognition to the Tibetan government-in-exile, officially known as Central Tibetan Administration.