Tibetan students paint to observe International Day for Victims of Torture

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA June 26: Gu-Chu- Sum Movement of Tibet, an organization of former Tibetan political prisoners, marked the International Day for the Victims of Torture by organizing an art competition for the Tibetan students at TCV day school at Mcleod Ganj.

The event began with an interactive discussion with the Tibetan students where the president of the organization Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar candidly chatted with the students on topics such as why Tibetans are in exile, what is a political prisoner and the present situation inside Tibet under China’s repressive rule.

19489346_1568630299848041_56400093_n (1)A short video on three former Tibetan political prisoners was shown to the students wherein the political prisoners narrated in detail why they protested against the Chinese government and their ordeal in the Chinese prison camps.

Around eighty students took part in the art competition titled, ‘Remembering Tibetan Heroes: through the creative visualization of our new generation in exile’. The competition had two categories, one for TCV Day School’s students from class 4-5 and the other for Mewoen Tsuglag Peton Model Schools’s students from class 6-8.

“Our campaigns so far involve only adult and grownups. Today, as we observe the International Day for the Victims of Torture, we wanted to involve the young students in our campaign so that we can understand how aware and informed they are about the plight of Tibet and their feelings. As such we have organized this art contest for them to express their feelings using their creative visualization,” Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar said.

19478171_1568630306514707_650134876_n“In spite of being a UN member, China uses harsh and brutal policies in the name of bringing prosperity and tranquility in Tibet, thereby executing arbitrary detention of Tibetans and subjecting them to horrendous torture. The number of Tibetan political prisoners has increased since Xi Jinping took charge of the communist regime and the situation has turned from bad to worse. On International Day for the Victims of Torture, Gu-Chu- Sum Movement of Tibet highly condemns China for the violation of UN core values and not living up to the bill,” Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar added.

The top three drawings from each category will be awarded a cash prize of INR 1500, 1000 and 500 respectively. In addition, stand out drawings will also be printed on the shirts to further encourage young students. The drawings of the students were put on display at an exhibition following the competition. The organization of former political prisoners of Tibet will wrap up with a candle light vigil in the evening.