Tibetans in Dharamshala Protest Against China Over Martyr’s Self-Immolation

Himachal Pradesh: Tibetans in Dharamshala hold protest rally against China

Dharamshala, July 18

Six major Tibetan NGOs, including Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women's Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet - India, and the International Tibet Network, have organised this protest march.

They hold this protest to honour the supreme sacrifice of Martyr Lobga Rangzen, who set himself on fire outside the UN Headquarters in New York and to condemn China's so-called "Ethnic Unity and Progress Law."

The participating organisations also call on the United Nations and the international community to recognise martyr Lobga Rangzen's sacrifice, address the worsening human rights situation in Tibet, reject China's policy of forced assimilation, and support the Tibetan people's right to freedom.

Tenzin Yingsel, project officer, Tibetan Women's Association, told ANI, "Today, the six NGOs have organised this rally and lots of Tibetans have joined this rally. We are starting it from the main Tibetan Temple, Tsuglagkhang, to the Police Ground in lower Dharamsala. We are holding this rally for a call on the governments and especially for the recent self-immolation by Martyr Lobga Rangzen, who set himself on fire outside the UN headquarters just one day after the implementation of the ethnic unity law. So this is a call to the United Nations that his sacrifice should not go unseen, and we want justice."

Tsering Chomphel, president of Tibetan Youth Congress told ANI "the Tibetans in Dharamsala have gathered to participate in the protest and demonstration against the Chinese government, as recently, our brother Lobga Rangzen self immolated in front of United Nations headquarters in New York, so we are here to show our solidarity for the Tibetan people and we urge United Nations to address the issues of Tibetan people and we think that China should take the responsibility of this self immolation."

Tenzin Passang, director of Students for Free Tibet, told ANI, "Today, we are holding this protest march for Martyr Lobga Rangzen who sacrificed his life for the freedom of Tibet. He is the one who ignites the fire in our freedom movement once again... and this protest is also against the ethnic unity law, which is going to eradicate our identity, language, and culture... so we request all of the world leaders to listen and support us."

— ANI