13th April, 200
NAKED PROTEST BY TIBETAN STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN NEW DELHIImages will be available shortly at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/tibetanstudentprotest/

New Delhi – Outraged by the continuing oppression in Tibet,10 Tibetan students organized a naked protest at the Chinese Embassy against the on-going repression in Tibet and to show their solidarity to the Tibetans inside Tibet who continued to struggle for freedom despite Chinese government's brutal crackdown.10 students stripped and locked themselves on the barbed wire that surrounds the Chinese Embassy. This action took place five days after China sentenced two innocent Tibetans, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, to death for their alleged involvement in last year's protests in Lhasa. Two others, Phuntsok and Kangtsuk, were also sentenced to death but with a two year reprieve, and Dawa Sangpo was sentenced to life imprisonment.“There is an immense crackdown and brutality being imposed on the Tibetan people inside Tibet. Chinese government in their 50 years Occupation of Tibet have failed to respect the values of the Tibetan people.We have lost everything,our home,family,friends,relatives,even our basic rights to live as human Being.We have nothing more to loose” said Dorjee Tsetan, a student of Bylakuppe Tibetan Children's Village School, '' Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak have been sentenced to death without a fair trail, and we call for an immediate stay of execution and an independent inquiry be pursued into their cases.” Another student Rabgyal of the same school said "We have just finished our class 10 and 12th central board examination, and as a Tibetan student we felt it was our moral responsibility to speak out on behalf of those Tibetans inside Tibetan who can't, we have decided to use our vacation positively.To shelve our dignity is the only way we thought we can bring the notice of the world community,which has done little in the last 50 years in supporting us getting back our country ,""My parents were arrested and imprisoned last year for participating in a peaceful protest." said Tsering, "I have no clue about there present condition. I came here to ask the Chinese government to release my parents and all the other innocent Tibetans who were unjustifiably imprisoned for expressing their sufferings."This year marks 50 years of China's Occupation of Tibet. Tibetans both inside Tibet and in exile had to go through an immense suffering of separation. Almost every family in exile have their kins left in Tibet. Most of these student protesters have their home in Tibet. They could not bare the oppression that their family and friends have to suffer each day.“I left Tibet because I was deprived of my right to education, freedom of speech, religion and movement. Thousands of Tibetan children like more cross the Himalayas every year to escape the oppression in Tibet." said Lodoe, “The oppression must end so that Tibetan parents no longer have to part with their children.”He also said “I am thankful to India and the Indian people and this protest is in no way to disrespect the sentiments of the Indian people.For us working non-violently in this way was the last thing we can do.”
-- Tenchoe(Tenzin Choedon)
Program DirectorSFT India