Tibetans protest 2008 Beijing Olympics

Tibetans here today held a protest against China hosting the 2008 Olympics, saying Beijing should fulfill its pledge on human rights, or give up hosting the games.

Varanasi, Aug 8 : Tibetans here today held a protest against China hosting the 2008 Olympics, saying Beijing should fulfill its pledge on human rights, or give up hosting the games.

Tibetan protestors said it was ironical that though China has promoted its 2008 Olympics as a message of peace and friendship, it was placing obstacles in Tibet's path to peace and friendship.

"China has no right to host the Olympics after all human rights violations and damage to the environment," said Allen Shastri, leader of the Tibet Liberation Front.

Other protestors echoed Shastri's views.

"Olympics is hosted in such countries where there is development of human rights and fundamental rights. There are no human rights in Tibet and China, and there are lot of economic problem," said Tensing Oliya, a student.

Exiled Tibetans living in India are planning to hold their own Olympics ahead of the Beijing Olympics to draw international community's attention towards their freedom struggle.

The "Tibetan Olympics 2008" scheduled to be held between May15-25, 2008 in Dharamsala. The Tibet Olympic torch is to be carried from New Delhi to Dharamsala.

An estimated 134,000 Tibetans live in-exile, a majority of them in India and Nepal.

The Dalai Lama set up his seat of power in Himachal Pradesh, after he and his followers fled to India in 1959, nine years after China occupied Tibet.

The Dalai Lama says he wants greater autonomy, not independence, for his predominantly Buddhist homeland, but China considers him a separatist and accuses him of continuing to promote Tibetan independence.

ANI