Tibetans-in-exile demand China to live up to the Olympics tenets

Fourteen Tibetans, who have been on a hunger strike for over a month, on Tuesday demand the Chinese Government to make human rights a reality, the aim of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as the country moves to host the mega event.

New Delhi, Aug 7 : Fourteen Tibetans, who have been on a hunger strike for over a month, on Tuesday demand the Chinese Government to make human rights a reality, the aim of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as the country moves to host the mega event.

Activists of the Tibetan Youth Congress under the banner of 'The People's Movement' have been on an indefinite hunger strike since July 7 in Delhi to pressurise Beijing to recognise human rights of Tibetans.

"They (striking Tibetans) are seeking a response from the Chinese Government since the 2008 Olympics is coming up now - one year from now - and everyone believes that the Olympic games should be played in a country where human rights are perfect, where every human being has equal opportunity with equal rights, which is not there (in China)," said Tibetan Youth Congress President Kelsang Phuntsuk Godrukpa.

Activists further demanded authentic information about Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama who has been missing since 1995. Chinese authorities have always maintained that he is alive but has never given any proof of it.

Godrukpa further asked Beijing to give a proof of Gendun Choekyi Nyima being alive.

Tibetans living-in-exile in India plan to hold their own Olympics ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to draw international attention towards their freedom struggle.

The Tibet Olympic torch is to be carried from the National Capital, New Delhi to Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile.

Meanwhile, Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, appealed to the 14 Tibetans to end their month-long hunger strike, saying that "this form of violence" is unlikely to bring about the positive results for their demand.

He said the immense hardships endured by the Tibetans on hunger strike so far, have fulfilled a key objective - it has attracted much publicity and caught the attention of the international community as well as inspired Tibetans living inside and outside of Tibet.

In his appeal to the striking Tibetans, the Dalai Lama said: "I earnestly appeal to you all to discontinue your hunger strike immediately."

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