***PHOTOS AND VIDEOS AVAILABLE
For Immediate Release
June 4, 2008
Contact: Tenzin Choedon (English, Tibetan, Hindi): +91 975 696 9133
Pema Dorjee (English, Tibetan, Hindi): +91 992 760 6204
INDIAN POLICE ARREST 265 TIBETANS MARCHING TO TIBET
March had just resumed after 13-day standoff as China prepares to take Olympic torch to Tibet
Nainital - 259 Tibetan marchers and six members of the organizing committee were arrested by police after resuming the March to Tibet following a 13 day stand-off with police. They had covered 16 kilometers when they were arrested at Berinag, approximately 180 kilometers from the Indo-Tibetan border area. Fifty marchers, including leading Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue and Shingza Rinpoche of Sera Monastery, stayed behind at the the campsite at Banspatan in Uttarakhand State, determined to continue to Tibet in the event that their fellow marchers were stopped. The five presidents of the NGOs organizing the March and one coordinator are still being held in Roshanabad Jail near Hardwar. (more…)
For Immediate Release
June 2, 2008
Contact: Tenzin Choedon (English, Tibetan, Hindi): +91 975 696 9133
INDIAN SUPPORTERS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER POLICE PRESSURE ON MARCH TO TIBET
Marchers remain resolute despite limited food supply and imprisoned leaders
Almora - Today preeminent Gandhians, Rajiv and Neeru Vora, and long time Tibet supporter, Asha Reddy, held a press conference in Almora to lend their support to the marchers and to explain the current situation on the March to Tibet.
For the last 10 days, the Marchers have been under massive police pressure to withdraw from their campsite at Banspatan, Uttarakhand State. Police have confiscated all four of the March’s trucks, and have told marchers trying to leave the area that they would not be allowed to re-enter the site. Upon hearing that the marchers’ food supply had been blocked, Founder of Swarajpeeth, Rajiv Vora, Founder/Director of Swarajpeeth, Neeru Vora, as well as Asha Reddy, decided to travel to the March to see what they could do to help. (more…)
For Immediate Release:
May 30, 2008
Contact: Tenzin Choedon (English, Tibetan, Hindi): +91 975 696 9133
Pema Dorjee (English): +91 992 760 6204
PRESIDENTS OF FIVE TIBETAN NGOs TRANSFERRED TO JAIL IN HARDWAR
Nainital - At approximately 3:30 PM yesterday, the five Presidents of the leading Tibetan non-governmental organizations in India, Tsewang Rigzin, B Tsering, Ngawang Woebar, Chime Youngdrung, and Tenzin Choeying, and one coordinator of the March to Tibet, Lobsang Yeshi, were transferred from Haldwani Police Station to Roshanabad Jail in Hardwar. They are being held under Indian Penal Code Section 151 and CRPC sections 106 and 107, according to which the Presidents, as organizers of the March to Tibet, are being accused of jeopardizing the lives of the 300 marchers. (more…)
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2008
Contact: Tenzin Choedon (English, Tibetan, Hindi): +91 975 696 9133
Pema Dorjee (English): +91 992 760 6204
TIBETAN MARCHERS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE DESPITE MASSIVE POLICE PRESENCE
Tibetan Leaders Still Detained, Food Shortage Imminent as Supply Trucks Confiscated
Nainital - Tibetan marchers are determined to continue their March to Tibet despite a massive Indian police build-up blockading their planned route just 200 kilometers from the Indo-Tibetan border in Uttaranchal State. The police have obstructed the marchers’ movement to and from their campsite 80 km from Almora, and on Tuesday authorities forcibly removed three utility trucks. Early this morning, authorities confiscated the fourth and last supply truck, raising fears of an imminent food shortage. (more…)
On May 27, an estimated force of 1000 police blocked the entrance to the marchers’ current camp at Banspatan. Police ordered the marchers to turn back or risk being arrested. In response, the marchers immediately crossed a dry riverbed, and staged a Gandhian style sit-in – chanting prayers and singing the Tibetan national anthem. The stalemate lasted for an hour before the police retreated and eventually left the campsite. The same scenario occurred again on May 28.
For Immediate Release
May 27, 2008
PRESIDENTS OF TIBETAN NGOs ARRESTED
March to Tibet trucks seized from campsite
The presidents of the 5 NGOs leading the March to Tibet, Tsewang Rigzin, B Tsering, Ngawang Woebar, Chime Youngdrung, and Tenzin Choeying, as well as March coordinator Lobsang Yeshi, were arrested this morning around 9:30am. (more…)
The 19 Tibetan marchers detained since May 22nd and 23rd have been released. March coordinator Lobsang Yeshi and core marcher Tenzin Tsundue were released last night and briefly taken to a local hospital. They had staged a hunger strike since they were first arrested on May 22nd and required medical care, but were subsequently dropped at the campsite. The other 17 marchers, who were refusing food, were taken back to the campsite early this morning.
The marchers are at the same campsite in Banspatan, Uttarakhand State.
For Immediate Release
May 26, 2008
19 TIBETAN MARCHERS STILL UNDER DETENTION; 5 FOREIGNERS ON MARCH TO TIBET ORDERED TO LEAVE INDIA
Nainital - After the 4th day, 19 Tibetan Marchers still remain under police detention despite request from the Marchers at Banspatan in Pithoragarh District, Uttarkhand. The District authorities served immediate notification to 5 foreigners accompanying the March to Tibet to leave India within one week. They are Maryla Cross, Poland; Jim Peterson, USA; Lex Pelger, USA; Paul Christians Buntz, Norway; and David Huang, USA.
The supporters who have been on the March since March 10 had an emotional farewell at Banspatan. They left the site covered in Khatas (white Tibetan scarf). “They are all Tibet supporters and supporters of this non-violent movement. It’s really disturbing for us and the Marchers to see them leave us after months of walking together,” said Ngawang Woebar, President of Gu-Chu-Sum, the Ex-Political Prisoners’ Movement of Tibet.
Another group of 15 Tibetans, mostly monks were stopped and sent back 4 kms before Seraghat. These Tibetans came all the way from Mundgod Tibetan Settlement in South India and were disappointed not being able to join the Marchers at Banspatan but they are still determined to do any Non Violent protest. (more…)
For Immediate Release
May 24, 08
INDIAN AUTHORITIES BLOCK RETURN MARCH TO TIBET; 19 TIBETAN MARCHERS DETAINED
MARCHERS VOW TO CONTINUE IN SOLIDARITY WITH TIBETANS IN TIBET
Nainital - Nineteen Tibetans on the March to Tibet have been arrested and taken to the Berinag police station in Pithoragarh District, Uttarakhand State, adjoining the Tibet border. The remaining marchers have declared that they are determined to continue their march to Tibet.
“We are marching in solidarity and support for our Tibetan brothers and sisters inside Tibet who are living under a state of siege by Chinese authorities” said Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress. “We must continue to remind the world that Tibetans continue to face killings, beatings, arbitrary detentions and disappearances, an ppressive military presence, and a terrible limate of fear under Chinese occupation”. (more…)
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2008
No stop for March to Tibet despite warning from local authorities
Dharamshala - More than 300 Tibetans marching back to Tibet are determined to continue their March to Tibet despite warnings from the authorities in Pithoragarh District, which is adjoined to the Tibet border. Contrary to May 19 media reports, the March has not been stopped by the local authorities. The March organizers have decided to camp at Seraghat for a few days in order to assess the situation and discuss the matter with the authorities.
On May 16, local authorities visited the campsite of the marchers at Seraghat to warn them of the possibility of being stopped at some specific cordoned area citing “security reasons.” (more…)
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