Exiled Tibetans begin return march to Tibet

New Delhi, Apr 19 : Scores of exiled Tibetans resumed their peaceful march to Tibet on Saturday from New Delhi.

After the successful conduct of their parallel Olympic torch relay in the national capital onpril 17, they set out on foot towards Tibet to support their brethren who are facing oppression under the Chinese regime.

With grave faces and a determined light in their eyes, the Tibetans could be seen encouraging each other as they stood together holding hands.

The marchers started out at around 5.30 a.m. from Majnu Ka Tila, which has the largest number of Tibetans-living-in-exile here, with a prayer on their lips, hopeful of reaching their homeland without any disruption.

The marchers said they had no complaints against the Chinese people, but the policies of their government that they were opposed to.

"We want the Chinese to release the prisoners in Tibet, stop oppression, give proper medical aid to the needy. We would like to appeal to the people not to take part in the Olympics as it is being held in a country, which has no respect for human rights," said Tsering, a marcher.

After more than a month of protests that began soon after the March 10 Chinese crackdown on protestors in Lhasa and nearby provinces, the 1,00,000 Tibetan diaspora in India is restive over Chinese stranglehold and hegemony over Tibet.

Several members of the Tibetan diaspora are keen to return to their homeland and fight alongside their brethren for the just rights of the populace in the Himalayan region.

The marchers participated in peaceful protests, hunger strikes, candle-light vigils and demonstrations over the past few weeks in the run up to the Beijing Olympics.

The exiles are seeking an end to Chinese repression in Tibet, and have been staging a wave of protests across the country, especially in New Delhi and Dharamsala.

ANI