March to Tibet enters last stage, organisations urge support

Dehra Dun, June 16 (UNI) Tibetan organisations today have urged the Indian Government to allow them to resume their 'Return March to Tibet'- which is now only 100 km from their homeland - after it was stopped by the state authorities and appealed to citizens of the country to lend their support to the Tibetan movement.

In a joint statement issued here, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Regional Tibetan Women's Association and Regional National Democratic Party appealed to the Indian and state governments to lend their unsolicited support when the marchers attempted to enter Tibet.

''It is our humble request to the Government of India to allow the marchers to continue their return march to Tibet and appeal to the citizens of India to support the movement,'' the statement said.

After overcoming numerous obstacles, which saw the arrest of the Presidents of five NGOs and a key leader, along with 259 marchers in Pithoragarh district of the state, the Tibetan marchers have now reached the last leg of their movement and await the support of the Indian and state governments to provide them a safe and unhindered passage to Tibet.

More than 300 Tibetans, inlcuding monks, nuns and commoners from aged 17 and 70 years have walked over 1000 km, traversing through Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand since March 10 to commemorate the 49th Tibetan National Uprising Day against China's brutal crackdown.

UNI PB SBC CS1728