Tibetans Hold Anti-Hu Protest in Bangalore
(The Hindu | November 22, 2006)

Protest Against Hu Jintao in Bangalore (Photo: Times of India)

Bangalore: Friends of Tibet (Bangalore) joined Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Bangalore on November 20, 2006 to organise a joint protest against the state visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India. The organisations condemned the visit of Chinese President to India to join this day to show their solidarity and raised their voice for the voiceless people in Tibet who are denied of all the fundamental rights.

"Lage Raho Tibetans, Get Well Soon Hu Jintao," read a poster at the protest held by about 70 Tibetans in Bangalore on Tuesday, coinciding with the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India. "As a mark of our beliefs in Gandhian ideals and peaceful protests, we held a walk from Koramangala to the Gandhi statue at Mahatma Gandhi Road. We plan to bring to light the atrocities committed by China against Tibetans," said Jangchup, a campaigner of the Friends of Tibet group. Despite considerable human rights violations in Tibet by the Chinese, the 2008 Olympics was being held in China, he said.

Hu Jintao protest report from Bangalore filed by Tenzin Jangchup Lingshar (Campaigner, Friends of Tibet) and Yeshi Lhundup (General Secretary, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Bangalore)

November 20, 2006: Tibetan youth begins their peaceful rally from Tibetan Hostel to Gandhi Park where they sat down for protest after covering 8km of distance. At 11.00am in front of Gandhi Park, all the Tibetan people and youths joined the protest of Hu Jintao visit in India with the Posters depicting Hu Jintao’s execution method, and political prisoner’s photo and with slogan like Lage Raho Tibetans, Hu Jintao Get well soon, Tibet Independent India’s security, Arunachal is an integral part of India and Free Tibet slogan in their peak of voices. They spoke on how Chinese existence in Tibet makes problem to India too and they stayed whole day fasting without moving anywhere. Voice of slogan and voice for truth was so strong that they carried out all over the day with a sign of nationalism within. Approximately at 3pm, they have to stop their protest due to the limited permission given to them from the Commissioner of Police, Bangalore.

November 21, 2006: Whole Tibetan people gathered but this time with an increase in quantity and more spirit for the cause. They put forward the RELEASE OF PANCHEN LAMA and BLOODY OLYMPICS 2008 as their demand and also giving detail about these two big issues to the local people and the Media reporters. Slogan was in the peak and much stronger then before. Protest carried on whole day with Indefinite Hunger strike in the mind of all to be continued till Hu – the Butcher leaves India. At 4.pm, limited permission were expired and police were shouting to stop but the spirit of the Tibetan people were stronger and didn’t stop yet continued the strike with all their strong slogan for Hu Jintao to get out of Tibet, Tibet Independent, India security and Hu Jintao - the Butcher. Around 6.30pm, darkness is covering the areas and immediately the candle light vigil was started and all sat firmly with prayers and sadness within all of the feeling of landless and sacrifices of our brave martyrs. They even decided not to move until Hu Jintao leaves India and will continue to seat with Indefinite Hunger Strike. Around 7.30pm, Police started dragging the protesters and putting them in police van. But the spirit and strong determination of the people were same and all started protecting each other and shouting with slogan like Free Tibet & Think Tibet. All are in emotion and can feel the response of others to a poor nation less Tibetan. After a long time of police arresting people and filling up all the vans of police. There were totally 87 Tibetan being arrested which includes youths, old age and even one 16 years old boy which gives immense thought that all have the free Tibet spirit beneath themselves. However they were bailed around 2.00am the next morning and they felt very glad that they were arrested which awakened their spirit of Tibet is visible in every face.

November 22, 2006: Due to the arrest of 87 people yesterday, we were very busy with the court papers and hearings. At 3.00pm, we all reached the court and being in so much of people for a hearing, all the people and advocates there were starring at us but then some comes near to us and says that we did a good job and some says FREEDOM FIGHTER. I think this shows how much our protest spread and how much people feels about Tibet issues. On court hearing, all were bailed under the surety of a person but the magistrate ordered to submit 2000 per head for the surety within a month. (Sum up – 174000). All are happy to get bailed and we all cheering each other. But the 16 years old being under age according to the law, he’s being rejected to bail and being asked to be with his parents tomorrow for the bail. We all get very worried as he being too young and that too to spend one more day all alone, we tried to convince him that he don’t have to worry and he has done a good job and for that reason he’s under going this procedure. Even though, he might be feeling deep inside unhappy and sad of being keeping aloof but he too feels that this time he is going inside for a good cause and he didn’t cried. We contacted his father and he too gracefully agreed to come for the court.

November 23, 2006: We have in our mind that today is a happy day that Hu – The Butcher will leave from India. Therefore, we decided to have a candle light vigil and prayers in the evening time in Tibetan Youth Hostel, Bangalore. All over sudden, around 10 to 11am, we heard our people struggling to get inside Taj Hotel (Mumbai) to protest against Hu Jintao. We heard that Lhakpa Tsering had tried to self immolate himself to protest against the Chinese premier in front of Taj hotel (Mumbai) and we all are shocked and also very inspired by his sacrifice. At 2pm, the court session for the teenage boy started and after struggle very hard by our lawyers of Alternative Law Forum, we were able to get him release by 6pm. Our prayers and candle light vigil had already started and is praying with whole lots of people together. We shared the latest update on the health of Lhakpa Tsering and we dedicate our prayers to salute and success of the goal for which continuous martyrs are taking birth. Prayer was finish off with strong prayers to have a FREE TIBET soon and with BOD GYALO words…

Hu Jintao protest was organised by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) and Friends of Tibet (Banaglore) from November 20-23, 2006 in Bangalore, Karnataka.