Tibetan exiles tonsure their heads to protest against the Chinese crackdown

[Nanda]

Monday 7th April, 2008

Tibetan exiles tonsure their heads to protest against the Chinese crackdown
ANI Monday 7th April, 2008

New Delhi, Apr 7 : Several Tibetans-in-exile tonsured their heads en masse at a protest rally in New Delhi on Monday to mount pressure on the Chinese authorities to stop alleged atrocities against the Tibetans.

Tsering, a protester, said: " We want to show the world that ours is a non-violent peaceful struggle and shaving our head is the strongest form of non-violent means message that goes out. It sends strong signals and emotions out. So, we want to show our solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet and also protest the killings and crackdown by the Chinese inside Tibet."

The main campaign 'Shave Your Head For Tibet' launched by the Tibetans-in-exile is scheduled to begin from April 10 onwards and would last for three days worldwide, but many Tibetans have already stated tonsuring their heads to sympathize with the sufferings of the people in Tibet.

" The world knows why we are doing this today, what we want is that they should come and support us. They should sympathize with our sufferings," said Langpak, another protestor.

The exiles also organized a blood donation camp as a compassionate gesture towards the Tibetan cause.

The agitation of the Tibetans against the Chinese ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August this year has turned global.

The refugees say they are resorting to peaceful means and are abiding by the Dalai Lama's call for non-violence.

The Dalai Lama had pointed out to the Tibetan exiles that their activities could be interpreted as 'violent' and can aggravate the current situation. He urged them to be 'extra vigilant'.

China has accused the Dalai Lama, of orchestrating a rash of monk-led protests and rioting - the most serious in the Himalayan region for nearly two decades - in a bid to wreck the August 8-24 Beijing Olympic Games.