Song and dance protest by Tibetans against Hu's visit
Nov 20, 2006 - 6:54:51 PM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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She said that most of those who had been told to leave the community hall had come from different parts of the country, especially Arunachal Pradesh and Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, home of Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.
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By Indo Asian News Service,
[RxPG] New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Over a thousand Tibetan refugees Monday held a unique protest in the heart of the capital against Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India, reciting poetry and singing songs of freedom.
The Jantar Mantar, a popular place for protests about a kilometre away from Parliament House, was swarming with the Tibetans as they held their 'song and dance' protest.
'The protest is unique as songs and dances are being held and members will be given an opportunity to recite their poems and give speeches,' said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of Students for Free Tibet.
'We have also organised a candle light vigil in the evening,' she said.
Meanwhile, the police were holding consultations with the Tibetans to ensure they did not violate law and order.
'We have been discussing the matter with them for the past 10 days and they have assured they will not take any extreme step or disrupt law and order in the city,' said Sunil Garg, deputy commissioner of police.
The Chinese president is arriving in India Monday on a four-day visit.
'We have told them to protest peacefully,' Garg said.
According to Delhi Police, there are around 7,000 Tibetans living in the capital.
Tethong alleged that the police had used pressure tactics against them and asked them to vacate a community hall they had taken on rent in Chanakyapuri area, located in the diplomatic zone of the capital.
'Over 500 protesters were living in it. The police told us that if we vacate the hall then we would be allowed to gather at Jantar Mantar and carry on with the protest. We were given a personal guarantee by some of the senior officials of the police,' she added.
She said that most of those who had been told to leave the community hall had come from different parts of the country, especially Arunachal Pradesh and Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, home of Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.
Organisations like Friends of Tibet and Students for Free Tibet are organising the protests in Delhi.
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