Tibetans end protests as Wen leaves
By IANSFriday, December 17, 2010
NEW DELHI - Scores of Tibetans Friday ended their protest at Jantar Mantar here as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao wound up his three-day visit to India. However, they said their fight for a “free Tibet” will continue.
“Our demands have long been the same. Free Tibet. And stop the blatant human rights violations there. The three-day protest has come to an end with the end of Jiabao’s visit, but our larger fight for freedom will continue,” said Tenzin Lhamo, a Tibetan student protestor sporting a tri-coloured head band - similar to the Tibetan flag.
The Tibetan community was staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, the 17th century masonry observatory in the heart of New Delhi, since the beginning of Wen’s visit to India. In two separate incidents, 30 Tibetans were detained by police Thursday for protesting his visit.
“Long term interest of India is to recreate Tibet as a buffer zone. Without that, India is going to suffer under Chinese pressure militarily, politically, environmentally and now politically,” said Ishi Chozon, a 70-year-old protestor.
The protestors waved Tibetan flags and carried plac cards with slogans like ‘Free Tibet Wen, Free Tibet Now’.
