Victory for the Hunger Strikers

By Sam Ferguson / October 12, 2015;

Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Resident Representative met the hunger strikers at New Delhi, India
Photo: TYC handout

A high profile hunger strike by members of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) ended in victory on October 12 after written assurances were delivered by the United Nations (UN). The hunger strikers began their fast on September 10 in New Delhi. The UN assurances, delivered in person by the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative of India, Mr Yuri Asanasiev, stated that their demands will be addressed.

The President of the TYC, Tenzing Jigme, said “the power of non-violent methods of resistance and the fact that when we came together for our country as one – we win, as is evident from the victory”.

These sentiments were echoed by hunger striker Tamdin Hrichoe who expressed hope that the developments serve as an inspiration to young Tibetan people. Thanking the hunger strikers’ supporters, he added, “That kind of support and unity is very important in our struggle and it must continue in order for us to get our country back”.

Hunger strikers were welcomed back to their home in Dharamshala
Photo: TYC FB page

Tamdin Hrichoe, Tenzin Wangchuk and Tsewang Dolma staged their “indefinite hunger strike” with the three aims of: raising awareness about the critical situation inside Tibet; paying their respects to the self-immolators who have sacrificed themselves in Tibet; and to show solidarity with Tibetans living in Tibet. There were also five demands to the UN: 1) Urge the UN to raise the issue of Tibet at its General Assembly and Human Rights Council session; 2) Urge China to address the demands of the self-immolators within Tibet; 3) Urge China to provide evidence that the 11^th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive; 4) Send a UN fact finding delegation to assess the critical situation within Tiber; 5) Urge China to release all political prisoners.

Activist and Poet Tenzin Tsundue expressed little hope, calling the UN “a failed story like the predecessor the ‘League of Nations’”. He added, “I’m surprised the UN responded to our people’s demands this time, but the fact that the UN responded only when people are dying dispels the trust in the high ideals the UN promises.”

All three hunger strikers were hospitalised for evaluation and have now arrived home in Dharamshala.