TIBETAN HUNGER STRIKERS march 98
Nancy Jo Johnson
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 1998
Nancy Jo Johnson visited the tent in Delhi where the hunger strikers
are stationed and gave this account:
Today there was a constant stream of visitors, mostly Tibetans. Six
cots line the dirt floor shelter. In the center of the room is
an altar on which prominent images of Ghandi and the Dalai Lama are
draped with white kataks, ceremonial silk scarves. The routine
is that after the visitor enters the tent, they first offers a katak
to the altar, and then proceeds to offer a katak to each of the
hunger strikers. The visitor usually sits next to each striker for a
moment or more, taking their hands, leaning close and whisperign
words of support. Others touch their forehead to each striker, a
symbolic gesture of great respect. If the hunger striker can muster
the strength he or she may respond, but the visitor must lean close
to hear their words as they gasp for breath and attempt to
communicate. It is a witness of courage and strength
beyonddescription, and most visitors leave the tent in tears, men and
women, trying to get out the door so as not to cry in front of
the strikers.
A number of Indian officials visited today, the most famous of
which was Mr. Janeswar Mishra, a member of parliament from
the Samajanadi Party. Samdong Rinpoche, the Chairman of
the Tibetan parliament in exile, also came by and told the
strikers he admired their courage. It was rumored that
Samdong Rimpoche would ask the strikers to call off their fast,
but he did not. However, he did apparently infer that when His
Holiness the Dalai Lama visits the strikers on Thursday, April 2,
that he may ask them to stop. Prior to starting the fast, the
strikers formally appealed to the Dalai Lama not to ask them to
call off their strike.
There were also 6 or 7 Tibetan women who massaged and
cared for the strikers with determination and steadfastness
through the early evening hours. They conducted a traditional Tibetan
medical practice called lungstang. One of the strikers, Dawa
Gyalpo (50), said that he thinks he has between 2 and 4 more
days and then he will die. Yungdung Tsering (28), Karma Sichoe
(25) and Dawa Gyalpo speak English. The others speak only
Tibetan. Two of them, Karma Sichoe and Yungdung Tsering, have never
even been to Tibet.
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1998: TWENTY DAYS OF FASTING
Questions and Answers with the Hunger Strikers conducted by Nancy Jo
Johnson
This question was directed at fifty year old Dawa Gyalpo. So
far, Dawa has lost 22 pounds within the last three weeks.
Q. If the Dalai Lama visits and asks you to stop your fast, what
will you do?
A. I will first appeal to His Holiness not to say anything about
this. Before we started we made a request to His Holiness
not
to intervene and not to ask us to stop. In the past I have always
obeyed him, and for this reason it is very difficult. The Chinese
are wasting time - they have not negotiated with the Dalai
Lama's middle path request. They are waiting for His Holiness
to die. For this cause I donate my life. Of course His Holiness
has great compassion and is deeply concerned for our lives....
but we are just asking for 3 things from the UN. They are not
unrealistic things. We are not even asking for independence and
so far we have not taken a violent terrorist approach. My last demand
is to appeal to the UN to act and to all of the world's governments
and peoples to support Tibet. His Holiness will come visit us, then I
will die.
Q. Are you afraid to die?
A. No, never.
The next question was asked of Yungdrung Tsering, age 28, who
has lost over 24 pounds:
Q. Are you afraid to die?
A. In the nighttime something like a fear comes and I get too
much
headache and I think death is coming. Then I think, I am dying
for
my country, my freedom, my motherland, not dying for my sickness.
I am proud of this.
Karma Sichoe, age 25, who has lost 22 pounds responded to these
last questions:
Q. What message do you have for the media?
A. I pray in my heart that you come to understand Tibet was occupied
by Red China since 1959. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our
brothers and sisters came to exile and we have struggled for a free
Tibet for the last 39 years. The world must recognize Tibet is
also very important for the world because Tibet can be example of
peace and harmony for all sentient beings. Still, the Chinese destroy
our culture, religion and take our history to show the world
Tibet is part of China. The world must understand about this
situation in Tibet and what is truth. Please support a free Tibet,
non-violence and peace.
Q. Are you afraid to die?
A. No, not at all. If I am afraid why would I join this? As human
beings, we are all sentient beings, so nothing to be lost. If I die,
my rebirth may be insect, but whatever it is, I want to do all I can
for sentient beings, to help them. This I always pray in my
heart.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1998: THE STRIKE RECEIVES PUBLIC ATTENTION
Measures Taken in Solidarity
It was clear today that attention to the hunger strike is
swelling.
Visitors are arriving from all over the world. There are Tibetans
from New York, Kathmandu, and throughout India. The political
attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Delhi also visited today (this
was confirmed by Deputy Assistant Secretary Gare Smith at the U.S.
Department of State.)
The hunger striker's began their day by making their way to the water
pump for a morning wash. They are still walking, mostly unassisted,
except for Dawa Gyalpo, 50, who couldn't get up at all today. Young
Karma Sichoe found the energy to wash his hair today. Still, Mr.
Kunsang, 70, and Mrs. Palzom, 68, remain the strongest.
Visitors also began to arrive early today and more cameras and video
recorders are now appearing. A solidarity hunger strike started
nearby today. Less than 50 yards away over 60 Tibetans held a vigil,
while six fellow Tibetans lay inside a make-shift tent starving to
death. It is an expression of collective suffering, the
suffering of a people for a culture being lost to the world and to
themselves.
Today, Dawa Gyalpo's only son Thupten Chodak, also arrived.
Amazingly, he had not known his father was in the hunger strike.
Thupten Chodak, 32, is a teacher who works at a Tibetan school in the
Sakya colony in Rajpur. "I did not know he had joined the
hunger strike until yesterday when they called me from here and
told me. They suggested I come quickly because his condition was
deteriorating very fast. I came immediately on the night bus
and arrived at 6 this morning. I didn't even know this location and
then I found some friends who told me of the whereabouts. I was in
quite a shock when I first arrived," Thubten said. "I am proud to be
Dawa's son. I hope that one day I will follow his path. My father
feels it is better to die for his country than a normal meaningless
death. Presently, I have not much experience, I am young and have so
much to learn, but one day I will follow his path."
Then, his father, Dawa Gyalpo broke in and said, "If the Dalai Lama
dies in India, we Tibetans have failed. We must not let this happen,
you must (speaking to fellow Tibetans and his son) not let this
happen. Before he dies he must return to the Potala Palace."
Dawa has given a lot of interviews today, and he is exhausted. He
drifts off.
One of the organizers, Pema Lhundup, Joint Secretary of the Tibetan
Youth Congress said that they have increased security around
the tent because of the rumor of intervention Indian Government. Some
say that the government would intercede if they were Indians, but
they won't with Tibetans.
In the late afternoon Lungtsang is again given
treatment.
From 2:00PM - 4:00PM over 100 young Indian
Lawyers also staged a protest, next to the site, inside
Jantar-Mantar itself. The All India Young Lawyers
Association issued the following press release:
New Delhi 31st March 1998
The members of All India Young Lawyers
Association today staged a Dharna (sitting
Protest) at Jantar-Mantar/Parliament Street,
New Delhi, in support of Hunger strike by
Tibetan People who are on fast unto death
since 10-3-98. The dharna was orgaized by
Mr. S.N. Pandey, President of All India
Young Lawyers Association which was
attended by more than hundred advocates
coming from Supreme court of India, Delhi
High court and various other courts. While
speaking on the occasion Mr. Pandy
condemmed The China Govt. for their
illegal invasion into Tibetan Territory since
1949. He further appealed to Secretary
General of UN and also to the Govt. of
India to condemm the fascist approach of
China for violating the collectivism
approach and to raise the issue of Tibetan
People at International forums like UN. Mr.
Pandey further expressed the solidarity with
the Tibetan People on behalf of All India
Young Lawyers Association and promised
to take up the matter with all the
concerned authorities at national as well as
Intl. Forums.
The sun has gone, darkness falls, visitors are crying as they exit
the tent and we all wonder how much longer this will continue.
As people continue to make their ways out of the park, I sit back
with Dawa Gyalpo and his son Thupten Chodak for a bit longer. Thupten
is Dawa's only son, a 32 yr. old teacher who works at a Tibetan
school in the Sakya colony in Rajpur. Of his father he says:
"I am proud to be his son, I hope that one day I will follow his
path. I did not know he had joined the hunger strike until
yesterday when they called me from here and told me, they suggested I
come quickly and his condition was deteriorating very fast. I
came immediately on the night bus and arrived at 6 this morning, I
didn't even know this location and then I found some friends who told
me of the whereabouts. I was in quite a shock when I first arrived.
My father feels it is better to die for his country than a normal
meaningless death, it is ok, since we all will die at some time.
Presently, I have not much experience, I am young and have
so much to learn.... but one day I will follow his path."
Dawa Gyalpo said: "If the Dalai Lama dies in India, we Tibetans have
failed. We must not let this happen, you must (speaking to
fellow Tibetans and his son) not let this happen, before he dies he
must return to the Potala Palace"
Dawa has given a lot of interviews today, he is exhausted and even
though I believe he would find the strength to go on
talking, I leave him there in the tent.
On my way out I speak briefly with L. Pema Lhundup, Joint Secretary
of the Tibetan Youth Congress [TYC]. He said "Even if they
stop us, we have not failed. This time the Tibetan community
awareness was very huge, the community has shown with support, we
have raised awareness around the world and I have heard that things
are moving slowly in the UN."
Today they have increased the TYC security around the tent, the
possibility of Indian Govt. intervention is a whispered rumor,
similar to the hunger strike in New York City, they may come in
forcibly take them to the hospital to prevent them from dying. The
question remains on everyone's mind, will His Holiness
the Dalai Lama ask them to stop?
I walk back to my hotel, numb, exhausted and so sad. These 6
individuals are so strong, the sadness comes not for them, they've
convinced me they are not fearful and believe it is the right choice.
I realize my sadness is for the death of Tibet.
Thirty-nine years is a long time, and I just don't understand the
deaf ears of the world.
Back in my room, I turn on CNN. How ironic, on World News is the UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan shaking hands with Li Peng
in Beijing. There are smiles on both of their faces and I realize how
tragic this is.
la premiere equipe de grevistes de la faim
tibetains
la greve de la faim des tibetains : melanie
temoigne
photos des manifestations de delhi avril-mai
98
la deuxieme equipe de grévistes de la faim
tibétains
le Dalai-Lama a l'hopital de Delhi le 28
avril 1998
bienvenue en Bretagne : soutien au Tibet et mai 68