Des tibetains en greve de la faim

hunger (photo)
plan du camp

16-messages-internet

Chronologie établie par Gaynor O'Flynn (en anglais)

DAY ONE TIBETAN UPRISING DAY 10.3.98

Six strikers start Tibetan Youth Congress hunger strike in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi,

Mr Dawa Gyalpo age 50

Was born in Tibet and was forced to flee in 1959 after the tibetan uprising, he studied at the Tibetan School in Missorie, then served the tibetan community for a few years in Dharamsala and in Nepal. He also worked as a tour guide in Nepal from 1975 to 1985 and visited Tibet once in June 1985 where he explored the situation in Tibet. He has been a an active member of the Tibetan Youth Congress since 1970 and at present is the Secretary General of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Salugara, West Bengal. In 1995 he participated in the first Peace March Movement of the tibetans. He has one son who is administrator of the Tibetan Homes Foundation.

Mr Kunsang age 70

Was born in Tibet in 1930 and fled in 1958. He spent eight years in Sikkim as a labourer. He is a member of the regional Tibetan Youth Congress Peruwala. He also participated in both the tibetan peace march movements in 1995 and 1996/7. He lives alone with his son in Himachal Pradesh.

Mrs Palzom age 68

Was born in Tibet in 1930. She has undergone sufferings under chinese rule in Tibet, her husband was killed after a demonstration in Lhassa in 1987. Many of her relatives died as a direct result of the chinese occupation. In 1989 after undergoing interrogation and threats from the chinese government she fled to Nepal. She lived in an old people's home for many years in Nepal and recently came to India . She participated in both the Tibetan Peace Movements in 1995 and 1996/7.

Mr Karma Sichoe age 25

Was born on october 15th 1973. He attended the Tibetan Children's Village in and later in 1991 joined the Tibetan Art and Metal Craft Centre and became fully trained in Tanka painting in 1993. He then established at the Traditional Training Centre in Nepal for learning Tanka painting. In 1995 he participated in a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy and was detained for three days. He is a member of the Tibetan Youth Congress.

Mr Dawa Tsering age 53

Was born in Tibet in 1945. in 1960 he reached India and spent a few years in road construction. He is an active member of regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Ravangla. he served I the tibetan unit of the Indian military, the special frontier force but as he could not participate directly he discharged himself. He served the Tibetan Freedom Movement of Ravangla branch for three years from 1987 -1989. in 1989, he participated in the Tibetan Youth Congress' Protest against Li-Peng's visit to India and also participated in the first Tibetan Peace March Movement in 1995.

Mr. Yungdrung Tsering age 28

Was born in 1970 at Dehra Dunn, Northern India after his parents were forced to flee from Tibet in 1959. he attended the Tibetan Children's Village school (TCV) in Dharamsala and then joined the TCV handicraft centre in 1986 and studied Tanka painting for six years. he then served  the TCV handicraft centre as a Tanka painter for more than six years and now does his own painting work. He also participated in the first Peace March Movement of tibetans in 1995.

HH the Dalai Lama speaks in the main temple Dharamsala, prior to a Free Concert for Uprising Day &laqno; the current situation in Tibet and lack of any substantive progress in resolving the tibetan problem is no doubt causing an increasing sense of frustration among many tibetans. I am concerned that some might feel compelled to look for avenues other than peaceful resolutions. while I understand their predicament, I wish to firmly reiterate once again the importance of abiding by the non-violent course of our freedom struggle. »



Day six 16.3.98

First sympathy hunger strikes begin in Home of Tibetan Government in Exile Dharamsala, India.

Day 23 1.4.98

U.S. Embassy political Secretary visits the site, Mr Donald Lu, called on the strikers to end their strike.

Day 24 2.4.98

HH the Dalai Lama visits hunger strike &laqno;I admire them their determination and enthusiasm. but I consider hunger strike unto death as a kind of violence. I am against all kinds of violence whether it is towards oneself  or others. however I cannot offer any other suggestions for any alternative method...I am in a state of dilemma. I do not know what to do.» American actor Richard Gere is also present.

2,000 tibetans stage a demonstration in Delhi and submit memorandum to the U.N.

Extensive coverage in the Indian press

Day 25

Actor Richard Gere holds press conference in India on behalf of strike.

Day 27  : 5.5.98

The news breaks world-wide with the BBC, Canadian TV, french TV and CNN
covering the story.

World wide sympathy strikes and demonstrations occur, including March in London from Houses of Parliament to Trafalgar Square, Peace March in Marseille, fast in Boston, 2,000 tibetans in Katmandu and a 36 hour strike and vigil outside the U.N. in Delhi.

Day 29  7.5.98

Adama Dieng, Secretary General of the international commission of jurists, announces he will visit site.

Letter to TYC president from the British high commission, the British government &laqno;shares your concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet and raises the issue with the chinese authorities at every opportunity. »

Australian senate has unanimously passed the following resolution moved by Senator Bob Brown, &laqno;The senate expresses concern and sympathy for the tibetan who are on hunger strike and facing death in India to draw international attention to the plight of their homeland. »

Sonia Gandhi president of all India congress expresses concern.

World wide solidarity fasts continue including a 120 hour fast at Raj Ghat, Delhi.

Day 31 9.4.98

the chairman of the committee on international relations of the U.S. Congress Benjamin A. Gilman writes to the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Bill Richardson urging him to visit the hunger strikers during his upcoming trip to New Delhi, he also urged him to, &laqno; assure them that the United States will raise the issue of Tibet at the United Nations general assembly. ».



World wide support and media coverage continues.

Day 32
10.4.98

Mrs Mary Robinson, commissioner for the UN high commission for human rights, issued a statement yesterday on the six tibetans who are on unto death hunger strike, &laqno; the young (n.b. actual ages of strikers !) people had displayed considerable courage and had succeeded in bringing their issues  to the attention of the international community. However, I share the concerns that lives should not be lost by continuing the hunger strike...I hope to make an official visit to china and have indicated to the chinese authorities my desire to visit Tibet at that time in order to be more fully informed about the situation there. »

Mr Tsetson Norbu president of TYC reacted in a press statement, &laqno; We regret the statement dated April 9, 1998 -tibetan hunger strike- does not address any of the demands of the hunger strikers. It does not specifically address any tibetan issues. If the UN is truly interested in solving the sufferings of the tibetan people, their demands should be addressed. »

support continues to grow from amongst others, Wei Jinseng leading chinese dissident, Canadian senator, HH. Consiglio di Nino and the Albert Einstein Institute.

Day 34 12.4.98

Secretary general of the international commission of jurists visits the strikers. Just before his visit, the ICJ write to the Secretary General  calling him to appoint a special envoy to seek a peaceful settlement of the question of Tibet and initiate a UN supervised plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the tibetan people.

Day 35 13.4.98

Mr Adama Dieng holds press conference in New Delhi. &laqno;ICJ has been one of the oldest international bodies supporting the rights of the tibetan people...It is not against china but pro justice.» Mr Norbu TYC president stated, &laqno; ICJ is a non political and independent international body which stands for justice and peace. The Tibetan Youth Congress is only demanding the U.N. to implement the recommendations of the ICJ on Tibet. »

Richard Gere and John Ackerley director of the international campaign for Tibet visit the assistant secretary for external relations of the United Nations Gillian Sorensen.

Day 37 15.4.98

Response via Gillian Sorensen from Kofi Annan he was aware of the concerns of the TYC hunger strikers, whose non violent action reflected their personal commitment. He appeals to the TYC to end the strike on humanitarian grounds.

President of TYC reacts...&laqno;this response does not address the specific demands of the TYC...for the last half century, the tibetan issue has been the most neglected issue as far as the United Nations is concerned.&laqno; the TYC and six strikers are determined to pay the price to gain justice.

Day 39 17.4.98

Delhi temperature hits 37 degrees Celsius, strikers' health and strength rapidly declines.

Ngo's attending 54th commission on human rights issue appeal in support of strikers demands.

Mass media coverage and solidarity demonstrations and fasts continue...from South Africa to Switzerland...

Day 42 20.4.98

48 hour fax jam campaign directed at Kofi Annan as the strikers complete week six.

Mr Jonathan session delivers statement to chairman of 54th UN commission on human rights on behalf of the international fellowship of reconciliation.

Statement by Dawa Gyalpo who Is very weak now... &laqno;These are my last words... we have got many supporters government and non government, all over the world, who are working just for world peace, but unfortunately I have got a statement from the United Nations General Secretary, this letter is disappointing for me it does nothing, there is nothing about our demands, this is a great disappointment to me... So it is very sad that the United Nations, is only watching when there is violence and killing and brutal power not watching, not supervising a peaceful country like Tibet. It means no more justice in the U.N.. the U.N. is unjust because they are only acting when there is brutal power. Killing and violence they are running after them but they are not looking after us. This is very sad for the world. I am expecting that maybe in the next few days there will be justice from the U.N. as we are following non violence for tibetan's six million people. »

HH Dalai Lama gives interview to the BBC, &laqno; I have to express my admiration for these determined tibetans...willing to sacrifice their lives for the tibetan cause.»...&laqno;If I stop I have to offer some alternative but that is  not there ».

Day 43 21.4.98

The temperature in New Delhi reaches 40 degrees Celsius the strikers are in critical condition.

Day 44 22.4.98

The government of Norway representative, Mr T. Holthe issues a statement. In support of the strikers but Norway still is not prepared to support the demands of the hunger strikers directly.

Statement of Karma Sichoe, &laqno;Right now we have been on hunger strike for 44 days but we have not got a right letter from Kofi Annan. It is very sad that Kofi Annan can not respond to our three demands. So it is very important to respond to our three demands if not we continue this hunger strike and we are going to die and also many tibetans are going to die. »

Day 45 23.4.98

Karma Sichoe gets a fever of 102 degrees.

Day 46 24.4.98

Dawa Gyalpo is very weak and passes in and out of consciousness.

Day 47 25.4.98

Two government doctors visit the strikers. After examining them they state they are now committing suicide, illegal under Indian law n report to the government. the police arrive and arrangements are made for a 21.00 pick up. The world's media await the police at 21.00. The police agree to give the TYC four more days to Day 50.

Eu responds to hunger strike a delegation of Eu ambassadors in Beijing will visit Tibet, 1-10 may.

Republic of Poland writes to hunger strikers, &laqno; we the polish people and the government of my country are conscious of the fact that human, political and social rights of the tibetan people are constantly violated. » Ambassador appeals to strikers to stop before it is too late.

Day 48 26.4.98

12.10 the police break their agreement with the TYC and wait until the media and the western supporters have left the site. They take three of the strikers by brutal force, dragging Dawa Gyalpo, Yungdrung Tsering and Karma Sichoe from the tent. Karma is thrown into the van and ends up in intensive care.

200 nuns who are praying nearby rush to the aid of the remaining three strikers, surround the tent and chant and protect them from removal at this time.

Statement from Dawa Tsering in hospital... &laqno; We were forcibly dragged from the tent after they had arrested all the TYC members. This had made it very easy for them to take us away from the tent since there was no TYC member left. When they dragged me I tried to shout but could not because of being very weak. This is how they had planned everything to come in the middle of the night when the world is sleeping. You know that we were forcibly taken from the hunger strike when we had reached the peak so if the UN does not respond positively to the demands we have put forward, three of our compatriots who are still in the tent will carry on this mission. »

Day 49 27.4.98

The indian police arrive at 06.00. to take the remaining three strikers, 60 year old activist Thupten Ngodup set himself on fire. Footage of this act of self immolation makes front page news world wide, it is seen by over 70 million viewers in over 40 countries, via Reuters, WTN, BBC, CNN...

5 new strikers take their place, Thupten being the sixth

Day 50 28.4.98

HH. Dalai Lama visits the six hunger strikers and Thupten Ngodup in hospital. He is mobbed by the media as he attempts to leave.

Thupten Ngodup's last words are, &laqno; may all beings live in peace, long live the Dalai Lama, may Tibet soon be free.»

Day 51 29.4.98

Thupten Ngodup dies at 12.05

His body is taken to tibetan refugee camp in Delhi, Majnu-Ka-Tilla, tibetans pay respect to Thupten Ngodup

Day 52 30.4.98

Body of Thupten Ngodup arrives in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala as thousands of tibetans pay homage the body makes its way to HH Dalai Lama's temple. Silence is observed followed by singing of the tibetan national anthem and prayers. President TYC tells those gathered they must be prepared to sacrifice even our lives...

Day 53 1.5.98

More than 7,000 tibetans attend the cremation of Thupten Norbu Buddhist chants turn into UNO we want justice as a mass demonstration follows in the town centre. One young tibetan carves Free Tibet onto his chest.


20-liens-tibet

© tous droits réservés Mélanie Portet-Le Doze-Maitrise d'Ethnologie98 Université Paris-8 Saint-Denis (FR) Contact Mélanie