Fourteen, mostly elderly, Tibetans have started a hunger strike in New Delhi, India, under the banner of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC).

Below are extracts of an article published by Phayul.com:

Today [11July 2007] marks the third day since fourteen Tibetans, mostly elderly ones, have begun staging indefinite hunger strike in the Indian capital of New Delhi on July 8 [2007] under the banner of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC).

The hunger strike campaign is part of the larger Mass People’s Movement being initiated by TYC prior to the 2008 Beijing Games. As per TYC leaders, the movement is due to gain momentum beginning 8th of next month.

The TYC-led hunger strike started at 11:00 in the morning of June 8 [2007], at Jantar Mantar. The 14 participants of the hunger strike came from different regions of India.

On the starting day, just an hour before the hunger strike actually started, a large group of Tibetans living in Delhi staged a protest march from Jantar Mantar to the Indian Parliament street, shouting pro-Tibet slogans.

The TYC leaders say that the Indefinite Hunger strike is part of the major Tibetan Mass People’s Movement which was announced last month by the organisation.

In his introductory talk on the first day of the campaign, Mr. Tsultrim Dorjee, General Secretary of Centrex said that the indefinite hunger strike is the second phase of the Mass People's Movement, the first being sending petitions.

It was followed by singing of the Tibetan National Anthem and then a minute of silence was observed in remembrance of brave men and women of Tibet who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of Tibet and Tibetans.

Mr. Kalsang P. Godrukpa, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) outlined the background, the need and the objectives of the Mass People's Movement, which includes the Indefinite Hunger Strike.

"Today we are sitting just opposite to the venue of the 1998 Hunger Strike, where martyr Thupten Ngodup set himself on fire after Indian police forcibly interrupted the unto death hunger strike,” Mr Phuntsok said. Today after nine years, we are again sitting here with fourteen committed Tibetans sitting for the hunger strike protest.

Seeking mass participation for the TYC-led movement, Mr Phuntsok said, “Looking back at the history of the freedom struggle around the world; it is the voluntary mass movement of people which were the decisive moments of freedom struggle around the world. At the most critical juncture in the history of Tibetan struggle, Tibetans will have to gear up voluntarily for a massive initiative to strengthen a unified voice to form a movement parallel to that of 10 March National uprising held in Lhasa in 1959”.

“I appeal to every Tibetan, residing in any part of the world, to come and join the Mass People's Movement, due to begin from 8 August 2007 in Delhi," Mr Godrukpa said.

Ms Rigzin Choenyi and Ms Lhundup Sangmo, both former Tibetan political prisoners, famously known as Singing Nuns of Drapchi Prison, lit the prayer lamp and then offered scarf to the Dalai Lama’s portrait.

Ms Rigzin, while narrating the brutal torture experience that she and her inmates endured in prison at the hands of the Chinese authorities, remarked: “had there been no protest and outcry against the Chinese Government by the exiled Tibetans, we would have been silently killed by the Chinese authorities. She said that China comes under pressure due to the voice of Tibetans and Tibetan supporters. We must therefore continue to pursue our protest.”

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