TASHI DOLMA: TWA to carry 3-day mass campaign in New Delhi from March 12-14

Dharamsala, March 11, 2013: “From March 12 to 14, the Central and all the Regional Chapters of Tibetan Women's Association across the India and Nepal will converge in New Delhi for the 3-day mass campaign. The programme includes public meeting, women's peace rally, prayer meeting, silent protest and all-women lobby campaign,” said Tashi Dolma , president Tibetan Women’s Association.

The central and regional Tibetan Women's Association is comprised of more than 16,000 members across the globe. And they firmly state that oppression by the Chinese government is the sole reason for all self-immolation and protests carried out by Tibetans in Tibet.

Tashi  said, “Since Tapey self-immolated on February 8, 2009, one hundred and seven Tibetans inside Tibet have set themselves on fire in protest, for the demand of freedom of Tibet and return of Dalai Lama to Tibet. Out of this number, 88 have died, and the status of the rest is still unknown.”

In a statement issued on Monday in Dharamsala, Tashi Dolma President, Samten Chodon, Vice President, Nyima Lhamo – General Secretary and Pema Choedon, Media Officer of TWA said, “We would like to state that Tibetans are unsatisfied with the status of occupation, and with the harsh policies implemented in Tibet. In this campaign, we, the Central and Regional Tibetan Women's Association, have developed the five significant requests.”

They said the requests included that UNO must send their peacekeeping operation into Tibet, the International Committee must recognise all the non-violent protest adopted by Tibetans, including self-immolation, Chinese government to conduct a review of their policies that force Tibetans to carry out non-violent protest like self-immolation and mass marches, the international committee must call for China to open Tibet to international free media and that all the International Tibet Support groups and organisations ask their governments to speak for the freedom of Tibetans.