Tibetan activists staging photo action in McLeodganj

Dharamsala, September 9, 2023: Tibetan activists are staging a photo action in McLeodganj, Dharamshala, today, when the G20 New Delhi Leader's Summit is on. Their protest is aimed at drawing international attention to the Chinese government's continuous assault on the Tibetan children's education system, which is seen as part of an effort to erase Tibetan culture and identity. The protesters are urging world leaders to take firm joint action against these actions.

Tenzin Passang, the national director of Students for Free Tibet (India), pointed out that the Chinese government has implemented policies in Tibet that aim to eradicate Tibetan identity. One such policy is the establishment of colonial-style boarding schools where Tibetan children, as young as four years old, are separated from their families and forced into these schools. This separation not only removes them from their families but also disconnects them from their language and culture. The activists demand international attention to this issue and call on G20 leaders to discuss and condemn the existence of these colonial boarding schools.

Tenzin Lekdhen, campaign director at Students for Free Tibet - India said, “we want to convey our very strong message to G20 leaders that international leaders should specifically talk about this event that is currently happening in Tibet specially regarding this colonial boarding school and human rights violation inside Tibet.”