Events
The Height of Patriotism
Mumbai, November 25, 2006 - - “The pain is nothing compared to what Tibetans have to put up with under the Chinese regime,” said Lhakpa Tsering, as he smiled from ear-to-ear and looked at his bandaged left foot, which he had set ablaze on Thursday outside the Taj to protest Chinese president Hu Jintao's visit to India.Tsering was part of a group of 13 protestors who arrived at the gateway in separate taxis. With ‘Freedom for Tibet' scrawled on their T-shirts, they unfurled banners, flung in the air a thick sheaf of protest letters addressed to Chinese President Hu Jintao and shouted slogans before Tsering set fire to his pants.
A taxi driver handed out a water bottle, constables pounced on him, and tugged his blazing trousers down to his ankles. In pain, Tsering continued to cry: “Free Tibet, Free Tibet”.
He was rushed to GT Hospital and later to JJ Hospital, where he was treated for burns to his right foot. He was arrested under Section 309 of the IPC for attempting suicide but was later released late that night on personal bond of Rs. 4000.
Resting on a bed at Shushrusha Hospital located near Shivaji Park, where he is admitted after his release, Tsering's face betrayed no signs of pain. “We are looking after his health and giving him the best possible treatment. No matter how many days we have to spent here in Mumbai we want to ensure that he gets completely treated” said Tsering Dhundup, PRO of Tibetan Youth Congress and the coordinator of the protests in Mumbai.
A first-year master's student of political science at Bangalore's St Joseph College, Tsering had been accompanied to the Taj by 11 other students from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and Shabayan Raha, and activist with Friends of Tibet.
“We want to draw the world's attention to the lack of freedom and human rights violations in Tibet. We have had many protests in Bangalore but this was the time and place where we could make ourselves heard,” said Tsering surrounded by a large number of visitors and well-wishers.
Born on 2nd June 1983 at a small village of Tsona (Tibet) Tsering escaped from Tibet by crossing the border when he was very young and completed his schooling at the Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamshala and Bylakuppe. He has been actively involved with Tibetan struggle and has been an active and dedicated member of Tibetan Youth Congress. He had served this organisation at various capacities, as General Secretary of RTYC Bangalore during his second and final year of graduation and presently, as its president.
Lhakpa Tsering, who spends most of his time reading e-mails and attending phone call of his well-wisher wishing him “GET WELL SOON” from across the country, believes that Tibetans need to be united and shoulder their responsibility in our struggle. His well-wishers can e-mail and/or call him at following ID and telephone number.
