Day after day reports have continued to leak out of Tibet dealing with increasing tensions between Tibetans protesting oppressive Chinese rule and the Chinese authorities. This has lead to the announcement of a fast by Tibetan activists at the United Nations. Buddhists in Syracuse are sharing deep concerns about the well being of the fasters and praying for them because they have announced they are on an "indefinite fast".
Lobsang Wangyal has reported for the Tibet Sun "TYC activists begin "indefinite fast" at the UN." An “Indefinite fast for Tibet” has begun by three members of the Tibetan Youth Congress in front of the United Nations in New York City to show solidarity with Tibetans suffering under the Chinese repression. These Tibetans have not celebrated the Losar, or Tibetan New Year, as they mourn together for the loss of fellow Buddhists in Tibet.
This fast is aimed at bringing attention to calls by Tibetans in Tibet to allow the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and for greater freedom in Tibet in the aftermath of the series of tragic self-immolations and subsequent deaths from injuries, and the police firings at Tibetan demonstrators. Twenty two Tibetans have self-immolated since the self-immolation of the monk Tapey of Kirti Monastery on February 27, 2009.
Fifteen of the protesting Tibetans who set themselves on fire have died and the whereabouts and the conditions of others remain unknown. And an undisclosed number of protesting Tibetans have been shot dead by the Chinese police. The three activists participating in the indefinite hunger strike are Shingza Rinpoche of Sera Monastery in South India, Dorjee Gyalpo from Minnesota and Yeshi Tenzing from Herbertpur in India.
TYC President Tsewang Rigzin has said, “The sacrifices of these patriots inevitably prove that China is failing in its efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people either through propaganda or by force. China must wake up to the reality that it can never dream of conquering the undying will of the Tibetan people who stand united and resolute to ultimately bring down the brutal communist Chinese regime.”
Although the cause which these courageous Tibetans represents is a worthy cause, their lives will be at risk from a prolonged fast and prayers are being said for them by fellow Buddhists. Their lives are highly valued and it is hoped they will realize they can help the Tibetan cause more if they are alive than dead and decide to call off their hunger strike in a reasonable amount of time.
