Cycle rally to highlight Tibetan cause

DEHRADUN: As many as 47 Tibetans from around the country started their journey on cycles to Delhi from the state capital on Tuesday to highlight what they claim pitiable condition of Tibetans under the Chinese rule.
The bicycle rally named ‘Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama’ also aims at spreading awareness about 11th Panchen Lama-- Gedhun Choekyi Nyima--who is the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism.The rally is being organised by Tibetan Youth Congress -- the largest Tibetan NGO in exile.
The cycle rally was launched on May 17 as Panchen Lama disappeared 21 years ago, in 1995, on the same day.
The rally will end in Delhi on May 23, the day “17-Point Agreement” was signed between Tibet and China. The ending date of the rally signifies that Tibetans do not accept the agreement as it was signed “under duress”, a participant said.
Speaking to TOI, Tenzin Migyang, president of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, said, “47 cyclists including one person of Indian origin who is a support the Tibetan cause have participated. We will reach Delhi on May 22 night and on May 23 we all will assemble in front of Jantar Mantar and present a memorandum of our demands to the UN.”
Tibetans from Dekyiling in Dehradun, Poanta Sahib, Puruwalla, Raipur, Rajpur, Herbertpur, Nainital, Mussorie, Delhi, Dharamsala and Bir Tibetan Settlements are taking part in this cycle rally.