04 January 2008
Exiles plan march to Lhasa
(Reuters) Five Tibetan exile groups are planning a march from India into Tibet ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of a series of actions to try and embarrass China into ending its rule in the region. Announcing the plans, they acknowledged it would be difficult and dangerous to try and get past Chinese border guards. They also urged exiled Tibetans to join them in plans to disrupt the Olympic torch as it is carried through 20 cities on five continents. "China is hoping to showcase itself as a global leader and forever silence any challenges to its rule in Tibet", Tsewang Rigzin, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, told a press conference in New Delhi. He said: "Wherever China takes this torch, Tibetans must take to the streets and take action". Organisers plan to begin their march on 10 March 2008, the 49th anniversary of the failed uprising against Chinese rule. They will begin in Dharamsala, before travelling to Delhi, and from there they plan to march to Lhasa.