India, Aug. 14 -- As many as 90 persons in Kalimpong tonsured in solidarity with Pawo Rangzen, who had self-immolated outside the United Nations' headquarters six weeks ago, protesting against the newly enforced "Ethnic Unity and Progress Law" in Tibet. Tibetans from all walks of life, age bracket joined the programme organised by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Kalimpong chapter at the Triangular Park in Kalimpong on Thursday. "According to Tibetan Buddhism we hold a ritual on the 49th day from the day of the death of a person. On August 20, falls the 49th day of the self immolation of Pawo Rangzen. On that day we will all sit on a 24 hour long hunger strike protesting the Chinese laws forcefully clamped on Tibet" stated Leksang Phengay, General Secretary, RTYC, Kalimpong, talking to the Millennium Post. "This is the least we can do to express solidarity and pay homage to the martyr. My hair will grow again but he has made the supreme sacrifice for Tibet" stated Tenzing Rigzing, who runs a noodle factory. "Shaving my head is not something I'm ashamed of", stated Anushika Pradhan. Lobga Rangzen, 52, who lived in the US for two decades, set himself ablaze outside the UN headquarters on July 2 after placing a Tibetan flag on a traffic barrier.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.