Tibetans stage candlelight vigil in Dharamsala over death of a youth

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

ANI
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Pema Tsepak

Dharamsala, Jan 28 (ANI): Members of a couple of voluntary fora of Tibetans in-exile and other Tibetans held a candlelight vigil here to mourn the death of a Tibetan youth.
Chinese police officials in the Dzogang County of Chinese occupied Tibet allegedly tortured Pema Tsepak for carrying a poster and raising slogan for a free Tibet.

According to Tenzin Cheodon, a member of the Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) Tsepak was among the three Tibetans who were detained by the Chinese security forces.

Pema was later admitted to a hospital and was declared dead on January 23.

Members of Tsawa Community Centre in cooperation with the Tibetan Women's Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Ex-political Prisoners Movement and Students for a Free Tibet ( India) organised the candlelight vigil to express their grief and concern over Pema's death.

Pema did a very non-violent protest, but he was beaten to death, and that's why we have gathered here to mourn over his death, observed B. Tsering, President, Tibetan Women Association.

Tibetans living in exile say the Chinese atrocities have in creased since the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa in March 2008, whereas China has blamed the Dalai Lama clique for instigating the unrest. (ANI)