DHARAMSHALA: Tibet’s flame of truth relay on its journey through different corners of south India received strong support from the Indian community, including the All India Catholic University Federation in Chennai.
Mr Karma Yeshi, a member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile who was leading the relay, visited Loyala college and met with Rev. Fr. M G Selvin Raj SJ, the director of All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) on reaching Chennai on 11 July. Mr Karma briefed him on the current situation inside Tibet and the flame of truth relay’s signature campaign. The relay aims to get 3,00,000 signatures for the petition to be presented to the UN on 10 December.
“Rev Fr M G Selvin Raj SJ signed the appeal letter and promised to raise the issue of Tibet in AICUF meeting to be held in August this year and collect thousands of signatures to support the issue of Tibet,” Mr Karma said.
Mr Karma, accompanied by local Tibetan students and Tibet supporter Aasha Reddy, visited Madras University and Madras Christian College, and initiated the signature campaign there.
Mr Karma also visited Lady Andal School, one of the most prominent schools of the city, and addressed a morning assembly of students and staff on the ongoing “Flame of Truth” relay campaign launched by Tibetan Parliament.
“The school showed tremendous support for the campaign as students and staff have promised to collect more signatures and submit to the committee by 15 November,” he said.
Through this campaign, the Parliament-in-exile urges UN member states and Secretary General to address following demands:
1. The United Nations must discuss the issue of Tibet based on the resolutions that it has passed in 1959, 1961 and 1965, and continuously make efforts to fulfil the substance of these resolutions
2. An independent international fact-finding delegations must immediately be sent to investigate the ongoing crisis in Tibet
3. The United Nations must take special responsibility to ensure that the basic aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet are fulfilled