DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile today said that the second of leg of the flame of truth to highlight the grim situation in Tibet would kick off on the occasion of Tibetan democracy day on 2 September.
Addressing a press conference in Dharamsala, Pema Jungney, a member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said the first leg of the torch relay has covered more than 48 regions across India since it began on 6 July. He thanked all the people, including Indians, for their active participation in the relay and the signature campaign. He said the relay would continue in India and urged everyone to take part when it passes through their localities.
He said the second phase of the relay would cover 30 countries in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and Australia. (View map at the end)
He said Tibetans in Tibet are experiencing hell under the brutal repression of the Chinese government since its invasion of Tibet, which is pushing an increasing number of Tibetans to set themselves on fire. Since March 2009, 49 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet crying for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibetans.
Responding to questions, he said the sacrifices made by Tibetans living inside Tibet must not go in vain, adding, it is our bounden duty to arouse the conscience of the international community to press the United Nations to take urgent action on the issue of Tibet. The result of the signature campaign being organised with the torch relay will be submitted to UN headquarters in New York, UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and UN Information Centre in New Delhi on 10 December.
The petition demands the United Nations to discuss the issue of Tibet based on the resolutions it has passed in 1959, 1961 and 1965, send an independent international fact-finding delegations to investigate the ongoing crisis in Tibet and to ensure that the basic aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet are fulfilled.
(Click on regions below to view route of the torch relay)