The Tibetan community in Darjeeling and adjoining areas of the Northeast held a peace rally on Thursday to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.
The rally also served as a platform to condemn China's construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Drichu river in Derge County, Sichuan Province.
According to Jamyang Bhutia, chairman of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Mirik, over 1,000 Tibetans in Derge were recently arrested during protests against the Gangtuo hydropower station.
Bhutia alleged that the dam project would displace thousands of residents and cause significant environmental damage.
"The dam threatens six monasteries, including the historic 14th-century Wonto monastery, renowned for its exquisite Tibetan Buddhist murals," Bhutia said.
He further urged the international community to intervene and called upon China to release the arrested protestors and halt dam construction.
The rally drew participants from Tibetan communities across the Northeast, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik, Odlabari in Dooars, Gangtok in Sikkim, and Salugara in Siliguri. The peaceful protest procession commenced from Salugara and culminated at Biswadeep Hall on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri.
The protestors condemned China's "brutal crackdown" and highlighted the ongoing repression in Tibet.
Bhutia highlighted Tibet's ongoing struggle under Chinese occupation, citing instances of self-immolation protests and the forced separation of Tibetan children from their families for assimilation into Chinese boarding schools.
Despite pervasive repression, Tibetans have demonstrated resilience in preserving their language, culture, and identity amidst severe threats.
"Tibet remains under occupation and faces tight military control. Over 160 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2008 to protest China's policies," informed Mr. Bhutia.
He added that the UN has raised concerns about the forced separation of Tibetan children from their families for assimilation purposes.
"Despite Tibet ranking among the least free countries globally, with limited information flow, the Tibetan spirit of resistance remains strong. Their language, culture, history, and identity are under threat, but so is their unwavering resistance," Bhutia concluded.
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