Tibetans and Tamils Join Hands Against “The Hindu”

Tenzin Tsundue speaking on 'Media Freedom' at a function organised by May 17 Movement at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

(March 11, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) "The Tamilians and the Tibetans have been forced to stand together today as N Ram's The Hindu media brigade continues to charge both communities as 'separatists' completelyignoring the genocide and suffering two communities are undergoing" said Thirumurugan, key organiser of the May 17 Movement of Tamil-Tibetan gathering at Chennai, Tamil Nadu recently.

An young activist , Thirumurugan gathered a huge number of Tamilians and Tibetans yesterday to protest the continued barrage of biased and prejudiced reports by the Hindu. Thirumurugan managed to bring into this alliance the famous Tibetan poet and activist Tenzin Tsundue from Dharamshala who is known for surprise protest antics when Chinese leaders come visiting India.

"This is a unique gathering here" said Tsundue, who spoke in a spattering Tamil and then later went into English. "When our Tibetan students marched to The Hindu office, our youth were alone, today the Tamils have realised how manipulative and maligned the reports made by N Ram". The Tibetan writer said: "The Hindu politics is only a symptom. The larger issue is the coming of Chinese influence in the Indian space, and the creation of the Chinese hegemonic cordon around the Indian subcontinent like the growing Chinese influence in Burma, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and of course Pakistan." Tsundue took the opportunity and explained how deeply the cause of Tibetan independence is directly related to India's security in the face growing Chinese influence in the world and threat on India.

Former Navy Commandant Mr Subramanium said: China is a failed "union" of occupied countries and contradictions. There is no future in this state. The state is already rotting and it will soon come crumbling down.

The gathering passed a resolution where they said "since the Hindu is biased and prejudiced towards freedom struggles, we declare the Hindu anti-Tamil, anti-India and anti-freedom."

Besides the fiery speeches there were many books and literature to buy or take for free. The Tibetan students put up an impressive photo exhibition on the suffering of Tibetans under Chinese control. Friends of Tibet's Indian supporters like Mr. Hubert and Anto V also spoke to the gathering, so was Aasha Reddy, known as the local guardian for the 200-odd local Tibetan students studying and working in this south Indian coastal city of Chennai.

Friends of Tibet has carried for a long time a campaign called 'Save the Hindu' (www.friendsoftibet.org/save/) to save The Hindu, one of the oldest national newspapers from the prejudiced reports forced on its readers. The Indian Tibet support group says that the Hindu carries reports from Chinese news agency Xinhua and the People's Daily, but refuses to include any Tibetan voice in their reports. Tenzin Tsundue represented the Bylakuppe chapter of TYC and TWA and also Friends of Tibet.