Tibetan Youth Congress launched an indefinite relay hunger strike in Dharamsala Sunday to demand immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops stationed at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County.
Reports say clashes erupted at the monastery after a monk set himself on fire and died last month. Authorities have imposed a severe lockdown on the monastery restricting movement of the 2500 Kirti monks since the incident.
The monks were subjected to increasing patriotic re-education for the last few days creating a tense atmosphere in the area.
“TYC is demanding immediate withdrawal of troops stationed at Kirti Monastery," said Dhondhup Lhadar, Vice President of the largest Tibetan non-governmental organization.
" We demand that China stop the forced patriotic reeducation campaign on the monks and allow religious freedom and freedom of movement for the monks in Kirti monastery,” he added.
Lhadar called on international organizations to pressure the Chinese government to exercise restraint in Ngaba country.
