Tibetan exiles march in New Delhi
7 Aug 2008, 2019 Hrs

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New Delhi, August 7 (ANI): Scores of Tibetan exiles marched in here today against Chinese occupation of their homeland.

Protesters holding banners with messages like 'Save Tibet' and 'Our Struggle is for Freedom and Justice' and wearing headbands with 'Free Tibet' written on them marched down the roads in New Delhi.

With Olympics beginning on Friday in Beijing, Tibetans are trying to reinvigorate their freedom movement and protest against what they see as China's illegal occupation of their homeland.

The protesters termed the Chinese hosting of the Olympics as an injustice to the Tibetans.

"They (Chinese authorities) are carrying out atrocities in Tibet, they are killing people in Tibet and with the Olympics beginning in China, it is a great injustice to us," said Gelek Tashi, a protester.

China has controlled with an iron fist Tibet since People's Liberation Army troops marched into the region in 1950 and Beijing considers Tibet as an integral part of its territory. ritics accuse China of repressing Tibetans' religious aspirations, especially their veneration for the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

The protesters said they were fighting for the cause of human rights in Tibet. Tibetans accuse China of suppressing human rights and carrying out atrocities on the people inside Tibet.

"We want human rights in Tibet. We want people in Tibet to live in freedom we also want human rights for them. Human rights is our birth right so we want that... We want China to stop killing and also stop genocide and also stop terrorizing our people," said Tenzin Sherap, another protester.

Meanwhile, fearing protests by the Tibetans, security was beefed up at the Chinese Ambassador's residence in New Delhi.

Armed security personnel stood guard outside the Ambassador's residence as they kept a strict vigil around.

China has accused followers of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader, of stirring riots and protests in Tibetan regions in March in a bid to upstage Olympic preparations. The Dalai Lama has denied the charge and said he does not oppose the Games.

But groups campaigning for an independent Tibet have said the Beijing Olympics should be an opportunity to voice criticism of Chinese policy.

The Dalai Lama fled into exile in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. (ANI)