Exiled Tibetans offer prayers to express solidarity with their martyrs

Dharamsala, Oct 26 (ANI): Scores of Buddhist monks in Dharamsala offer prayers as homage to martyrs of the Tibetan freedom struggle on Sunday.

Monks gathered at Tsuglagkhang Temple to offer prayers in memory of those who lost their lives fighting for the Tibetan cause.

Regional TibetanYouth Congress (RTYC), a Tibetan voluntary group, organized the prayers.

Tenzin Dicky, vice chairperson RTYC said that they are offering prayers for their martyrs who sacrificed their lives.

"We are praying for all those who died, who have sacrificed their life without any conditions for their country. Just to raise their voice they have sacrificed their life and that's why we are praying for their souls to rest in peace," said Dicky.

The congregation also condemned the execution of four Tibetan activists by China for their alleged role in last year's Lhasa riots.

"On October 20, Chinese government have executed four Tibetans who have peacefully protested last year. So we RTYC members would like to strongly condemn their action," said Dicky.

Chinese troops occupied Tibet in 1950 and the Dalai Lama, who is now based in northern India, fled the mountainous region in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

Demonstrations by monks in Lhasa in March last year escalated into deadly riots and triggered protests against Chinese rule within Tibet and across the world, particularly in the run-up to the summer Olympics in Beijing last August. (ANI)