Tibetan minister to launch awareness drive in Northeast

Guwahati, March 25 (IANS) The home minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Gyari Dolma is expected to kick start a campaign for the cause of Tibetan independence in Guwahati Monday.

Dolma, who is based in Dharamsala, will arrive here for the first time and she is also likely to participate in a seminar on the theme "Tibet and the Himalayan Environment & Ecology". The seminar is being organized by the North East Regional unit of the Core Group for the Tibetan Cause.

"Our objective is to raise public awareness over the issue of the Tibetan cause in this part of the country. Besides the fact that there are several Tibetan refugees in Northeastern India, Tibet is very important for the people of the Northeast. Anything that happens in Tibet will have a direct impact on India's Northeast," said R.K. Khrimey, NE Regional convener of the Core Group.

"While Dolma will kick start the campaign here tomorrow (Monday), we are looking forward to set up the Tibet support group in each state of the Northeast region," Khrimey added.

Khrimey hoped that public awareness about the Tibetan cause will mount pressure on the international community and the Indian government to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the government of the People's Republic of China and the Tibetan Government-in- Exile.