Dharamshala – Tibetans and Tibetan activists from four organisations in Dharamshala came together and expressed their solidarity with the ongoing critical situation in Dege County, Tibet, where Tibetan lay people and monks are facing forced displacement by the Chinese authorities, due to the construction of a mega-dam in their area. Even though they kneel and beg them to stop the order, the authorities increase the force and arrest the Tibetans.
Around 300 Tibetans gathered in front of the Dege county government building on February 14, 2024, to protest against the construction of the largest hydroelectric power plant in their region and the forced displacement of their homes and monasteries. They called on the county authorities to cancel the plan to build the power station and the order to move their homes and monasteries.
A video was circulated on February 21, 2024, showing Tibetans and monks on their knees, weeping and requesting the Chinese authorities to halt the dam construction plan and order the resettlement of villages and monasteries. Another video shows the Chinese authorities using force against peaceful Tibetan demonstrators and also arresting Tibetans. The sound "oh, they are arresting" can be clearly heard in the video, but no further information could be found, due to the tight control over the flow of information from Tibet to the free world.
Tibetan Women's Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and Regional Tibetan Women's Association held a solidarity event on February 22, 2024, on Main Square, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, HP, India and joined by Tibetans from the vicinity of Dharamshala. They expressed their deep concern about Tibetans who are being tortured and arrested by the Chinese authorities for protesting against the Chinese authorities' forced order to move their ancestral homes and thousand-year-old monasteries, as well as to protect their rights to live in their own homes and monasteries.
The organisations issued statement and it says," We stand in solidarity with the Tibetan community in Dege County in Tibet, as they peacefully protest against the construction of a hydropower dam on the Drichu River. This project threatens the displacement of residents from two villages and six monasteries, jeopardizing their homes, livelihoods, and cultural heritage."
The Activists said, "It is imperative to highlight that the displacement of Tibetan communities are not new phenomena. The forced resettlement of Tibetans due to large-scale development projects like the dam on the Drichu River being one of the many examples. The continued disregard for the rights and well-being of Tibetans in the face of such development projects is unacceptable and demands immediate attention from the international community."
"Furthermore, it is crucial to recognise that Tibet holds significant global importance beyond its borders, often referred to as the "Third Pole", Tibet's glaciers and rivers serve as the source of major rivers that sustain over 1.5 billion people across Asia. The ecological stability of Tibet is, therefore essential for the well-being of not only Tibetans, but also countless others who depend on these vital waterways," they explained.
They declared, "The construction of the dam on the Drichu River not only threatens the local Tibetan community but also poses a risk to the fragile ecosystem of the Tibetan plateau. Any disruption to Tibet's rivers and a diversion of the rivers could have far-reaching consequences for the environment, biodiversity, and livelihoods of millions of people downstream."
They said, "The resilience and courage displayed by the Tibetan protesters in the face of adversity are commendable. Their determination to protect their land and way of life deserves our unwavering support and solidarity."
"We urge the international community to join us in condemning the construction of the darn and calling for immediate action to halt its progress. It is imperative that we amplify the voices of Tibetans and stand in solidarity with them in their struggle for dignity, self-determination, and justice," the Tibetan activists urged.
