Tenzin Tsundue on a mission to create awareness about China's 'expansionist' policies

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Tenzin Tsundue, who is on his journey through the Indian Himalayan region to create awareness on the 70 years of Chinese occupation in Tibet and also disseminate information about the 'expansionist' policies of China among the people residing in border areas of India, reached at State capital city, Itanagar on Monday.

Forty-eight year old Tenzin Tsundue is a poet, writer, traveler and activist based in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. He has been travelling the five Himalayan States of the country, which started from Himachal Pradesh, and then passed through Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim. Addressing the media at the press club here on Monday, Tsundue said he has travelled most of the Himalayan parts of Tawang and has further plans to visit Pasighat, Aalo, Menchuka, Tezu and conclude at Miao. He said his prime objective to walk around the Himalayas is to create awareness on the Chinese occupation of Tibet and its impact on the Indian Himalayas, and also the growing Chinese security threat in the country.

"During my stay in villages near the Himalayas, I showed people the film of the escape of the Dalai Lama from Tibet. These films provide information on Chinese expansion, occupation over Tibet and Chinese military pressure across the Indian Himalayan borders," he said.

He said, though the Indian Government along with Indian Army was doing their best at their respective level, the people residing in the border areas have no awareness about Chinese expansionist policies, and the current activities in the borders.

When questioned if his travel is anyway sponsored by the Indian Army for other reasons, Tsundue said it was purely his own personal initiative. However, he also did not deny that he was being followed by the Indian Army.

"I get calls and am being questioned about my travel, which is normal when someone travels in the border areas. Maybe its due to security reasons I am being tracked, but as a citizen of the country, I also have limited access to travel like any other Indian has," he added.

Also, when asked about the update on the 'Free Tibet' campaign, Tsundue said the fight was still on for free Tibet, but it could no longer be fought in isolation. Now that the matter is international, there is support for the campaign.

"Country like the United States and many others are now speaking for Free Tibet. Likewise, India has to be involved in the matter as it shares boundary with China," he said, hoping that the quad partnership among Australia, Japan, India and the United States will be pressing the issue on a global platform. On the sidelines, Tsundue also said the people of State have to focus on balancing the transition periods of tradition with inevitable modernization. He said the State is blessed with vibrant culture, tradition and language, which need to be documented in the form of arts, cinema and other means.

Also Read:  People on border little aware of China's expansionist policies: Tenzin Tsundue

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