Twelve activists from Students for a Free Tibet – India (SFT) were were detained on December 21 following their protest against the human rights abuses suffered by people living in Tibet under Chinese rule. The protest took place in front of the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra – the Overseas Indian Affairs building in Chanakyapuri, the diplomatic area– just before the arrival there of Chinese official and diplomat Wang Yi who was visiting India to inaugurate an India-China exchange programme, the India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchange.
Wang Li was meeting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swara to set up the project which aims to improve cultural and direct people-to-people exchange.
The SFT activists raised a giant banner with the statement “Wang Yi Free Tibet”. SFT Grass-roots Director Rinzin Choedon said that they “are holding the protest to hold the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Communist regime accountable for the ongoing genocide and atrocities inside Tibet.” A protest also took place outside Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi to coincide with Wang Li’s arrival there, with a banner reading “China, Out of Tibet Now” and shouting of Free-Tibet slogans.
Ms Swaraj stated: “I’m satisfied with the quality of discussion today. Ten priorities we discussed include enhancing cooperation in films, education, tourism, art, yoga, media, culture, sports, academic and youth exchanges.”
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