It is difficult to not encounter a Tibetan in Indian hill stations. They sell woollen sweaters and shawls. They are quite distinct like Kal Sang, a local resident of Mussoorie born of Tibetan parents.
Coverage: Tibet Revolts
Sang works in the Tibetan Homes Foundation in the famous hill station. He has neither been to Tibet nor does he have any relatives there, but his love for homeland has not faded at all.
He and his colleagues have been on hunger strike since March 17. When asked about the purpose of the strike, Sang said: "As Tibetans living in exile, the protests that we are holding at the moment is for our going back to our homeland."
Sang informed that people in Lhasa had been peacefully protesting against the Chinese government since second week of March. The peaceful protestors were brutally shot upon by Chinese police and it was 'terrible'.
According to Sang, as per reports, 157 people have died and over 500 people are badly injured. "No medical services have been provided to them."
Sang says, "We want the UN to go to Tibet and actually see what is going on there. We are asking the Chinese government to open up and allow the media to enter Tibet."
Tibetans' main contention is that they don't have jobs and respect in their homeland, he says, adding that wherever they go, they are looked down upon. "The situation is terrible; something which the people outside Tibet cannot imagine."
Sang says that they get latest information mostly through cell phones.
"We have received some MMS from people in Tibet. The pictures prove how Tibetans have been shot upon, how they have been ripped apart; it's terrible. We have been told by Tibetans that places where killings have occurred get cleared within minutes by the government. The bodies were quickly taken away and buried."
Sang claims that arrested Tibetans are facing a tough time in prison.
"We are told they are not given food and worse, they are given extremely-salted rice to make them feel thirsty. They don't provide them water."
When asked if the hunger strike would make a difference, Sang said: "It's been a month since this fast started. The Tibetan community in Mussoorie wants to stand up and show solidarity to Tibetans in Tibet."
Sang added, "We Tibetans are not against China hosting the Olympics 2008. But we are against human rights abuse by the Chinese on Tibetans. So wherever the Olympic torch has travelled, it has faced protests not just by Tibetans, but by citizens of those countries."
Sang is glad that world leaders are speaking against China and are also talking about boycotting the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August.
Tibetans, wherever they reside, are hopeful.
Sang said, "We will definitely succeed. It's a matter of time. Almost the whole world, except the Chinese government, is supporting us. We are actually waiting for the day when Chinese people in China will actually support us. I am sure the communist regime in China led by President Hu Jintao will definitely fall because truth has to prevail. We saw how Russia collapsed, so we are sure the present communist regime in China will definitely collapse and the Tibetans will succeed."
