The hunger strike has been organised by Political Movement Committee of Mondgod, Doeguling settlement near Hubli. The monks in saffron robes have set up placards denouncing Chinese repression and cultural genocide in Tibet and demanding release of the Panchen Lama Gendhun Choekyi Nyima as well as Lama Tenzin Delek.

The Panchen Lama, chosen by the Dalai Lama, is perhaps the youngest political prisoner of the world, and is believed to be in the custody of Chinese government. His whereabouts are not known since the boy was identified as ‘Panchel Lama’ by the Dalai Lama.

The monks are demanding immediate stop to the brutal suppression by the Chinese forces, unconditional release of all the Tibetans arrested by the Chinese authorities, appointment of a fact-finding committee by the United Nations, opening of talks by the Chinese government with the Tibetan government-in-exile etc.