New York — Tibetan activists from the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) are holding a hunger strike protest in front of the United Nations, New York, to demand the restoration of freedom and independence for Tibet, and to protest the Chinese Communist government's new law targeting Tibetans' religion, culture, and language. They also callon the Chinese government to release all Tibetan political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
The 18th Executive Members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) of New York and New Jersey are holding a 90-hour hunger strike protest in front of the United Nations, New York, USA from April 6 to 10, 2026. They demanded the restoration of freedom and independence for Tibet, and protested agains the Chinese Communist government's new law targeting Tibetans' religion, culture, and language. The members are also calling on the Chinese government to release all Tibetan political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
Eight Tibetan activists, including Lobsang Tsering, (President of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), and Kundue Pasang, Tseten, and Tenzin Wangdu, are on the hunger strike protest. They are sitting in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City to raise awareness about ongoing human rights violations in Tibet. These violations include the arrest, torture, and imprisonment of innocent Tibetans protesting the destruction of their environment and the suppression of their language, religion and culture. An RTYC member is distributing pamphlets with information about Tibet and their seven demands for the Chinese government, as well as an appeal to the UN and other international organizations.
Lobsang Tsering, the President of the RTYC, said, "It is a critical time for Tibet. The situation inside Tibet is worsening every year. The Chinese Communist government is forcibly placing over one million Tibetan children in state-run, colonial-style boarding schools, where they are only taught the Chinese language and culture and the ideologies of Chinese leaders. This aims to eliminate the Tibetan identity by separating children from their language, culture, and religion." Most recently, on March 12, 2026, the Chinese government passed a new law entitled the "Ethnic Unity Law" in the name of unity. This law targets Tibetans' religion, culture, and language."
The peaceful protestors demanded the Chinese government to release all Tibetan political prisoners including the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and his teacher and family, they are missing since 1995.
They further demanded the Chinese government to end policies that aim to erase Tibetan religion, culture, and language. Additionally, they also call on the government to end the deforestation, mining, and dam construction on the Tibetan Plateau, as these activities threaten the region's fragile ecosystem.
Tibetan activists said, "China must not interfere with the recognition of the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama. His Holiness has already announced that the recognition of his reincarnation lies with the Office of the Dalai Lama (Gaden Podrang) and no one else."
They demanded the Chinese government to end forced assimilation policies disguised as 'ethnic unity and progress. "Stop coercion, intimidation, and harassment of Tibetan communities in Tibet and in exile, including acts of cross-border repression," they added.
The Tibetans urge the UN and international community to support Tibetan cause and push the Chinese government to engage meaningful dialogue without preconditions with Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
