Tibetans to switch off lights during Olympics

Notwithstanding Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's good wishes for Beijing Olympics, Tibetans have decided to switch off lights of their houses for two hours during the opening ceremony of the mega sporting event on Friday protesting China's Tibet policy.

Tibetans residing in Dharamshala would also switch their lights off for one hour every day from 8 pm to 9 pm during the entire duration of the Olympics games from August 8 to August 24, Tenzin Choeying, national director of 'Students for a Free Tibet', said in a statement.

Tibetans would gather at their main temple at Mcleodganj with their faces covered with black clothes at 6 pm on Friday, when the Olympics inauguration ceremony is scheduled to begin, to show solidarity towards people 'suffering' in their homeland, he said.

Ngwang Woebar, President of Gu-Chu-Sum (former political prisoners association) said they will ask countrymen not to watch the games on television for the cause of Tibet.

Chemi Yang Drung, President of National Democratic Party of Tibet, said marches will be carried out daily till the Olympics.

A day before the start of Olympics, Tibetans in large numbers on Thursday marched through the streets of Dharamsala seeking support of the international community against Chinese 'repression' in Tibet.