New Delhi (AsiaNews) –Over 20,000 Tibetans from across the world  have assembled this morning at Jantar Manter Palace in New Delhi, to show their support for the 14 Tibetans who are on hunger strike for the past one month against the Chinese government.  The protesters - from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Switzerland, the United States, Great Britain and Belgium, are demanding accountability from the Chinese government on the situation inside Tibet.  But above all  for information on Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the missing 11th Panchen Lama, held hostage in an unknown location since 1995. Since then there has been no further word of his well being.

Kalsang Phuntsok Godrukpa, president, Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) announced: “This is our first demonstration targeting the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We have one year and if they fail to recognise (the protest) we will think of another strategy towards a workable solution”. “TYC members initiated a hunger strike last month – he continued - and now we will begin a campaign for Tibetan participation based on Gandhi's tradition of Satyagraha. Until there is a satisfactory response from the People's Republic of China (PRC), the movement will continue and the PRC will be held responsible for any eventual consequences resulting from the movement”.

However, the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader living in exile, has launched an appeal urging the 14 Tibetans to end their fast has “Instead of sacrificing precious human lives in his way, it would be of greater benefit and service to our cause by striving to continuously carry out this spirit of unyielding courage and determination from generation to generation”. The protesters say they do not have an option but to discontinue their hunger strike. The protesters however say they are determined to push ahead.  “We cannot ignore the appeal” – said Kalsang – We will talk to those who are already on hunger strike and will call it off after a meeting tomorrow. But it will only be after we come up with a better strategy and more effective measures to make the Chinese government agree to our demands”.

Penpa Tsering, the Executive Director of Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre, explained to AsiaNews that he was in New Delhi, with 7 other members of Tibetan Parliment, not as an organiser but to “look after the security of our people and also to look after the law and order situation that may arise given this large gathering”.

Dhondup Dorjee, Information Secretary, Tibetan Youth Congress told AsiaNews of his enthusiasm for this “historic encounter” of 20 thousand Tibetans from across the world. "There is anger and frustration and you can see the desperation in the Tibetans – he recounts - we would like to tell the Chinese Government that the Tibetan movement is peaceful and non-violent and this demonstration is also a message to the International Community that the Tibetan people have not given up our hope”.

In the meantime, six 'Free Tibet' activists were arrested on the Great Wall of China after they unfurled protest banners, and four journalists with Reporters Without Borders were expelled after they were forced to sign a statement in which they acknowledge that they "conspired against public order."