Dharamsala(AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hundreds of young Tibetans in exile are setting out today on a march from India to Tibet, where they aim to arrive before August 8th, the opening day of the Beijing Olympics.   Meanwhile China has promised to combat the “terrorism” of separatist groups.

The young Tibetans march is a means to protest Chinese repression of Tibet. The choice of today as the starting date recalls the violent suppression of the Tibetan revolt against the occupying Chinese army in 1959.  The exiled Tibetan government based in Dharamsala has not official approved the march.  But many Tibetan groups and sympathisers are planning demonstrations in support of the return march to Tibet.

Beijing claims that Tibet is an integral part of China, but Tibetans claims that they have been independent for centuries.  The border of the Himalayan region is under the control of the Chinese military that does not hesitate to shoot anyone who crosses in either direction.   The young march organisers hope that China, under the eye of the entire world ahead of the Olympic Games, will not dare to carry out violent gestures.  

But only yesterday, in a press meeting Communist Party Secretary from Xinjiang, Wang Lequan promised to root out all forms of “terrorism”.  Wang was above all referring to attempted attacks by Muslim separatists in Xinjiang, but it was also a warning to the “Tibetan separatists”.  “"Terrorists, saboteurs and separatists are to be battered resolutely, - said Wang - no matter what ethnic group they are from."

For decades Beijing has promoted a campaign of religious and cultural genocide in Tibet, colonizing the area by Chinese emigration to exploit the regions rich tourist and mineral industry.