Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 12 (ANI): Around 50 Tibetan men, women and elderly members began a 24-hour hunger strike and peace protest at Chaura Maidan here, demanding international attention to the Tibetan cause and opposing what they described as efforts to undermine Tibetan language, culture and religious identity.

The protest, organised by the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Shimla, began at 4 pm on Tuesday and is scheduled to conclude at 4 pm on Wednesday (August 12).

The protesters said the hunger strike was being held in memory of Lobsang Rangzen, who, according to the organisers, self-immolated outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 2 in protest against Chinese government policies.

Speaking to ANI, Tibetan freedom activist Tsering Paldon said the protest had two primary objectives: opposing China’s newly introduced Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, which the protesters allege threatens Tibetan language and culture, and...