Oppression from all sides

This is written in anger towards the racial and gender discrimination that Tibetan women refugees must experience while in areas labeled as "sanctuaries or havens" from political oppression.

As prefaced in my previous blog, Indian men are extremely forward and have no shame towards women. Today, Tenzin Woebum-- the director of the Environmental and Development desk also the young lady that I will be traveling to Azhembadad, India with-- was verbally and physically threatened by her Indian cab driver this morning on her way to work. It's monsoon season here, so it's raining hard and Woebum decided to take a cab--rather than walk-- to work. The cab driver was Indian and was driving 6 Indian men and 1 Indian woman to Lower Dharamasla, the same location Woebum needed to go. When everyone got off the cab the driver charged Woebum Rs. 20 while everyone else only had to pay Rs. 10. Woebum questioned why she was being charged more and the taxi driver responded, "you will just pay and not ask questions". Woebum was silent and paid the cab driver. However, when Woebum began to walk towards work the cab driver got out of the car, walked towards Woebum and began yelling with his fist in the air, "what do you think of yourself? Are you the landlord of these streets? I will knock you flat on this ground if you say one more word!". Woebum did not respond and began to run to the TWA office, because she knew that if she had said something the taxi driver would have surely struck her in the streets. I would also like to note that the shops were not open yet, no one in the cab did/said anything, and Woebum was the only female Tibetan woman in sight.

Its saddening to hear and witness this form of discrimination taking place to peaceful people and in a "peaceful land". Watching the women of TWA react to this incidence is also an great inspiration because they are refusing to remain silent and let this behavior continue. Currently some women at the office are consoling Woebum while she's hysterical while others are busily drafting letters for Chief of Police or making phone calls to the cab service.

Woebum and the cab driver have an appointment to meet with the Chief of Police at 10am tomorrow to discuss the incidence. I must also provide the detail that the Indian police are renown for their corruption and favoritism for Indian people when in instances such as these.

Please send your good thoughts and vibes for Woebum.