Tibetan exiles vow to march on Chinese border

DHARMSALA, India (CNN) -- Tibetan exiles vowed to defy an Indian government order that they stop their march from the northern Indian city of Dharmsala to Tibet's border in a protest against China's rule over their homeland.

About 100 people -- mostly students and monks -- plan to reach India's border with Tibet for a confrontation with Chinese authorities just before the Beijing Olympics begin in August, according to Himachal Pradesh, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress and one of the march organizers.

"As long as the issue of Tibet is not resolved, we will resist China occupation," Pradesh said.

Several hundred monks clashed with Chinese police near the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on Tuesday, according to Radio Free Asia. It was the second day of protests by monks on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising that forced the Dalai Lama into exile.

The protests coincided with other demonstrations Tuesday by Tibetan exiles in New Delhi, India and Katmandu, Nepal.

The Indian government, which hosts 100,000 Tibetan exiles, has opposed the march and protests. Indian police in Dharmsala said they would enforce an order that bans the marchers from leaving the district, which is home to the Tibetan exile government and the Dalai Lama.

Pradesh said his group is acting independently of the government or Dalai Lama.

"What we are saying is that we are Tibetan, and we belong to Tibet and we need to go back to our country," he said. "It's as simple as that."

The marchers will try to cross into the Punjab district in defiance of the restraining order on Thursday, he said.

Pradesh said the marchers were not afraid of being arrested by Chinese authorities when they try to enter Tibet in the weeks and days before the Olympics open.

A U.S. State Department report released Tuesday characterized China's human rights record as one of the most repressive in the world and cited tightening controls over religious freedom in Tibet.