Society

Tibetan militia lends its back for relief

By Wang Huazhong (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-14 08:54
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ZHOUQU, Gansu - Sanamgeshe, a Tibetan militia man, had no idea how bad the situation was in the landslide-hit Zhouqu county when he received a midnight call on Sunday to join the rescue mission.

For the 30-year-old from Heishui county of Sichuan province, it was just another day at work.

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Sanamgeshe has also been part of the rescue mission in the quake-struck Yushu county and helped restore stability in Lhasa after the March 14 riots last year.

"Once I reached Zhouqu on Aug 9, the only thing on my mind was work. Even food is not much of a concern," he said with a dead straight face.

Heishui county of Sichuan province dispatched 60 militia men to help with rescue efforts in Zhouqu. The bulk of their work is to transport disaster relief goods from the edge of the county to the distribution spots in affected areas.

The road stretches along an unimpressive 3-kilometer distance, which they have to cover countless times every day, carrying kilograms of instant noodles on their backs.

Through knee-deep water and mud, they go back and forth, uphill and downhill, over and over again.

A stench of dead bodies greets them along the road. But only a handful of them care to wear masks.

"We have stuffy noses," said 29-year-old Bochi, who had stuffed a tissue paper ball in each of his nostrils.

He said that whenever he saw people carrying dead bodies, he said a silent prayer.

"(And) when there's no work to do in the evening, I pray for them again. May they rest in peace and their next life be brighter."

According to Tang Yongming, commander of the militia from Heishui county, his team managed to transport more than 5,000 parcels of goods, weighing a total of 80 tons, on Aug 10 alone.

On the afternoon of Aug 12, they helped unload seven trucks carrying 210 tons of bottled water. In total 24,220 bottles were distributed.

"On Thursday we unloaded 30 tons of water in 12 minutes," said 24-year-old Ngobeling.

"We shout chants while unloading the goods. Once the chant begins, everybody gets energy.

"I believe every little extra bit we carry makes a difference. Seeing the victims suffering makes me feel as if my family was suffering," said Ngobeling.

"We are going to stay around to help. We won't leave until our assistance is no longer needed."