Images of bravery in Tibet

Monks of Rebkong monastery defying the Chinese authorities in Gardze town (Qinghai) by holding high a banned picture of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan National flag. The banner reads “Invite the Dalai Lama, Freedom Now”. This photo was taken on the 17th, March, 2008. (Copyright: Free Tibet Campaign)

Tibetans in Machu County protest against China /March 17 2008 (note poster of the Dalai Lama being carried aloft).

Olympics torch

TAKE ACTION NOW and tell the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to immediately remove Tibet from the Olympic torch relay route.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/notorch/. please support.

Tibet in the year of the Olympics

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STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET, Hyderabad,

Friends of Tibet, and

Regional Tibetan Youth Congress

Cordially invites you for a documentary screening on Tibet followed by a discussion on the Tibetan situation.

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Date-27th March 2008

Venue:- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Complex

(LHC .2) Room number -111-first floor.

time- 5.15 PM

contact-Arnav 9912569624.

France and Belgium consider Olympic boycott over Tibet; pressure builds

From the AP:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday that he cannot rule out the possibility he might boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics if China continues its crackdown in Tibet.

An official from France’s state television company said the broadcaster would likely boycott the games if coverage was censored, and the European Union urged China to show restraint as it tries to quell continuing unrest in its Tibetan areas.

Also from the AP, Belgium is not ruling out a boycott of the entire Olympics (some great arguments for a full boycott are here, from Anne Applebaum of the Washington Post):

The Belgian government was not ruling out a boycott of the Beijing Olympics if the situation in Tibet worsened. [...]

The sports minister of the northern Belgian region of Flanders said he will not attend the opening ceremony in Beijing, as it could be used for propaganda purposes.

And in the European Parliament, some members wore T-shirts with the five Olympic rings shaped as handcuffs during Wednesday’s session in Brussels. Some also had Tibetan flags draped over their seats. (see photo)

To recap other boycott news:

• The Polish prime minister is boycotting the Olympic opening ceremonies.
• Prince Charles declared that he would boycott the entire Beijing Olympics
• Thai Olympic torchbearer Narisa Chakrabongse courageously withdrew in protest
• An Australian torchbearer is considering withdrawing

Reports from Tibet on March 25th

As of the midnight deadline, approximately 645 Tibetans from various parts of Tibet had “surrendered” to the Chinese authorities. Only a few were known to have been released without formal charges. The TCHRD expressed concern that China’s issuance of public notices calling for protesters to surrender are “threat[s] in disguise” used to intimidate and create fear among Tibetans.