TIBET ACTIVISTS TO PROTEST CENSOR BOARD’S REMOVAL OF TIBETAN FLAG FROM UPCOMING FILM ‘ROCKSTAR’

For Immediate Release
7 November 2011

Contact: Dorjee Tseten +919805941166
Tenzin Jigdal +919736660451

TIBET ACTIVISTS TO PROTEST CENSOR BOARD’S REMOVAL OF TIBETAN FLAG FROM UPCOMING FILM ‘ROCKSTAR’

Dharamsala – Activists with Students for a Free Tibet are planning rallies and actions in several cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Calcutta and Dharamsala, to protest the controversial decision by Censor Board of India to remove the Tibetan flag and ‘Free Tibet’ banners from the film Rockstar, which comes to theaters this Friday. In a shocking move by the Censor Board, director Imtiaz Ali was told to either delete or blur the visual of the flag.

“It is extremely disturbing that such a grotesque violation of free speech is occurring in the world’s largest democracy,” said Dorjee Tseten, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet India. “By caving in to Chinese pressure, the Censor Board is allowing China to threaten the freedom and liberties that Indians enjoy.

“Tibetans are dying for freedom. In the last eight months, eleven Tibetans in Tibet have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese rule,” said Dorjee Tseten. “At this critical time – when Tibetans are suffering so desperately under Chinese repression – one would expect India to be promoting and protecting the Tibetan people’s basic human rights, not censuring their struggle in a free country simply because China demands it be done.”

Students for a Free Tibet is demanding that the Censor Board reverse its decision before the release of the film and Dorjee Tseten will be seeking a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer, Pankaja Thakur, this week.

Students for a Free Tibet, India (SFT India) is the India National Network of Students for a Free Tibet International, which has over 650 chapters in more than 35 countries, and is a non-profit organization funded entirely by donations from members and supporters.

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PRO-TIBET ACTIVISTS UNFURL BANNER ON NICE LANDMARK TO CALL FOR GLOBAL INTERVENTION IN TIBET; RALLY AND POLITICAL THEATRE TO FOLLOW

For Immediate Release
November 4, 2011

Contacts:
Migmar Dhakyel: Tibetan Youth Association in Europe +33 762 068 590
Norzin Dotschung, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe +41 788 247 270
Pema Yoko, Students for a Free Tibet, +44 7949 104 021

PRO-TIBET ACTIVISTS UNFURL BANNER ON NICE LANDMARK TO CALL FOR GLOBAL INTERVENTION IN TIBET; RALLY AND POLITICAL THEATRE TO FOLLOW

Nice – This morning 8 pro-Tibet activists from Switzerland, Germany and the UK, unfurled a huge 12 x 4.5 metre banner on the Tower Bellanda reading “ENOUGH!” with Tibetan flags lining the bottom. The action – the third in a series of pro-Tibet demonstrations at the G20 Summit ­– is part of a global campaign to pressure the Chinese government to withdraw troops from Tibet and to end the military occupation. 16 Tibetans and their supporters have been detained over the past three days in Cannes for pro-Tibet actions. A large rally with Tibetans from across Europe will also take place today from 10am to 1pm at the Place d’Ile de Beaute.

“Tibetans and our supporters from around the world are here at the G20 Summit to say Enough is Enough! Enough to China’s violent and brutal repression in Tibet, and enough to the failure of our world leaders to hold the Chinese government accountable for its atrocities in Tibet,” said Migmar Dhakyel, a 20-year old Tibetan woman with the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe.

Yesterday, a 35 year-old nun, Palden Choetso, died after she lit herself on fire in Tawu, eastern Tibet. She was calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and for Tibetan independence. Eleven Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet since March this year; 9 since September 26th. At least six have died, including two nuns. Chinese authorities have responded by pouring security personnel into Tibet.

“Yesterday’s desperate act by a Tibetan nun to call for the return of the Dalai Lama is a cry for help and a clear sign that Tibetans have been pushed to the brink under China’s merciless rule,” said Norzin Dotschung, President of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe. “Strong diplomatic action now to pressure China to stop the crackdown in Tibet will help save Tibetan lives.”

Tibet campaigners around the world have launched ‘Enough! Campaign for Global Intervention to Save Tibetan Lives’, which has garnered support from celebrities, politicians and other prominent individuals including Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Richard Gere and the musicians of Radiohead. They have joined over 24,000 others in calling for multilateral pressure on Hu Jintao to resolve the growing crisis in Tibet.

“It is time for the G20′s leaders to stand up and recognize that by acting collectively, courageously, and with principle, they can help to resolve one of the world’s longest-standing injustices – China’s occupation of Tibet.” said Pema Yoko, Students for a Free Tibet UK’s National Director.

PRO-TIBET ACTIVISTS HANG BANNERS IN CANNES AS G20 LEADERS ARRIVE; NINE DETAINED

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2011

***Photos and video footage of the action will be available shortly at http://www.flickr.com/groups/stand-up-for-tibet/

Contacts:
Pema Yoko, Students for a Free Tibet (in France) +33 6 87 163 354
Kate Woznow, Students for a Free Tibet (in France) +33 658 974 236
Tenzin Dorjee, Students for a Free Tibet (in India) +91 973 651 4721 or +1 646 724 0748
Norzin-Lhamo Dotschung, Tibetan Youth Association of Europe (in Switzerland) +41 788 247 270

PRO-TIBET ACTIVISTS HANG BANNERS IN CANNES AS G20 LEADERS ARRIVE; NINE DETAINED

Global Actions Call for Diplomatic Intervention to Stop Chinese Repression after 10 Tibetans have Self-Immolated in Protest this Year

Cannes, France – Two pro-Tibet activists, including one Tibetan, abseiled down the front of Cannes Ville Station and unfurled banners reading “Enough! Global Intervention Now to Save Tibetan Lives” in French. The dramatic action took place as world leaders, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, arrived in Cannes for the G20 Summit, and was part of a global day of action in over 65 cities worldwide to demand global intervention to stop China’s repression in Tibet. The nine activists are Norbu Gyanatshang (Germany), Martha Graugnard (France), Lobsang Dhondup Reichlin (Switzerland), Guillaume Guilpart (France) Phil Kirk (UK), Pema Yoko (UK), Gyamtso (France), Kate Woznow (Canada) and Jyotsna George (India).

“Today the world is standing up for Tibet. We are calling on global leaders to take coordinated action now to pressure Chinese President Hu Jintao to withdraw Chinese troops and armed police from towns and monasteries in eastern Tibet,” said Pema Yoko, Director of Students for a Free Tibet in the UK, who was detained following the action.

Since March 2011, ten young Tibetans have lit themselves on fire in protest of China’s policies; 8 since September 26th. At least five have died, including one nun. Chinese authorities have responded by pouring security personnel into Tibet. Before being forced out of Ngaba, the town at the centre of the crisis, Agence France Presse journalists documented machine-gun toting riot police in the streets, armed personnel carriers used as checkpoints and police stations in one of Tibet’s major monasteries.

“China’s military stranglehold over Tibet has pushed Tibetans to the breaking point and this unprecedented wave of self-immolations is a desperate cry for help. Tibetans are dying for freedom and today we are saying enough to China’s occupation of Tibet and enough to the failure of world leaders to hold China accountable for its atrocities,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet International, one of the detained activists.

Tibet campaigners around the world have launched the ‘Enough! Campaign for Global Intervention to Save Tibetan Lives’, which has garnered support from celebrities, politicians and other prominent individuals including Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Richard Gere and the musicians of Radiohead. They have joined over 21,000 people in calling for multilateral pressure on Hu Jintao to resolve the escalating crisis in Tibet. “We have received overwhelming support for the Enough! campaign from Nobel Laureates, celebrities, politicians, and people of conscience in dozens of countries worldwide. Today we’re taking this groundswell of support to the G20 leaders here in Cannes to demand coordinated, global action for Tibet, because international diplomatic pressure will save Tibetan lives from China’s growing crackdown,” said Norbu Gyantsang, a German-Tibetan member of Tibetan Youth Association of Europe, who was one of the climbers on the action.

Campaigners are calling for a coordinated, multilateral approach, including a joint démarche and the urgent creation of an appropriate and effective multilateral mechanism through which longer-term diplomatic measures to resolve the situation in Tibet can be pursued. See www.StandupforTibet.org.

Tibetans have reached breaking point, world must step in

Statement by Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet International
Wednesday, November 2, 2011

In the last six months, ten Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule. What is driving Tibetans to such drastic measures? What are they trying to tell the world?

Self-immolation is the ultimate expression of outrage, despair, faith and courage. Buddhism forbids monks from taking lives, including their own. There is no religious incentive for those who self-immolate. There are only two reasons for these actions: China’s unbearable repression and Tibetans’ burning desire for freedom.

Tibet ranks among the world’s least free nations, alongside North Korea, Sudan and Burma, according to a 2011 report by Freedom House. In the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, gun-bearing Chinese soldiers are perched atop the nation’s holiest temples. In places like Kardze and Ngaba in eastern Tibet, every street corner is punctuated with checkpoints and surveillance cameras.

The string of self-immolations is a clear indication that Tibetans have reached a breaking point. China’s repression and Tibetan’s desperation in Ngaba is a microcosm of a nation-wide crisis in Tibet, engineered by the China’s repressive and tyrannical rule.

The deplorable conditions at Kirti Monastery, where Buddhist monks are living in a virtual prison and being mercilessly targeted and oppressed by the Chinese authorities, has become so unbearable that young monks are being driven to take truly drastic action, previously unheard of in Tibetan culture.

Tibetans have endured unimaginable suffering under 60 years of Chinese occupation but even during the horrors endured under China’s Cultural Revolution there were no known case of self-immolation.

These self-immolations are a desperate cry calling for the world to intervene to help stop Tibetan’s deep suffering. This tragedy could spiral even further if the Chinese government feels it can continue imprisoning, torturing, disappearing and killing Tibetans with impunity.

We are calling for a global intervention, for a coordinated international response by our world leaders to condemn China’s repressive measures in Ngaba and across Tibet.

Strong diplomatic action is urgently needed to save Tibetan lives. China must withdraw security forces from Kirti Monastery and across Tibet, and stop the ongoing harassment and torture of our monks.

We need a global intervention that will hold the Chinese government accountable, and give the Tibetans the protection and security they need to continue to build their remarkable non-violent resistance movement for freedom.

Today in 60 cities around the world, Tibetans and supporters are organizing rallies and protests and vigils to demand the world intervene in Tibet to stop the crisis that China has exacerbated.

We will succeed in fulfilling our vision of a free and democratic Tibet – as has been achieved in recent months in Egypt and Tunisia — but we need global help and support.

www.studentsforafreetibet.org / www.standupfortibet.org