Stand-off in Ngaba: Tibetan monks need your help
Tibetan monks at Kirti monastery in eastern Tibet are in danger – and need your help.
As Beijing intensifies its sweeping crackdown on dissent, Chinese troops in Tibet are on the verge of “disappearing” hundreds of monks.
Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India have received an urgent call for help from Ngaba County (Chinese: Aba County). They are reporting that Chinese troops attempted to storm Kirti monastery this morning. According to reliable sources, residents fear Chinese authorities are planning to forcibly remove all monks between the ages 18 and 40.
Local Tibetans, being alerted to the troops’ arrival, rushed to block the monastery entrance. The armed police and soldiers tried to break through the crowd by beating the Tibetans and setting police dogs on them. In spite of the violent attacks, the Tibetans stood their ground and the troops failed to enter the monastery’s inner gates. As of now, the standoff continues.
Tibetans fear Chinese authorities are planning to transfer the monks from the monastery into local prisons where they will be subjected to China’s repressive political “reeducation”.
Tension in Ngaba has been high since the self-immolation of Phuntsok Jarutsang (pictured right), a 20-year monk from Kirti Monastery, on March 16, 2011. Chinese forces have been stationed around Kirti Monastery for weeks and more than a dozen monks have been arbitrarily arrested.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy as of yesterday, troops had completely sealed off the monastery. The monks’ dwindling food supplies are prompting fears of starvation in the monastery. The lives of many Tibetans are at stake.
Take Action: Let the Chinese authorities know the world is watching
- Sign the petition and demand an end to the siege.
- Organize a solidarity rally at the Chinese consulate nearest you or at a public landmark in your community. Find details of protests here. Send information about your protest to grassroots@studentsforafreetibet.org so we can alert others.
- Spread the word. Forward this email to friends & family. Update your Facebook and Twitter status to “I stand with Tibetans in Ngaba”.
For more ways to take action, visit: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ngaba
Let’s work together to end the siege at Kirti monastery, and to protect the monks and local Tibetans who are defending the monastery.
For more information, read the reports & articles below:
Chinese armed police cordon Ngaba Kirti Monastery, 2500 monks face food shortage (TCHRD)
http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110411.html
Security step-up in Kirti monastery likely to starve monks (Phayul News):
http://is.gd/iaQ7tN
Ngaba Kirti Monastery Under Lockdown (Voice of America):
http://www.voanews.com/tibetan-english/news/Ngaba-Kirti-Monastery-under-Lockdown-119696874.html
More information about the incident on March 16th self-immolation:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2306
Tibetans boycott Chinese vegetable sellers in Kham
There is a developing story from Tibet that reminds one of the power of nonviolence displayed during the time of Gandhi and MLK. Tibetans in Nangchen, Kham in eastern Tibet are reported to be boycotting Chinese vegetables. Read the full story at Tibet Post International. What began initially as a response to skyrocketing food prices has now grown into an organized boycott of Chinese vegetable sellers. Many Chinese vegetable stores have lost much business since the boycott started, while Tibetans are now buying their vegetables from Tibetans who travel to Xining to buy vegetables in bulk.
Taking My Activism from the Streets of D.C. to the Halls of Capitol Hill
The second the buses arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. that icy morning in January, we started marching to the White House. Chinese President Hu Jintao was visiting the U.S. capital for a summit meeting with President Obama for the next 3 days, in what would probably be his last visit to the U.S. as the president of China.
When we were out there in the icy rain marching and protesting, we had no idea our chants and messages would be heard loud and clear by President Obama, the First Lady, and Hu Jintao himself. As the Chinese President’s motorcade pulled up to the White House for the official state dinner – above the noise of the press cameras clicking – our chants were audible and impossible to ignore. “Hu Jintao Failed Leader” “President Obama Speak for Tibet” and “Free Tibet” are the messages heard by Hu Jintao that night.
In that moment, any doubt that I’d ever had about the purpose of street protests was wiped out of my mind. It became clear to me why we do what we do; our street protests make a difference. We shamed China’s leader and reminded our President that Tibet and the issues of human rights will continue to haunt them until concrete actions are taken to change the situation in Tibet.
Within a month’s time, I was back in our nation’s capital. I’d exchanged my worn winter garb for a suit for the 3rd annual Tibet Lobby Day 2011. What better way to follow up on the protests from January than with meetings with our political representatives? Check out photos from Global Tibet Lobby Day 2011.
We took our activism from the streets of D.C. to the halls of Capitol Hill – and this time we advocated for Tibet as constituents of American politics.
More than a hundred Tibetans and Tibet supporters took time off work and school to be part of the third annual Tibet Lobby Day. SFT’s young leaders from California, Kentucky, Utah, New York, Virginia, DC, Maryland, New Hampshire, Florida, Maine, Wisconsin and Massachusetts made their presence felt and their voices heard in the halls of political power.
In advance of Lobby Day, SFT held a 2-day training at American University to prepare. Over 25 participants attended workshops on Public Speaking, Teaching Tibet, Media & Messaging and we were lucky to get the lowdown on Understanding Why We Lobby with International Campaign for Tibet’s (ICT) president Mary Beth Markey.
The purpose and goal of Lobby Day extends beyond the “asks” we bring up with our Members of Congress. We meet with our political representatives to thank them for their support and to encourage greater political and programmatic support for the Tibetan people. At the same time we are fostering invaluable relationships with our nation’s decision makers and building the voice and presence of Tibetan-Americans as a critical constituent base. Most importantly, we are empowering our next generation of young leaders to assert themselves in the struggle for Tibet’s freedom.
I can remember my first year lobbying in 2009. I was a bundle of nerves and three years on I still felt that rush of nervous energy as I climbed the stairs of the Senate building. But one thing I’ve learned – and reminded myself in that moment – is that I have agency. Unlike my fellow countrymen and women in Tibet, I am free to speak up and I have a responsibility to share the dreams and desire of my people for freedom – wherever and whenever I can; whether in the streets or in the offices of my elected leaders.
If you are a Lobby Day veteran, I encourage you to participate next year and the year after. It might make not make a difference today, or tomorrow, but when a decisive moment for Tibet’s future comes – and we know it will – our friends in the U.S. Congress can help tip the balance in favor of freedom. And for those of you who haven’t taken the blue pill, I strongly urge you to give it a try and challenge yourselves to experience this next level of outreach and advocacy for our cause. You’d be surprised how great you’ll feel!
SFT Tendor’s March 10th Speech at United Nations
Update: Tibetans, Supporters Rally for Tibet in New York
Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters take to the streets in New York to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan Uprising in Tibet. Click here to view live updates via twitter.
Tibetans and supporters rally in New York on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising.
Click here to view more photos from NY on the SFT Flickr.
SFT’s March 10th Press Release: Global Protests Mark Tibetan Uprising Day
STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET
For Immediate Release:
March 10th, 2011
Contact: Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director, +1 646-724-0748
Kate Woznow, Deputy Director, +1 917-601-0069
Tenzin Dolkar, USA Director, +1 917-664-5530
GLOBAL PROTESTS MARK TIBETAN UPRISING DAY AS CHINESE FORCES CLAMPDOWN IN TIBET
New Generation of Tibetans Lead Nonviolent Resistance Movement in Tibet
New York – Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in dozens of countries will take to the streets today, March 10th, to commemorate the 1959 National Uprising when tens of thousands of Tibetans rose up to demand an end to China’s occupation. Chinese forces intensified security measures in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital in advance of the sensitive anniversary, barring foreign visitors and conducting late-night raids on hotels. In spite of China’s military stranglehold on their nation, a new generation of Tibetans is embracing nonviolent resistance tactics that defy Beijing’s authority, strengthen Tibetan identity, and inspire hope.
“50 years on, an entirely new generation of Tibetans – in Tibet and in exile – is rising up,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “Young Tibetans are taking leadership of our movement by engaging in bold political acts and expressing their desire for freedom through music, literature, and social media; this generation is determined to finish what began a half century ago.”
A homegrown grassroots movement has gained momentum in Tibet in the past year, as a growing number of Tibetans engage in simple yet powerful actions – speaking only in Tibetan, eating in Tibetan-owned restaurants – particularly on Wednesdays, a day believed to be auspicious for the Dalai Lama (1). Well-known Tibetan musicians and intellectuals have also been boldly asserting their political views, prompting Chinese authorities to ban popular songs and detain more than 60 Tibetan cultural figures.
“The recent uprisings in the Arab world, along with the growing dissent in China itself, has further galvanized a new generation of Tibetans committed to taking nonviolent action to end Chinese rule,” said Tenzin Dolkar, Students for a Free Tibet’s USA Director. “The Chinese government has tried – and failed – to crush the Tibetan spirit. As we see people around the world rising up for freedom and democracy, we know it is only a matter of time before change comes to Tibet and China.”
In advance of the sensitive anniversary, the Chinese government has heightened security measures in Tibet in an attempt to deter Tibetans from engaging in any form of dissent. Three years ago today, Tibetan monks marching for the release of fellow monks were violently stopped by Chinese forces, sparking the largest and most widespread demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959. Chinese troops have been permanently stationed throughout Tibet since.
“The Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom has long enjoyed the support of the global community and we urge our government leaders to follow suit by pressing China to commit to a just and lasting resolution for Tibet,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet.
Tibetans and Tibet supporters in at least 100 cities worldwide today, including in the USA, Poland, UK, France, Germany, Canada, India, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, are demonstrating their support for the Tibetan freedom struggle through rallies, marches, candle light vigils, and government lobbying initiatives.
Note to Editor:
1) More information about the nonviolent resistance movement in Tibet can be found at http://www.Lhakar.org a website launched on March 9, 2011 by a diverse coalition of Tibetan writers, artists, and activists.
-30-
former SFT board chair races for freedom
On May 21st, 2011, Tibet activist Josh Schrei will compete in a 50km ultra trail marathon in order to raise funds and awareness for Students for a Free Tibet. In Schrei’s words: “I’m not entering this race to finish. I’m entering to finish first.”
Josh was profoundly impacted by the Tibetan people’s struggle when he visited Lhasa as a teenager in 1989 and has been active in the Tibet movement ever since. Throughout the 1990s, Josh served as Campaign Director for the Milarepa Fund, co-producing the historic Tibetan Freedom Concerts and working on several of the movement’s first co-ordinated nonviolent direct action campaigns, including the Holiday Inn Boycott, the campaign against Petrochina’s IPO on the US stock market, the BP pipeline campaign, and the successful World Bank campaign of 1999 – 2000, which truly demonstrated the power of coordinated nonviolent resistance in the Tibet movement and had a deep personal impact on Schrei. After leaving Milarepa, he continued to serve on the Board of Directors of Students for a Free Tibet for 6 years, participating in annual activism trainings and helping guide the future direction of the organization.
In studying and teaching nonviolent resistance within the Tibet movement, Schrei has been deeply moved and impressed by the courage and strength of the former Tibetan political prisoners he has encountered, all of whom suffered unimaginably at the hands of their captors yet still maintained equilibrium and poise, still cultivated forgiveness and compassion, and still had seemingly endless reservoirs of inner strength. One of his most inspirational moments came when working with Ngawang Sangdrol, a Tibetan woman who was arrested at age 13 for participating in a nonviolent protest and spent the next 12 years in China’s notorious Drapchi prison.
“We taught her how to climb ropes and rappel and hang banners,” Schrei said. “Here was a woman who’d spent half her life in jail, was understandably frail from all she’d suffered, yet this light went off and she was able to draw on this indescribable spirit and strength.”
Since that encounter, strength and spirit and their relationship to activism is something that Schrei — a yoga instructor and athlete — has thought quite a bit about.
“Modern day activism is a strange thing,” Schrei says. “We fight these profound archetypal battles between forces of kindness and compassion and forces of power, greed, violence, and devastation, yet we do it for the most part from behind our computer screens. I feel its necessary to have some form of spiritual and physical practice to keep our energy strong. Its not enough to power ourselves solely on the goodness of what we do — we need to build our inner strength. For me, running this race is a way to put my body on the line for the cause of Tibetan freedom and to try to cultivate some of that inner strength for my future work for Tibet.”
In running this ultra-race — his first one he’s run — Schrei hopes to inspire activists around him to take positive action for their own physical well being and to start to build their own inner strength. He hopes to inspire young Tibetans to take initiative and action for their homeland. And of course, he hopes to raise funds for Students for a Free Tibet. His goal is $5,000 — or 250 individual pledges of $25 or more.
To pledge support for this effort, click here: http://tinyurl.com/49h5wr2
To follow Josh’s training updates on facebook, click here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-Running-an-Ultra-Distance-Trail-Marathon-for-Tibet/177400262294786
Please paste the above url onto your facebook page to help spread the word!
Losar 2138: New Year, New Generation, New Hope
T
oday is Losar – the first day of the Iron Rabbit Year 2138 according to the Tibetan lunar calendar.
As we welcome the Tibetan New Year, we celebrate the spirit and resilience of a new generation bringing new hope for freedom to the Tibetan people.
All of us at Students for a Free Tibet wish you and your loved ones a Happy Losar.
As we work hard to speed up the winds of change blowing from the Arab world, we hope this year will bring an end to the suffering and oppression in Tibet.
Losar Tashi Delek,
Tendor, Kate, TenDolkar, Mary-Kate, Stefanie, Tentsetan and all of us at SFT HQ
Read & share Losar related blog posts below:
One Tibet, Many Tibetan New Years: Tibetan Bloggers Call for Unity
http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2011/03/one-tibet-many-tibetan-new-years.html
Tsampa Eaters and Sweet Tea Drinkers: Tibetan Identity Assertion Through Food
http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2011/02/updated-tsampa-eaters-and-sweet-tea.html
In Defense of Tibetan Cooking (Part I)
http://www.jamyangnorbu.com/blog/2011/02/07/in-defence-of-tibetan-cooking-part-i/
- I support
on Statement on the self-immolation of a young Tibetan in Delhi, India
- Jeanett Clemon
on 2011: What we’ve achieved together for Tibet
- Tashi Wangdu
on Tibetan Activist Sets Himself on Fire: Hu Protests Conclude in Mumbai, Dharamsala
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
