“Give Me My Flag Back,” MP Russel Norman Manhandled by Chinese Security

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman protests during the arrival of China’s vice president Xi Jinping, in New Zealand.

Dr Norman waved the Tibetan flag and called “freedom for Tibet” as the Chinese delegation walked by, a scuffle broke out as an umbrella was shoved over him and the flag forcibly removed from his grasp then thrown to the ground. Norman emerged with a bleeding hand but made his message heard.

Support MP Russel Norman:

Post a comment of support on the Channel 3 News of New Zealand’s website .

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SFT Press Release: Tibet Advocates Urge Secretary Clinton to Raise Tibet as a Core Issue at US-China Dialogue; Boycott Tibet Pavilion at Shanghai Expo

STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET

For Immediate Release
May 21st, 2010

Contact:
Tenzin Dorjee, +1 646-724-0748
Kate Woznow, +1 917-601-0069

TIBET ADVOCATES URGE SECRETARY CLINTON TO RAISE TIBET AS A CORE ISSUE AT US-CHINA DIALOGUE; BOYCOTT TIBET PAVILION AT SHANGHAI EXPO

New York – As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a week-long trip in Asia, Tibet advocates are calling on her to raise Tibet as a core issue at the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue taking place in Beijing from May 24-25. Advocates are also urging her to avoid the controversial Tibet Pavilion during her visit to the Shanghai Expo tomorrow. Clinton’s China visit comes amidst reports of intensifying repression against Tibetan writers, bloggers, and anyone who dares to openly criticize or share information about Chinese government policies in occupied Tibet.

“We call on Secretary Clinton to raise Tibet as a core issue in US-China relations and to press for tangible results towards a just and lasting resolution for Tibet,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “The Obama administration must not shy away from publicly and vigorously raising Tibet and freedom of expression at these meetings. The U.S. will only achieve its foreign policy objectives with China when it stands firm on core American interests.

“Tibet has become the barometer for this administration’s commitment to engaging China on human rights issues and we urge Secretary Clinton to go beyond the rhetoric by pressing for a results-driven discussion on Tibet at this dialogue,” added Dorjee.

In the lead up to the meetings in Beijing, Clinton will make a stop in Shanghai where she will visit the Shanghai Expo. Tibet advocacy groups worldwide are calling on government leaders to refuse to visit China’s controversial “Heavenly Tibet” pavilion, which attempts to mislead the world about the true situation inside Tibet.

“The ‘Heavenly Tibet’ pavilion is designed to hide the grim reality of China’s military rule in Tibet and is an insult to Tibetans and their supporters everywhere. In fact, the Dalai Lama – the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people – has called Tibet under Chinese rule a ‘hell on earth’,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “For secretary Clinton to visit the Tibet pavilion, especially at a time when Chinese officials are imprisoning Tibetans for doing nothing more than critiquing Chinese policies in Tibet, would send the wrong message about the Obama Administration’s commitment to human rights.”

Since protests swept across Tibet in March 2008, dozens of Tibetan writers, bloggers, and educators have been arrested, along with those who have shared information about China’s repression with the outside word. The arrest of leading Tibetan intellectual Tagyal (who goes by pen name Shogdung) and the transfer of imprisoned filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen to a Chinese labor camp are recent examples of the lengths to which China goes to silence Tibetan voices.

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Huffington Post: To Die With Dignity in Your Own Land: Tibet, China, and the Politics of Disaster

Please read & share the Huffington Post article To Die With Dignity in Your Own Land: Tibet, China, and the Politics of Disaster by Josh Schrei, former SFT board chair and lifelong Tibet support.

Josh gets to the heart of the issue of the international media’s ongoing misrepresentation of where the quake hit. Article after article refers to the earthquake zone as “western China” or “Qinghai province bordering Tibet.” In reality, Kyegundo is located in the historical Tibetan province of Kham:

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, control over Kham and the wide, sparsely populated region of Amdo vacillated between Chinese and Muslim warlords and the Tibetan government in Lhasa. Finally, after a period of Tibetan independence the area was invaded and occupied by the People’s Liberation Army along with the rest of eastern Tibet in 1950. The entire region was divided by the government of the People’s Republic of China into its current provinces in 1965, but years of occupation and the migration of Han Chinese west into Tibetan provinces have not diminished this region’s Tibetan identity. Even China refers to the area as a “Tibetan area,” and the particular province — Yushu — is 97% Tibetan.

Background information on the region: This area  has a long history of resistance to Chinese rule. In 2008, as protests raged across Tibet, Tibetans in Kyegundo and the surrounding areas also took to the streets to demand their independence and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

From Woeser’s 2008 Protest Updates:

March 20, 2008

A great number of students in Yushul County in Kham (Yushul [Ch. Yushu] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province) held a protest, but at present we do not know what actions the authorities are going to take.

Three days ago (April 6, 2008), outside of one of the monasteries in Yushul (Ch. Yushu) County in Kham (Yushul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province), over 100 Tibetans shouted such slogans as “Free Tibet” and “Let the Dalai Lama Come Home.” At that time the monastery was holding Buddhist ceremonies. The protesters were immediately suppressed by a large number of the armed police, and many people were arrested. An insider said that protests have erupted frequently in the county after the Lhasa Incident, each one suppressed by the armed police. Authorities have not announced the number of protesters who were arrested or whether there were any deaths or injuries.

SFT: Tibetans, Supporters Protest Chinese President at Nuclear Security Summit

STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12th, 2010

Contact:    Kate Woznow (in Washington, D.C.), +1 917 601 0069
Tenzin Dolkar (in Washington, D.C.), +1 917 664 5530

TIBETANS, SUPPORTERS PROTEST CHINESE PRESIDENT AT NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT
Call on President Obama to press President Hu on Tibet resolution as part of global security agenda

Washington, D.C. ­– Tibetans and their supporters are protesting Chinese President Hu Jintao’s arrival to the United States today, starting at 10:00am at Samuel Gompers Memorial Park (11th St. NW and L St. NW) near the Walter E. Washington Convention centre. President Hu will join more than 40 heads of states for the Nuclear Security Summit and will also meet with President Obama today, the first meeting between the two leaders since the U.S. President met with the Dalai Lama in February. Demonstrators are calling on President Obama to press the Chinese leader on a resolution for Tibet amidst reports of new protests by Tibetan students in eastern Tibet.

“We urge President Obama to go beyond the rhetoric and to press President Hu for measurable progress in negotiating a just and lasting resolution for the Tibetan people,” said Tenzin Dolkar, U.S. Grassroots Director for Students for a Free Tibet. “An end to China’s military occupation of Tibet will not just give the Tibetan people the freedom that is their birthright, but would greatly contribute to the goals of peace and security being pursued by President Obama at the nuclear summit. An independent Tibet would create a buffer zone between Asia’s nuclear powers of Pakistan, India and China, and would help ease tensions in the region.”

President Obama angered China when he met the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual and political leader and fellow Nobel laureate, at the White House in February. Tibet activists have launched a global campaign calling on the President and leaders of free countries to take bold and coordinated approaches to resolving the Tibetan issue, including heads of state publicly offering to personally facilitate a meeting between the Dalai Lama and China’s leaders. Tibet is situated at the roof of the world, surrounded by Asia’s great nuclear powers of China, India, Pakistan, and Russia. Since the early 1980s the Dalai Lama has been advocating for Tibet to be a nuclear free zone in order to achieve regional and global security.

“The recent series of student-led protests in Tibet shows that a new generation of Tibetans is uncowed by China’s violent military repression,” added Dolkar. “Tibetans from every corner of Tibet are calling for freedom and by demonstrating here today we will ensure President Hu hears their voices.”

Tibetans and Tibet supporters will protest today, April 12th at Samuel Gompers Memorial Park on the northwest side of the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre (11th St. NW and L St. NW) starting at 10am. President Obama is scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao at 2:30pm. Protests are also scheduled at the same location tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13th.
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Protest Hu Jintao in Washington, D.C. – April 12 & 13

TAKE ACTION: Chinese President Hu Jintao at Nuclear Security Summit
Washington, D.C. * April 12-13

PROTEST DETAILS:
MONDAY, APRIL 12TH
Meeting Spot: Samuel Gompers Memorial Park [11th St NW, between L St NW & Mass Ave NW]
Time: 8:30am at meeting spot
9:00am – 3:00pm [protest location to be confirmed]
Summit venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Centre
Address: 1207 9th Street NW
Other tentative protest locations: Chinese Embassy & Mandarin Oriental Hotel where we expect Hu Jintao will be staying  (to be confirmed- check back for updates)

Note: President Hu is scheduled to meet with President Obama on Monday morning.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13TH
Same details as above. Check back for updates!

TRANSPORTATION FROM NYC: Buses will depart from NYC on Monday, April 12th at 3:00am (there may also be bus transports from NYC to DC on Tues, April 13th). If you’d like to reserve a seat, please contact 646-270-4495 or 646-409-6444 or email tdolkar@studentsforafreetibet.org

SPEAK OUT FOR TIBET – PROTEST HU JINTAO!
Please join us to make sure Hu Jintao hears loud & clear from Tibetans and Tibet supporters during his visit to D.C.

President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington, D.C. comes at a time of escalating tension between the US and China. In a phone conversation last week between President Obama and Hu Jintao, the Chinese leader stressed the importance of a healthier relationship between the US and China, and once again emphasized Beijing’s position on Tibet and Taiwan. Clearly, international support for Tibet continues to be a thorn in the side of China’s leadership.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/03/world/asia/03briefs-Phonecall.html

By mobilizing Tibetans and Tibet supporters to Washington, D.C. next week, we can ensure the Tibet issue is front & center during Hu’s visit. Please help spread the word! Forward this message to your friends and family in the NY & DC area!

Please continue to check this page for final protest schedule.

Organized by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of NY&NJ, Tibetan Association of NY&NJ, Tibetan Women’s Association of NY&NJ, Students for a Free Tibet, Capital Area Tibetan Association

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BBC World Interviews Tenzin Sonam & Ritu about The Sun Behind the Clouds

Watch this fantastic interview with Tenzin Sonam & Ritu on BBC World about the making of The Sun Behind the Clouds and the future of the Tibet movement. The interview also includes a clip from the film of Lhadon speaking.

The film premieres in the N.Y. tomorrow, Wednesday, March 31st. Tix are still available but going fast – buy yours now!

SFTers in Hong Kong Mark Tibetan National Uprising Anniversary

SFT Hong Kong’s Christina Chan reports from in front of the Liaison Office of Chinese People’s Government (Chinese Embassy). Police responded harshly to the peaceful protesters who were demonstrating their solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.

Photo: NY Tibet Lobby Day Group Meets Senator McCain

Tibetans and supporters from New York stand with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on March 2nd, 2010.
Dozens of Tibetan Americans and Tibet supporters from across the United States met with their Congressional representatives as part of Tibet Lobby Day 2010 (March 1-2). Participants advocated for greater support for Tibet in Congress as constituents and members of the growing Tibetan American community in the United States. (Photo: Tenzin Wangchuk)