SFT Canada’s Tsering Confronts HDI/Continental Minerals’ Executives

Footage from HDI/Continental Minerals Shareholders’ meeting in Vancouver, Canada on June 24th. Tibetans and their supporters protested at the meeting to intenisfy pressure on the company to Stop Mining Tibet.

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New York Times full-page ad today: Olympic ‘Athlete Wanted’ to stand up for Tibet

I don’t know if any of the small army of Chinese officials who live at the Chinese Consulate overlooking the West Side Highway here in Manhattan ever read the New York Times. But if they do, they likely coughed up their morning tea when they turned to page A9 in today’s Times.

I like to imagine Consul General Peng Keyu sitting down in his office and shaking his head at the front page story, just above the fold: Before Guests, Beijing Hides Some Messes.

“No, no, not hiding,” Mr. Peng says to himself. “Cleaning up. Cleaning up messes. Oh wait, no messes. There are no messes! Dammit.” And he turns to page A8 where the article continues.

Opposite the continued article on page A8 appears a full-page advertisement, impossible to ignore.

In big bold letters, it begins, “At every Olympics, there is ONE ATHLETE who ends up inspiring the world with their courage and character. We’re hoping that athlete is reading this.”

Mr. Peng’s stomach groans, and the phone begins to ring.

The ad copy continues:

WHO WILL STAND UP FOR TIBET THIS SUMMER? As 11,000 competitors gather to stand up for their countries, we ask them this: will one among you also stand up for Tibet? With the Olympics beckoning and the world looking to be inspired by your heroism, we remind you that 6 million Tibetans look to you for the very same thing. You can be there for Tibet, for they cannot. You can speak up for Tibet, for they have been silenced. The people of Tibet pass their torch to you. Will you carry it for them in Beijing?

At the bottom is the Team Tibet badge and the website address www.AthleteWanted.org

Of course, the ad and the website are just parts of a larger effort. Tibetans and their supporters have been reaching out to Olympic athletes from many participating countries, giving them packets of information about the Tibetan struggle and the current situation inside Tibet, T-shirts, small Tibetan flags, Rangzen Bracelets, and “Team Tibet” embroidered patches.

Athletes have already spoken out and expressed concerns about what is happening in Tibet right now. And they have reached out to Tibet groups (maybe us, maybe others, maybe I shouldn’t say!) for information, and advice on what they can do to show support. But until it happens, we may not know what kinds of actions athletes will take in Beijing. But we’re making sure they know.

In a press release sent out today to announce the ad, SFT Deputy Director Tendor says this:

“Olympic athletes have the platform and the power to inspire the world. At the Beijing Games, we believe athletes have the opportunity to inspire not only with their athletic performances, but also by standing up for what is right by supporting human rights and freedom for Tibet.”

Chinese Olympics Propaganda: Pretending to Permit Protest

On July 23rd, at a press conference for foreign journalists in Beijing, Chinese authorities announced that it will "allow protests" in Beijing during the Olympics.

Wow. Really? That’s unexpected. A real about-face for the Chinese authoritarian regime!

But wait, there’s a hitch or two. Or ten.

To demonstrate, one just has to go apply for permission from the city government and police, and give five days notice.

Oh, and a law passed by the Chinese government shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre bars protests that harm the country’s unity, sovereignty and integrity or threatens social stability or the authority of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

In other words, unless you’re protesting to show your outrage that China isn’t more ruthless in crushing Tibetan resistance, or demanding that Chinese authorities show more of a backbone by immediately invading Taiwan, your application ain’t gonna be approved.

And even with all that, Chinese officials are still being vague.

Liu Shaowu, director of the Beijing organising committee’s security department told reporters: "As for the concrete application, and who handles those applications, I have no clear information at this time."

According to a BBC report:

To underline just how sensitive the issue is, the Chinese authorities seemed reluctant to publicise exactly where protests would be allowed.

A transcript of Wednesday’s press conference on the Beijing organising committee’s website expunged the parks’ names.

Asked by a reporter for our comments on the Beijing "protest zones," Students for a Free Tibet had this to say:

Considering the massive security clampdown that the Chinese government is carrying out right now in Tibet and China, the so-called Olympic "protest zones" are nothing more than a cynical public relations ploy – likely devised for the Chinese authorities by PR firm Hill & Knowlton – a pathetic attempt to convince the world that China is open and free.

It is well known that anyone who protests or even disagrees with official Chinese policy is subject to intimidation, imprisonment, and torture and so the idea that a Tibetan could even safely apply for a permit to protest during the Beijing Olympics is a sad joke.

Torch Demonstration in Bangkok Today

Today at the UN Building in Bangkok. a peaceful demonstration against the presence of the Olympic Torch was held.

View more and comment on pictures from bangkok demonstration post or view the entire Bangkok-focused blog: http://notorch.blogspot.com/

Tibetans Protest Coke’s Sponsorship of China’s Torch Relay

For Immediate Release
April 16, 2008

TIBETANS PROTEST COKE’S SPONSORSHIP OF CHINA’S TORCH RELAY AT SHAREHOLDERS MEETING; DEMAND “NO TORCH IN TIBET”

Delaware – Tibetans and supporters protested Coca-Cola’s annual shareholder meeting this morning, calling on the company’s executives to use their influence to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to immediately withdraw Tibet from China’s Olympic torch relay route. More than a hundred Tibetans protested outside the meeting with colorful flags and banners reading “No Torch in Tibet,” while two Tibetan spokespeople raised concerns inside the meeting directly with company executives and shareholders. Tibetans and human rights activists fear that allowing the Olympic torch to be run through Tibet will heighten tensions leading to an increased crackdown by Chinese authorities.

“It is unconscionable that Coke would sponsor China’s torch relay through Tibet at a time when thousands of Tibetans are being rounded up and imprisoned, monasteries and nunneries are being raided, and people are being shot in the streets for taking part in peaceful protests,” said Lhadon Tethong, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet who spoke at today’s meeting. “We are calling on Coke executives to do the right thing and avoid the massive public relations disaster that will plague Coke if it is seen to be complicit in China’s crackdown on innocent Tibetans.”

In March 2006, Coke became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, making a commitment to “support and respect the protection of international human rights within its sphere of influence” and to ensure that it is not “complicit in human rights abuses.” Government officials in Tibet have threatened to respond “harshly and with no leniency” to anyone who tries to disrupt the torch relay when it arrives in Tibet next month.

“My family inside Tibet is living in a constant state of fear, which will only be exacerbated if the Olympic torch is allowed to be paraded through the streets of Lhasa and other Tibetan areas,” said Lobsang Choephel, one of the Tibetans who spoke at the shareholders meeting. Lobsang’s relative, a 15 year-old middle school student, was shot and killed by Chinese authorities in eastern Tibet one month ago today. “Coke’s executives will have blood on their hands if they remain silent on this issue,” he added.

The shareholders meeting follows on the heels of massive protests by Tibetans and supporters in London, Paris and San Francisco and on the eve of the arrival of the Olympic torch in New Delhi where thousands are expected to protest along the relay route.

Tibetans to run parallel torch relay in Delhi

Times of India
April 14, 2008

NEW DELHI (IANS) - As the Beijing Olympics torch relay takes place in the capital on Thursday, protesting Tibetans will run a parallel torch relay for a “free Tibet” on the other side of the city at the same time.

To be run from Rajghat to the Jantar Mantar observatory, the Tibetan torch relay will have an estimated participation of nearly 5,000 people, its organisers claim. (more…)

Watch April 9th in SF Live!

You might have noticed the tabs appearing at the top of the blog (London, Paris, Golden Gate….) following the torch events as they’ve progressed through Europe and now North America. We’ve been trying to bring you the best coverage we can as events unfold. Tomorrow, April 9th, we will take it one step further, by livecasting the entire day right here on this blog. Just go to http://blog.studentsforafreetibet.org/livesf and you will feel like you are right there in the streets.

Here’s a quick picture of what you are doing to see!

We’ve mixed Flickr, Twitter, TextMarks, Google My Maps, Mogulus, Justin.tv, Sprint AND Verizon EVDO, some Samsung Q1s and a whole slew of other things to create a single, action-packed view of what is happening right that minute on the streets of San Francisco. We’ll be updating the map as the torch moves, adding in new icons and information as we have it. We’ll also be switching the video stream on the page between FOUR separate live, mobile video feeds (aka guys with Mini DV cams and laptops in backpacks) that are running out on the streets.

Many thanks to David, Brant and all the other great minds and volunteers who helped put this together.

China and IOC in crisis talks

The Chinese government and the International Olympic Committee are reportedly in crisis talks, after they massively underestimated worldwide ourtage over Beijing’s repressive rule in Tibet.  This report is from the Financial Times:

Beijing officials are to hold urgent talks with senior members of the Olympic movement about the torch relay, as concern grows among International Olympic Committee members over the impact of pro-Tibet protests on the Games.[...]

IOC insiders discounted the prospect of routes being curtailed or cancelled, but one said that in light of recent events, discussions would take place with Beijing about “how the integrity of the torch can be maintained”. One said the backlash against China’s action in Tibet was in danger of casting a “stain on the Olympic movement”.

[...]

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, made his strongest comments yet on China’s handling of unrest in Tibet, saying in Beijing he was very concerned “with the international situation and what’s happened in Tibet”.

Although he added there was no momentum for a general boycott of the Games, IOC insiders said he and other senior IOC members were becoming increasingly worried about the Olympics movement becoming tainted by the international focus on China’s handling of Tibet.

Note to the Chinese government: Your big coming out party was a bit hasty.  As long as you continue to occupy Tibet, you will never really be accepted in the international community.  In case you didn’t get the memo, imperialism is so 19th century.  Free Tibet, and then you can get the respect you so desperately crave.

Note to the IOC: I hate to say “we told you so,” but what did you expect when you allowed the Chinese government to exploit the Olympics for its own political ends?  OK I can’t resist… we told you so.

Breaking News: Banner Hang in London

Four Tibet independence activists were detained this morning after two activists abseiled off Westminster Bridge and unfurled a 74 square meter protest banner reading, “One World, One Dream: Free Tibet 2008,” mocking China’s Olympics slogan “One World, One Dream.” The action took place on the eve of the controversial arrival of China’s Olympic torch relay in London, amidst mounting pressure on the International Olympic Committee to remove all Tibetan areas from the relay route.
(more…)