China’s Re-election to the UN Human Rights Council

On Tuesday, May 12th, China was re-elected to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council in what can only be described as a step backward for human rights and a major blow to the integrity of the UN Human Rights Council.

In spite of China’s brutal human rights record and ongoing crackdown in Tibet, there was sadly little doubt that they would be re-elected to the Council. However, opposition to China’s membership did not go unnoticed.

Tibetan NGOs in Geneva joined forces with human rights organizations to challenge China’s re-election. Tibetans and their supporters also made sure our opposition to China’s membership was heard loud and clear outside of the UN General Assembly building here in New York City.

The Chinese government – likely feeling vulnerable about the upcoming 20th Tiananmen Square anniversary and its ongoing crackdown in Tibet –  went out of its way to submit a 5-page propaganda paper to the UN General Assembly in an attempt to convince them that human rights have improved in China.

The very notion of China as a human rights defender is a complete farce. And as former president for the Czech Republic and Nobel Peace laureate, Vaclav Havel, suggests: China’s candidacy (and the candidacy of other human rights offending governments) for the Human Rights Council casts a dark shadow over the very purpose of the Council.

There are those who argue that engaging China on the Council will make a difference for human rights . In reality, China’s membership will only serve to embolden the Chinese government to use its position to deflect criticism of its human rights abuses and to silence any discussion about its ongoing military crackdown in Tibet.

The day after China’s re-election to the Council, Human Rights Watch released a video highlighting the Chinese government’s ongoing victimization and harassment of Tiananmen Square survivors, their families, and anyone who dares challenge the government’s version of history. Watch the video.

The message in Human Rights Watch’s video is clear and one that the Human Rights Council should heed: Unless the international community is willing to exert real pressure on the Chinese government, it will continue to violently oppress and disregard human rights in Tibet, China and other Chinese-occupied territories –  violating everything the UN Human Rights Council is intended to protect.

Rights & Pride

W.G. Huang has a very interesting, thoughtful op-ed in the Chicago Tribune. Titled “Without Rights, Pride Is Empty,” Huang confronts Chinese nationalism in the absence of rights for protest and dissent.

Demonstrations by human-rights activists and pro-Tibetan groups outraged the Chinese government. In response, the news media controlled by the Beijing regime stirred up a nationalist frenzy. They depicted the protests as a ploy by pro-Tibetan separatists, the Western media and foreign governments to sabotage the Olympics and thus humiliate China.

In a recent speech, a senior Chinese Communist Party official called upon the Chinese public to start a “people’s war” against those who would dare to criticize and isolate China.

The hostile rhetoric, the ensuing nationwide demonstrations, the boycotts against Western companies, all of this is reminiscent of Chairman Mao and his mobilizing of young people to use violence against individuals who dared to challenge the communist regime.

The Chinese leadership is stirring up a nationalistic frenzy in part to justify its crackdown on internal dissenters. It also aims to distract people’s attention from the problems of rampant corruption and the widening gap between the rich and the poor. The leadership specifically exploits the passions of young people who, ignorant of the horrors in the country’s turbulent past, have become the regime’s willing tools.

The people’s war has since expanded overseas as well: Chinese nationals and even Chinese-Americans have shown up en masse at the Olympic torch relays, waving red Chinese flags and shouting pro-China slogans to drown out the voices clamoring for human rights.

I find this shocking. These “patriots” are terrorizing dissenters and trying to impose their views—as well as values associated with a totalitarian society—on people in the free world.

Huang goes on to highlight that the pro-Chinese nationalist rallies now taking place to counter protests of the Olympic torch and for Tibetan independence, regardless of their merits, exist because countries like the US do grant rights of assembly and speech to their citizenry. Huang’s op-ed makes a strong case that the Chinese nationalists taking advantage of their rights inside the US to support China’s suppression of rights inside Tibet and China are really missing the truth staring them in the face: people are better when they are given rights and those rights are protected.

China’s Troubled Torch Arrives in Australia

China’s Olympic torch faced a new wave of creative and media catching protests upon it’s arrival in Australia. Overnight the words “Don’t Torch Tibet” were beamed onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a national landmark, and this morning two Tibet activists were arrested for attempting to unfurl a banner on the bridge.

Click here to view Reuters coverage of the projection action.

One of the arrested bridge protesters, Kerryn, a 30-year old travel consultant was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald:

“I’ve traveled through Tibet and I’ve seen first hand the fact that there’s human rights abuses still going on within the country,” she said.

“I was stopped from talking to the Tibetan people in Lhasa for even the basic levels of communication.”

Meanwhile, four activist were arrested for protesting Coke’s sponsorship of the Olympic torch relay at Kings Cross, unfurling a large banner off a Coke billboard.

“Pro Tibet activists unfurled a huge banner over the Coca-Cola sign at Kings Cross today.

The red banner, designed to look like the Coca-Cola sign, said: “Enjoy Compassion. Always Tibet. CHINA - TALK TO THE DALA LAMA”

It was unfurled by four activists - three men and a woman - standing on a platform above Sydney’s iconic landmark about 4pm.

Once the banner was unfurled one of the activists shouted “free Tibet’ as some onlookers cheered.”

More protests are in store when the torch relay starts in Canberra tomorrow. China’s troubled torch has been dogged by Tibetans and supporters speaking out for truth and justice for Tibet as the torch has skipped across Asia. China’s “Journey of Harmony” hit a slight snag - the principles of democracy and freedom of speech in many of the host countries the torch has visited.

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.

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.

Does this look like a “Torch of Harmony?”

This is a photo of the Chinese government’s Olympic torch in London, surrounded by a group of identically-dressed Chinese guards (the only torch relay I know of ever that had to be guarded by stormtroopers). In the distance, you see police blocking pro-Tibet protesters.

The Chinese government calls its torch a “Torch of Harmony.” Does this look like a torch of harmony to you?

Like with the Chinese government’s occupation of Tibet, the only “harmony” we see is one enforced by stifling dissent.

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…)

French Parachute Jump for Tibet!

And now for something completely different…
Parachutisme film “Pour un tibet libre”

un saut en parachute pour replacer symboliquement le drapeau là où il devrait être… à 3.650 mètres, l’altitude de la capitale du Tibet “Lhassa”


Translation: A parachute jump to symbolically put the flag where it should be … At 3,650 metres altitude in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa!

Parachutisme film "Pour un tibet libre"
Uploaded by tandemparachutisme

More Protests in Lhasa as Diplomats Depart

Details are emerging about fresh protests in Lhasa today. According to Radio Free Asia:

Witnesses in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, say fresh protests erupted there on Saturday afternoon despite a massive Chinese police and paramilitary presence there.

Witnesses told RFA’s Tibetan service that several hundred Tibetans rallied around 2 p.m. on March 29, beginning in the area near Center Beijing Road. Shops near the central post ofice on Lhasa Youth Road were closed, as security forces surrrounded the Tibetan residenitial areas in Barkhor and Kama Kunsang, Ramoche, and the Jokhang temple.

“People were running in every direction,” one witness said. “It was a huge protest and people were shouting.”

According to the Associated Press, the protests occurred “as diplomats wrapped up a visit organized by Beijing in an effort to blunt criticism of its crackdown on unrest in the region.”

The 15-member delegation of diplomats from the U.S., Japan, and European countries apparently left Lhasa about an hour before the protests erupted. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing issued a brief statement after the visit that shouldn’t surprise anyone: “The delegation was not permitted to move about independently in Lhasa, and was unable to hold unsupervised conversations with local residents.”

Sources report that protests also took place again at the Jokhang temple where just two days ago, courageous monks cried out “Tibet is not free! Tibet is not free!” disrupting a government-managed tour of press to Tibet.

As China tries to convince diplomats and the media that all is well in Tibet, Tibetans will continue to fight for their freedom. As another monk at Jokhang said to reporters last week, “Don’t believe them. They are tricking you. They are telling lies.”