H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama Time Magazine’s Most Influential Leader
Filed Under Tibet, Commentary | Posted on May 4, 2008
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has been named Time Magazine’s most influential leader in the “Leaders and Revolutionaries” category. Deepak Chopra’s essay that accompanies the distinction notes,
He and his people have struggled all their lives with the audacity of hopelessness. Oppression and exile are their daily bread. Yet the Dalai Lama, 72, remains calm in the face of cruelty. What does he think of the human race? “We are the superior species on Earth but also the biggest troublemakers,” he once told me.
In the Leaders and Revolutionaries category, His Holiness edged out:
2. Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister
3. Barack Obama, U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate
4. Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate
5. John McCain, U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate
6. Hu Jintao, President, People’s Republic of China
7. George W. Bush, U.S. President
8. Jacob Zuma, African National Congress Chair
9. Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian Politician
10. Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister
The other categories and the “winners” in those categories are:
Heroes and Pioneers: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, actors and human rights activists
Scientists and Thinkers: Michael Bloomberg, New York City Mayor
Artists and Entertainers: Lorne Michaels, creator and producer of Saturday Night Live
Builders and Titans: Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo CEO
Tibet-China-Olympics Update: April 30, 2008
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 30, 2008
Mass detentions of monks have continued in the past week and more monasteries have been sealed off by armed troops as a rigorous patriotic education campaign across the Tibetan plateau leads to increasing unrest. As the crackdown deepens, reports have reached ICT of the suicide of monks in different areas in protest at hardline policies or in despair due to the climate of fear and uncertainty. New images published on ICT’s website show pictures of the Dalai Lama and important religious teachers that have been defaced by troops or officials, and further reports have emerged of officials or police trampling on photographs of the Tibetan religious leader.
UN chief urges Tibetan dialogue with China
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed initiatives by the Chinese government for dialogue with the Dalai Lama, saying he hopes Tibetan representatives will seize the opportunity.
He also expressed regret at how the Tibet issue has become entwined with the Olympic Games, which Beijing will host this summer.
Seoul to Tighten Visa Rules for Chinese Students
South Korea said Thursday that it will toughen entry visa rules for Chinese students in the wake of their violent protests during a recent Olympic torch relay in Seoul.
The tough stance comes as public anger shows little signs of subsiding over violence committed by Chinese demonstrators on South Korean activists protesting Beijing’s crackdown on Tibetan separatists, and its treatment of North Korean refugees.
Tibetan Protesters Denied Fair Trial
The trials of 30 Tibetans accused of participating in violent protests on March 14 in Lhasa were not open and public, as claimed by the Chinese government, and did not meet minimum international standards of due process, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 29, 2008, the Intermediate People’s Court in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), conducted a “sentencing rally” (xuanpan dahui), during which the Tibetans’ sentences, which ranged from three years to life in prison, were announced.
U.S. Congressman Pushes for Vote on Global Online Freedom Act Before Beijing Olympics
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee met this week with Robert Menard, founder of the leading human rights group Reporter’s Without Borders redoubling their lobbying efforts to move Smith’s bill, the Global Online Freedom Act (HR 275) to the House floor for a vote ahead of the Beijing Olympics this summer.
“American high-tech firms have produced the technology and know-how that has led to a modern-day information revolution. Sadly, however, instead of working to allow everyone to benefit from these advancements, these same high-tech firms are colluding with dictators and tyrannical regimes such as China to suppress human rights information and punish pro-democracy advocates,” said Smith.
Smith’s Global Online Freedom Act will promote online freedom by prohibiting U.S. Internet companies—such as Yahoo! and Google—from cooperating with repressive regimes that restrict information about human rights and democracy on the Internet and use personally identifiable information to track down and punish democracy activists. The bill would make it a crime for Internet companies to turn over personal information to governments who use that information to suppress dissent.
Chinese Students Turn Violent in Seoul
Violent attacks were reported by some of the thousands of Chinese ’students’ who filled Seoul’s streets today in support of their country. Rocks, garbage, chunks of wood, and who knows what all was thrown at supporters of human rights for Tibetans, for the Chinese people themselves, and for North Korean defectors who are unfortunate enough to be found within China. These defectors from the communist North are routinely refouled back into the clutches of the Kim Jong-il regime for their likely imprisonment, torture and execution.
Analysts: China talks aimed at saving Olympics, not Tibet
As the Dalai Lama reflected Sunday on a surprise Chinese offer to resume talks, experts cautioned that Beijing may be looking more toward salvaging the Olympic Games than meaningful dialogue.
China’s talks offer is a sign Beijing feels it must respond to the intense global pressure over its crackdown in the remote Himalayan region after last month’s deadly anti-Chinese riots, analysts agree. But they warn that China is more concerned about avoiding a possible Games boycott and ending the embarrassing pro-Tibet protests that have disrupted the Olympic torch’s round-the-world journey toward Beijing.
“The Chinese haven’t made any concession,” said Brahma Chellaney an analyst at the New Delhi-based Centre for Strategic Studies think tank.
“Their primary interest is to see the Olympics conclude” successfully.
Tang Danhong: Reflections on the Tibetan Situation
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 28, 2008
This comes via TIBETSPACE. Tang Danhong, a Han Chinese and filmmaker currently living in Israel writes “a moving appeal for human equality coming from someone with first-hand experience of the struggle from both the Tibetan and the Chinese sides.”
It is, indeed, a powerful and moving appeal. The full text of the article is available in Chinese and in English translation, and is definitely worth a read. A few excerpts follow.
Why can’t we sit down with the Dalai Lama who has abandoned calls for “independence” and now advocates a “middle way,” and negotiate with him with sincerity, to achieve “stability” and “unity” through him? Because the power difference of the two sides is too big. We are too many people, too powerful: Other than guns and money, and cultural destruction and spiritual rape, we do not know other ways to achieve “harmony.”
Why can’t you understand that people have different values? While you believe in brainwashing, the power of a gun and of money, there is a spiritual belief that has been in their minds for thousands of years and cannot be washed away. When you claim yourselves as “saviors of Tibetans from slavery society,” I am ashamed for your arrogance and your delusions.
What makes me feel most ashamed is the “patriotic majority”: You people are the descendants of Qinshi Huangdi who knows only conquering by killing; you are the chauvinists who rule the weak by force; you are those cowards who hide behind guns and call for shooting the victims; you suffer from Stockholm Syndrome; you are the blood-thirsty crazies of an “advanced” culture of Slow slicing and Castration. You are the sick minds waving the “patriotic” flag. I look down on you. If you are Han Chinese, I am ashamed to be one of you.
Tibet is disappearing. The spirit which makes her beautiful and peaceful is disappearing. She is becoming us, becoming what she does not want to become. What other choice does she have when facing the anxiety of being alienated? To hold onto her tradition and culture, and revive her ancient civilization? Or to commit suicidal acts which will only add to Han nationalists’ bloody, shameful glory?
Wow.
Desmond Tutu Joins the Call for Olympics Boycott
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 28, 2008
Phayul reports that Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu is calling on world leaders to boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Tutu is quoted as saying:
The leaders of the free world, for goodness sake, don’t attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games until it is quite clear that they (the Chinese) mean business and that they will stop the violence against the Tibetans.
Let us make China know this is a moral universe.
U.S. Hands are Not Clean with Respect to Human Rights
Filed Under Human Rights | Posted on April 28, 2008
Fortunately, the United States has a long way to go before it catches up with China in its abuse of human rights, but the U.S. is far from perfect. As we call on the American government to pressure the People’s Republic of China to clean up its human rights act, we should also note that such pressure would be much more credible if the Bush administration cleaned up its own act first.
Human Rights Watch is calling on the United Nations to address U.S. violations in Iraq:
UN: Tell US to End Illegal Detention Practices in Iraq
US-Led Force Holds Thousands Without Due Process
(New York, April 28, 2008) – The United Nations Security Council should address serious concerns about the detention practices of the US-led Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF) in its debate on Iraq, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to council members. The United States invokes Security Council resolutions to justify holding thousands of Iraqis for indefinite periods, without judicial review, and under military processes that do not meet international standards.
In the letter, Human Rights Watch said that according to the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), the MNF was holding 24,514 detainees at the end of 2007. Since the declared end of the US occupation of Iraq in June 2004, detained persons should be provided due process under international human rights law. Security Council Resolutions 1546, 1637, and 1723 allow for internment of Iraqis “for imperative reasons of security,” but the US improperly uses this language to justify holding the detainees without judicial review, as if the operative law were the Fourth Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of civilians during international armed conflicts.
“The Security Council should insist that the United States abide by international law for persons detained,” said Joe Stork, Middle East deputy director at Human Rights Watch. “The Bush administration pushed the Security Council to declare that the US-led occupation of Iraq had ended in June 2004, and the end of occupation means that international human rights standards apply – judicial review, access to legal counsel and family members, and a fair trial.”
Human Rights Watch has serious concerns about the widespread torture of detainees by the Iraqi authorities. Where there is a fear of torture, the US should retain physical custody over individuals formally transferred to the Iraqi justice system for prosecution.
Human Rights Watch also called on the US to allow UNAMI, as well as independent Iraqi and international human rights observers, to visit its detention facilities and make their findings public.
“Four years since abuses at Abu Ghraib became known, Washington should finally allow independent monitors who can report publicly to visit its facilities and speak with detainees,” Stork said.
A Security Council mandate, which concludes at the end of this year, forms the basis for the US military presence in Iraq, and US and Iraqi officials are negotiating a post-2008 status-of-forces agreement and other pacts. Human Rights Watch said the Security Council should make clear that it expects such arrangements to establish a legal basis for detention by non-Iraqi forces that meets the international human rights commitments of both the Iraqi and US governments.
NOTE TO MY PRO-CHINA COMMENTATORS: Notice how I can criticize my own government without fear of reprisal, imprisonment, torture, or death? Try that in your country.
Tibet-China-Olympics Update: April 25, 2008
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 25, 2008
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs holds hearing on the Tibet crisis
The subcommittee concluded a hearing to examine the crisis in Tibet, focusing on peaceful action that would be in accordance with international standards of religious freedom and human rights, after receiving testimony from John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State; Steve Marshall, Senior Advisor, Congressional-Executive Commission on China; Richard Gere , International Campaign for Tibet, New York, New York; Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Washington, D.C.; and Lobsang Sangay, Harvard University Law School East Asian Legal Studies Program, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
For the transcript of Lodi Gyari’s testimony, visit ICT here.
153 Tibet Groups warn Coca-Cola of humanitarian disaster unless Tibet pulled from Torch Relay
More than 150 Tibet groups worldwide have signed a letter sent today to Coca-Cola stating that the key Olympics sponsor will be complicit in a humanitarian disaster in Tibet unless it uses its undoubted influence to force the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to drop Tibet from the Olympic Torch Relay.
Human rights groups to block torch relay in South Korea
As a sign of protest at China’s repressive policy in Tibet and against North Korean renegades, human rights groups in South Korea said they will disrupt the Olympic torch relay scheduled for April 27.
“We urge China, as a host of the Olympic Games, to abide by the common values of humankind and respect the human rights of the weak,” said Christian Accountability for Society, Save North Korea and Helping Hands Korea in a joint press conference held in front of the World Peace Gate at Seoul’s Olympic Park. “China must stop its forceful repatriation of North Korean refugees and its violent crackdown on Tibetan protestors.
Negroponte Urges China to Stop Vilifying Dalai Lama
The second-ranking diplomat in the Bush administration has urged China to stop vilifying the Dalai Lama and instead open talks with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte appeared before a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday. He said the United States is trying to convince Beijing that only by engaging the Dalai Lama in dialogue can it resolve the long-standing grievances of the Tibetan people.
Chinese spectators ‘attacked Tibet protesters at Canberra torch relay’
Mobs of Chinese supporters were accused of assaulting pro-Tibet campaigners on the sidelines of the Olympic torch relay in Australia today as scuffles broke out and at least seven protesters were arrested.
There was none of the violence or disruption that marred the torch relay in London or Paris, and the Olympic flame travelled uninterrupted through Canberra, the capital.
But observers said that behind the barricades Chinese nationals assaulted Tibetan activists and tore down their flags. Confrontations between an estimated 15,000 China supporters and about 3,000 pro-Tibet demonstrators reportedly flared all along the 16km route as the groups held aloft opposing banners and shouted competing slogans.
China launches renewed “Patriotic Education” Campaign across all sections in Tibet
The Chinese authorities in the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (’TAR’) and other Tibetan areas in neighboring provinces have launched a two-months renewed “Patriotic Education” campaign covering almost every sections of society beginning primarily with the monastic institutions, party cadres, security forces and government employees, farmers and private entrepreneurs, educational institutions and common people, to denounce the Dalai Lama and the “splittist forces” in the coming two months.
Chinese Military gather “Evidence” to frame TIbetans in future propaganda exercize
The Chinese military in TIbet are hard at work, confiscating everyday items and busily trying to portray them as weapons. At Rongpo monastery, Rebkong County, Chinese armed forces barged into the chamber of the protective deity (a small room where the monastery’s deity statue is housed). Often such rooms serve as a safe place where hunters and poachers give up their hunting weapons while vowing not to hunt animals any more. From the monastery chamber the Chinese armed forces took the knives, bows and arrows and placed them outside the monastery. Pictures were then taken which will be used for propaganda the purpose of which is presenting a false picture of Tibetans.
US government urged to enact an ‘action plan’ on Tibet
The Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer, on April 23 convened a hearing on “The Crisis in Tibet: Finding a Path to Peace”, where members of the committee discussed working with the Bush administration on an “action plan” on Tibet to highlight several key areas the US government should use as leverage for improving the human rights situation in Tibet, as well as encouraging dialog between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama.
Compelled by the current crisis in Tibet, Senator Boxer convened the hearing and pursued a strong line of questioning, leading Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte - who heads the US-China senior dialog - to concede that US government attempts to address concerns over Tibet using “quiet diplomacy” had produced “results that are so far minimal at best” from the Chinese government.
The ‘action plan’ on Tibet discussed at the hearing included prioritizing the establishment of a US consulate in Tibet’s capital city Lhasa, pushing for US officials to attend and monitor trials of Tibetans detained during the recent unrest, encouraging President George W. Bush to travel to Tibet if he attends the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August this year, exploring avenues of cooperation over Tibet with European governments, and pursuing other non-US governmental means of influencing the situation in Tibet, such as supporting UN human rights officials’ calls for access to Tibet, and even exploring what role the United States Olympic Committee could play in alleviating the immediate situation in Tibet.
Olympic torch relay hit by protests in Japan
Protesters Friday waved the Tibetan flag and denounced China’s rulers as the Beijing Olympic torch came to Japan for the latest leg of a worldwide relay marred by demonstrations. Japan, which is trying to repair uneasy ties with China, has promised tight security for the torch run on Saturday through the central mountain town of Nagano, the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
As torch-bearers rolled into Nagano, hundreds of Falun Gong supporters marched with a loud brass band through the city’s streets to condemn China’s leadership, which considers the spiritual movement an “evil cult.”
“Stop the mass murder by the Chinese Communist Party,” read a banner held by marchers in yellow Falun Gong T-shirts, who were closely watched by dozens of police.Separately, at least two demonstrators unfurled Tibetan flags as the Chinese torch delegation stopped at a highway rest area on its way to Nagano, 180 kilometres (110 miles) north of Tokyo.
As the crackdown deepens in Tibet and people continue to ‘disappear’ almost every day in Lhasa, preparations are underway by the authorities for a ceremony known as ’safeguard the torch and love one’s country’ to be held in the Potala Square to mark the torch’s ascent of Mt. Chomolungma (Everest) in early May. The ceremony, which is likely to be attended by thousands of Chinese people, is due to take place when the torch passes through Lhasa, according to a report published on a well-known and unofficial Chinese language website citing several sources. It will take place against the backdrop of the Dalai Lama’s former home, the Potala Palace, the political and religious center of Tibetan government before the Chinese invasion and the Dalai Lama’s escape into exile. The report stated that travel agencies in Lhasa had been informed about the ceremony.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama issues “An Appeal To All Chinese Spiritual Brothers And Sisters”
Today I would like to make a personal appeal to all Chinese spiritual brothers and sisters, both inside as well as outside the People’s Republic of China, and especially to the followers of the Buddha. I do this as a Buddhist monk and a student of our most revered teacher, the Buddha. I have already made an appeal to the general Chinese community. Here I am appealing to you, my spiritual brothers and sisters, on an urgent humanitarian matter.
The Chinese and the Tibetan people share common spiritual heritage in Mahayana Buddhism. We worship the Buddha of Compassion – Guan Yin in the Chinese tradition and Chenrezig in Tibetan tradition – and cherish compassion for all suffering beings as one of the highest spiritual ideals. Furthermore, since Buddhism flourished in China before it came to Tibet from India, I have always viewed the Chinese Buddhists with the reverence due to senior spiritual brothers and sisters.
China plans to meet Dalai Lama envoys
Chinese officials will meet representatives of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism whom China blames for a wave of unrest, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday, citing official sources. The move marks a change in tactics on the part of Beijing, which has stepped up its vilification of the Dalai Lama since anti-government protests hit Tibet and rippled across ethnic Tibetan parts of China in the past weeks.
”In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai’s private representative in the coming days,” Xinhua quoted an official as saying.
A spokesman for the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, said he had not received any communication from China about a meeting and China’s Foreign Ministry said it had no details.
China Fails to Respond to UN Rights Expert’s Question on Panchen Lama
The People’s Republic of China has failed to provide a direct response to Ms. Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief of the UN Human Rights Council, with regard to a specific question she put to the Chinese authorities in a communication of last May on case of the Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama turns 19 today remaining under enforced disappearance since May 1995.
In a document highlighting cases forwarded to governments that was submitted by Ms. Jahangir to the Seventh Session of the Council held here from 3-28 March, the Special Rapporteur said that she intervened on the case of the Panchen Lama by writing to the Chinese authorities on 9 May, 2007. In that communication, the expert asked: “… what measures the Government has taken to implement the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, adopted on 30 September 2005, where the Committee recommended that your Government should “[a]llow an independent expert to visit and confirm the well-being of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima while respecting his right to privacy, and that of his parents.”
Ms. Jahangir’s communication observed that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima “was reported to remain in isolation and concerns were expressed about his whereabouts, well-being and fate. It was further alleged that the Chinese Government interfered in the identification and training of significant reincarnations in order to control the political loyalties of these important figures in Tibetan society, weaken the influence of the traditional religious authorities and use the reincarnates’ influence among Tibetans.”
Sally Jenkins: "A Torch Job To Liberty"
Filed Under Human Rights, China | Posted on April 21, 2008
This comes via the Tibet will be Free blog:
Sally Jenkins writes a great article in the Washington Post criticizing the International Olympic Committee, China, and well, just about everyone vis a vis the Beijing Olympics. Here a few quotes not cited on Tibet Will be Free:
To the Chinese government, the word “harmony” is apparently synonymous with suppression. The Olympic torch is in danger of being extinguished for good, but not by demonstrators. Every day it’s put out by Chinese officials and their exported paramilitary force, who seem to think the Olympic spirit is not about accommodating the world, but about forcing the world to accommodate them.
Why shouldn’t they think that, given the feeble responses of the International Olympic Committee and virtually every government (except Australia’s) to their bullying? The awarding of the Summer Games to Beijing was supposed to change the behavior of Chinese officials on human rights. Instead, Chinese officials are changing the behavior of others — even the U.S. president.
By far the creepiest evidence of how Beijing officials have influenced speech is the robotic uniformity of phrasing employed by the IOC and its top corporate sponsors. Clearly, someone has circulated China-favorable talking points and reminded them the government controls 1.3 billion consumers. A few weeks ago, the IOC was asked if it was concerned human rights abuses were actually increasing with the approach of the Games. IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said, “We believe the Olympics are a force for good.”
The way to deal with blackmail is to call it out publicly. If Chinese officials don’t want mouthy outsiders to go off script and address the uncomfortable questions raised by a Beijing Games, they shouldn’t have invited us. It’s the deal they made. And on which they are now trying to renege. They shouldn’t be allowed to.
Read the full article here.
H. R. 5668: Communist Chinese Olympic Accountability Act Introduced in U.S. Congress
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 21, 2008
The following bill, prohibiting U.S. officials and employees from attending the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives:
Communist Chinese Olympic Accountability Act (Introduced in House)
HR 5668 IH
110th CONGRESS
2d SessionIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 1, 2008
Mr. MCCOTTER (for himself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. WALSH of New York, Mr. WAMP, Mr. BURGESS, Ms. BERKLEY, and Mr. DEFAZIO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To prohibit Federal Government officials and employees from attending the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games held in communist China based upon communist China brutalizing protesters in Tibet, supporting and enabling Sudan’s genocidal regime, forcing a one child policy upon Chinese families, persecuting Chinese citizens for freely exercising religion, repressing free and independent labor unions, engaging in wanton environmental degradation, and systematically denying the Chinese people their basic freedoms.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Communist Chinese Olympic Accountability Act’.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES ATTENDING SUMMER OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES.
(a) Prohibition- Subject to subsection (b), any individual who is an official (whether elected or appointed) or employee of the Federal Government may not attend the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
(b) Exception for Certain Olympic Team Members and Support Staff- Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual who is a member of the United States Olympic Team or who is serving in a medical or security capacity on behalf of such Team.
(c) Opening Ceremonies Defined- In this section, the term `opening ceremonies’ means the ceremonies officially marking the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, including the following:
(1) Receiving the Head of State of the Host Country.
(2) Parade of the Participants.
(3) Speech by the President of the Organising Committee.
(4) Speech by the International Olympic Committee.
(5) Lighting the Olympic Cauldron.
(6) Taking the Olympic Oath.
(7) National Anthem of Host Country.
(8) Artistic Programme.
Avaaz launches "World to China: Save the Olympics" campaign
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 18, 2008
Human rights organization Avaaz is soliciting donations for an international media campaign asking China to “Save the Olympics”.
The Beijing Olympics are a major opportunity to press China’s leaders to support dialogue and human rights in Tibet, as well as Burma and Darfur.
The Olympics are about humanity and excellence, so let’s call on China to save the Olympics for all of us — Your donation will fund:
- ads (like the one at right) and billboards in major cities
- a Mandarin language internet outreach team to get our message across on China’s lively blogs and chatrooms.
- an ad campaign in publications of China’s overseas communities - a powerful constituency
The text of the ad featured above states:
How China’s human rights performance could be up to scratch by July 15th
As citizens around the world who believe in the Olympic spirit of humanity and excellence, we want to enjoy the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
We welcome a newly prosperous and dynamic China into the global community.
But with power comes responsibility, and we are concerned that we cannot celebrate the Olympics in good conscience while ignoring the suffering of others.
We ask China to Save the Olympics for all of us three reasonable steps:
1. Holding a meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
2. Securing the release of Burmese and Tibetan political prisoners.
3. Supporting a robust peace mission in Darfur.SAVE THE OLYMPICS
Other ads in the campaign are available at https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_olympics/188_images.html
For more information, or to donate, visit https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_olympics/
URGENT APPEAL: Deteriorating situation in Tibet and fear of worse to come in days ahead
Filed Under Tibet, Human Rights, China | Posted on April 18, 2008
The following is an urgent appeal issued today by {en:Lobsang Tenzin|Samdhong Rinpoche}, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
Since 10th March 2008, there have been widespread protests in all areas of U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo, including in various cities of China where Tibetans live. These protests are the outburst of dissatisfaction and deep-rooted resentment perpetuated in the hearts of the Tibetan people for the last five decades by excessive repression and mishandling of peaceful protests by small number of monks and lay people in several places in and outside “TAR” on 10th March 2008.10th March is a historic day for the Tibetan people. Every year there is some kind of peaceful demonstration, which does not continue beyond that day. But this year protests continued in the succeeding days due to unnecessary repressive measures and use of force.
If the objective of using force by the Chinese authorities is to maintain peace and order in Tibet, they could have achieved it within a day. But normalcy did not return even after more than five weeks and more protests and repressive measures are happening day after day. This arouses the suspicion about the intentions of the Chinese authorities. Among the many suspicious incidents, the following are conspicuous:
- On 14th March, unusual unrest was allowed in Lhasa for several hours without the authorities taking any preventive measures.
- Most of protesters involved in violent acts on that day were unfamiliar to the local people. In particular, there are cases where people have seen Chinese policemen in Tibetan dress and in monks’ robes taking the leading role during the protests.
- The Chinese authorities claim that they have found guns and bullets at some Tibetan monasteries. This claim is based on recovering some unserviceable country-made guns and swords, which were offered to the chambers of the protective deities (Gonkhang) of monasteries. And in some other cases, the military personnel themselves brought arms and ammunitions to monasteries. Later they claimed to have found these in the monasteries and blame the Tibetans for harbouring arms and ammunition in the monastic compounds.
- Chinese authorities also claim that Tibetan independence forces are planning to launch suicide attacks.
- They accuse some monks of exploding a bomb that damaged a building in Chamdo in east Tibet. The authorities are yet to produce any convincing evidence.
- Patriotic re-education campaign is re-launched and monasteries and households are ordered to fly the Chinese national flag on their buildings.
- Anti-Dalai Lama campaigns are being rigorously carried out everywhere. This hurts the sentiments of the Tibetan people most.
- The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is carrying out a systematic and vigorous effort to create a rift between the Tibetans and the Chinese people. This is being done by a huge propaganda to fan nationalism and hatred of the “Dalai clique” amongst the Chinese people.
These acts do not help in restoring mental peace and social order in Tibet. On the contrary, these acts are considered highly provocative by the Tibetans because they hurt them the most. All these acts appear to be aimed to undermine the Tibetan people’s tolerance and provoke them into violent retaliation. They also indicate that various agencies of the PRC have plans to carry out more bombing and other destructive activities and put the blame on the innocent Tibetans for such actions.
We are deeply concerned by the ongoing repressive action such as brutal beatings, torture, killings, deprivation of essential foods and drinking water, which lead to the starvation of concerned Tibetans. We are also very much concerned that such repressive action may continue for many more months to come.
Tibet is virtually sealed off and in a short period, the Chinese authorities will destroy all evidence by executing the innocent Tibetans. The international community must intervene immediately and persuade the PRC authorities to end these atrocious acts.
The vexed situation in Tibet has lingered because of the ultra leftist policies adopted by PRC authorities during the year 1957/58, which led to the popular uprising on 10th March 1959. Since then the Tibetans have suffered immensely. Over a million Tibetans perished and the situation remains troubled. These policies were recognised as wrong and reversed in Mainland China. But no change in policy has taken place for the Tibetan nationality. Even now, unless the basic policy of PRC towards the Tibetan nationality is changed, no amount of force can keep the Tibetan people under control.
The PRC leadership on one hand demand that His Holiness the Dalai Lama use his influence to restore normalcy in Tibet. On the other hand they have not created any space or channel to allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to use his influence in Tibet. On the contrary, the Chinese leadership have stepped up their anti - Dalai Lama campaign throughout Tibet.
The PRC leadership refuse to find out the root cause of unrest in Tibet and make efforts to remove the cause. On the contrary they are aggravating the problem by various means. This is a clear indication that they do not want to have peace and stability in Tibet.
We, therefore, urgently appeal to the international community to take effective and immediate actions to prevent the PRC from indulging in such brutal acts against the Tibetan people and to stop their policy of systematic cultural genocide in Tibet.
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche
KALON TRIPA
Dated: 18th April 2008
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