December 15, 2010

Tibetan Students Mar Chinese Premier’s Talk on Sino-India Relations

Demand “Free Tibet before Free Trade” during Wen Jiabao’s India Visit

New Delhi – Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) – India unfurled a 17ft long banner reading “Wen! Where is the Freedom? Wen Jiabao Go Back! Free Tibet” from the 9^th floor of a building leading up to the ICWA (Indian Council of World Affairs) today where Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived today to give a speech on Indo-China Policy. The actions drew attention to China’s ongoing and brutal occupation of Tibet and call on China’s leadership to immediately resolve the issue. Two more SFT activists were held on top of the Museum next to the ICWA building when they were about to unfurl a banner that read “Free Tibet before Free Trade.”

“As a Tibetan born in India, I’ve grown up being inspired by the Indian freedom struggle and believing that I can also help gain freedom for my homeland,” said Dolkar, spokesperson for Students for a Free Tibet and one of the protesters. “It’s not business as usual for India and China to promote trade relations while Tibet remains an occupied territory and Chinese soldiers continue to invade Indian territories. I am calling on the Government of India to publicly urge Premier Wen Jiabao to immediately end China’s illegal occupation of Tibet and its suppression of the Tibetan people.”

During his 3-day visit, Premier Wen is leading the largest Chinese trade delegation ever to visit India to promote bilateral trade relations. Today’s actions are part of a series of actions coordinated by Students for a Free Tibet to highlight China’s illegal occupation of Tibet and its implications for India. On December 14th, a group of Indian and Tibetan students unfurled a large banner reading “Tibet’s Independence: India’s Security” at Rajghat. The Premier is scheduled to visit this location today. (more…)

Students Call on Indian Government to Press for Tibet Resolution on Eve of Wen Jiabao’s India Visit
Unfurl Banner Reading “Tibet’s Independence: India’s Security” at Rajghat

Click Here for photos
Click Here for photo messages from across India

New Delhi – On the eve of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s arrival in India, Tibetan and Indian students unfurled a banner reading, “Tibet’s Independence: India’s Security” at Rajghat, the cremation ground of Mahatma Gandhi, the revered leader of India’s independence movement. Premier Wen’s visit is meant to celebrate 60 years of Sino-Indian diplomatic relations and to promote bi-lateral trade, but ongoing border security issues continue to plague relations between the two countries. Young Indians and Tibetans are calling on the India government to publicly press Premier Wen to bring an end to China’s 50-year occupation of Tibet and to resolve the 40-year Indo-Tibetan border dispute.

“The Chinese government’s illegal infiltration into sovereign Indian territory will not end until Tibet once again takes its place amongst free and independent nations,” said Rigzin Spalgon, a Ladakhi student and Delhi Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet. “As a Ladakhi, I know firsthand the arrogance of China’s leadership when it comes to the border issue and I call on all those who believe in India’s independence to support the Tibetan people in their just struggle. A free and independent Tibet is will ensure lasting peace and stability for people living along the Indo-Tibetan border.” (more…)

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM TIBETAN EXILE ORGANIZATIONS

November 4th, 2010

Dear President Barack Obama,

We welcome your arrival in India, the world’s largest democracy and a leading Asian power. In addition to being home to over a billion people representing a multitude of ethnic groups and religious affiliations, India is also home to more than 100,000 Tibetan refugees.

In exile, Tibetans have set up robust advocacy organizations to press for an end to China’s occupation of our homeland. Together, the undersigned organizations represent a wide array of Tibetans in exile, from students to women’s groups to former political prisoners. We appeal to you to use your first state visit to India as an opportunity to press for fundamental change on the ground in Tibet.

In recent weeks, thousands of Tibetan students, some as young as 13, have taken to the streets in the eastern Tibetan province of Amdo (currently annexed into China’s Qinghai Province) to protest the Chinese government’s decision to replace Tibetan with Chinese as the medium of instruction in Tibetan schools. Tibetan language is the foundation of our rich culture and by denying young Tibetans the opportunity to learn their own language, the Chinese government is systematically attempting to eradicate Tibetan culture and identity.

The United States government has recognized the importance of protecting Tibetan language, as outlined in the Tibetan Policy Act. We call on your administration to immediately oppose the sinicization of Tibetan schools and to do everything in your power to help protect Tibetans’ distinct religious, cultural, linguistic, and national identity. (more…)

RARE FOOTAGE OF TIBETAN NOMAD’S PROTEST

Tibetans, supporters call for Runggye Adak’s release

Three years after his arrest, footage of Runggye Adak’s bold protest speech at the Lithang Horse Racing Festival has been publicly released. Adak is serving an 8-year prison sentence for simply denouncing China’s policies in Tibet and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama.

Read the joint press release marking the anniversary of his arrest.