RETHINKING INDIA’S SINO TIBET POLICY

During the three day state visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao to New Delhi, 15 to 17 December 2010, four Tibetan NGOs (Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu Chu Sum, National Democratic Party of Tibet & Students for a Free Tibet – India) have come together to organize a panel discussion taking stock of complex − India-Tibet-China − triangular relations. The panel discussion will try to take a re-look at the 50 year old India’s Tibet policy which recognizes the occupied country as a part of People’s Republic of China.

What: RETHINKING INDIA’S SINO TIBET POLICY – A Panel Discussion

Where: Casurana Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

When: 3-6pm December 15, 2010

Contact: Jigdal (SFT) +91 9736660451 in Delhi

Exile Tibetans’ call for the release of Liu Xiaobo and Tibetan heroes

10 Dec’2010, Dharamshala: On the International Human Rights Day and the 21st anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, people across the globe rejoice the conferring of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. While the Chinese government has labelled the award “an obscenity”, Tibetans in exile stand in solidarity with Liu Xiaobo and praise his democratic ideals.

Awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese intellectual, activist and supporter of the Tibetan people for his struggle for fundamental human rights in China is highly commendable. But on 10th December, when the world witnesses the award ceremony in Oslo, Liu will be not there to accept the award as he will still be behind bars serving his 11 years sentence. (more…)

Tibet 3rd Pole protest in Delhi University

December 9^th, 2010

Delhi: SFT Delhi staged a silent march in Delhi University, North Campus a day before the Global Climate Change Summit taking place in Cancun, Mexico is scheduled to close.

“Any talk of climate change we feel is incomplete without talk of Tibet,” said Jyotsna George, President of Students for a free Tibet (SFT)’s Delhi Chapter. “The aim of this march is to raise awareness about the critical role of Tibet in any dialogue concerning Climate Change. “

Banners emphasizing Tibet as the ‘Third Pole’ were displayed on the march besides distributing information fliers containing factual details of the major Asian rivers originating from Tibet, rapidly melting glaciers, China’s merciless construction of dams, mining, deforestation, soil erosion and other forms of environmental degradation.

“We condemn Chinese government’s policy to resettle Tibetan nomads who for centuries live in harmony with the nature,” said Rigzin Spalgon, Vice-President of SFT Delhi’s chapter. “The lifestyle of the nomads is ideal for conservation of the environment. The coercive restriction of movement of nomads is directly affecting the Tibetan grasslands.” (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…)