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

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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…)

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…)