From London to Lhasa

There have been confirmed reports that during a "patriotic education session" at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa at least 5 monks were expelled and handed over to police after refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama as a separatist.

Following the expulsions on November 23rd, a silent protest was held by more than 400 monks at the monestery on November 25th which resulted in a fierce crackdown by armed police and soldiers, during which several monks were beaten. Since then no one has been allowed to enter or leave Drepung Monastery.

As the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy has stated, this may be one of the largest protests seen in Tibet for a decade.

You can read more about this here and here

On 18 and 19 November, 130 parliamentarians from 30 states and many members of the Assembly of Tibetan Peoples Deputies convened in chilly but gorgeous Edinburgh. Hosted by the All Party Parliamentary group for Tibet and Scottish Cross Party group for Tibet, the two days were packed with briefings on the current status of negotiations with Beijing, environmental and human rights issues in Tibet (including a moving talk by Takna Jigme Sangpo), the role of ITSN and relationships between parlaimentarians and TSGs, the geo-political significance of Tibet and much more. Ending with the drafting of the 'Edinburgh Declaration', a talk by HH Dalai Lama, and a screening of 'What remains of us' the delegates (and observers) left with long 'to-do' lists and renewed enthusiasm and commitment to the Tibetan cause.

On the 14th November 2005, UK Government Minister of State for Trade Ian Pearson met with a delegation of Tibetans and Tibet support groups. He is also the Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office dealing with the Chinese affairs. This meeting came after the just concluded state visit of China's President Hu Jintao to the UK. Mr Pearson debriefed the delegation on the recent state visit of Hu Jintao where the issue of Tibet was discussed during the meeting between the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw MP, and China's Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing. It appeared however that PM Tony Blair did not raise Tibet with Hu Jintao. He did however comment that the UK government is concerned about Tibet and its human rights situation. SFT UK representative Tenzin Samphel informed the minister that there are Tibetans who demand freedom and independence for Tibet, supported by the Tibet Support Groups, and asked him whether the UK government sees any positive sign from the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet. He said that he could see the development and improvement of livelihood inside Tibet, but reframed from elaboration on whether there was a positive sign on the resolution of Tibet. SFT UK presented him with the poster ‘Story of a Nation’ and a Tibetan traditional scarf.

Report by Mr Tenzin Samphel

Dear Friends,

Tibetan Youth UK and SFT invite you for a “Get Together” and a party to thank you all for your dedication and support during Chinese president’s state visit in UK. Our campaign & demonstration have been very successful as demonstrated in various media.
It would not have been possible without your support. We believe it is important that we make our voices heard as the youth of today, we shoulder the responsibility for The Future of Tibet.
Please join us for the discussion at this very important time and participation from all age groups will be appreciated.


Venue : Rampart, 15-17 Rampart St, London E1 2LA (Off Commercial Rd)
Start : 25th Nov 05 Friday 7pm – 2am
Music : Tibetan, Bollywood, R‘n’B, Hip Hop & Trance
Tube : Aldgate East, Whitechapel & Shadwell
Bus : 15, 25 & 205
Contact : 07786982222 & 07725501995
Web : http://www.tibetanyouthuk.blogspot.com/ & http://www.sftuk.org/
Email : alice@sftuk.org & tibetanyouthinuk@yahoo.co.uk
Donation : £3
Map : Click Here

Note : Momo & Drinks will be available for Sale !!!

Regards,

TYUK & SFTUK

Chinese President Hu Jintao doesn't look very pleased as he as he is driven away from a banquet at the Guildhall, London.



Probably because Students for a Free Tibet are waving flags and banners from the side of the road!

Conall and Fi are just back from People and Planet's 'Shared Planet' conference in Oxford - a great weekend of workshops, skill shares, plenaries and debates on lots of important social justice and environmental issues. We had an SFT stall for the two days, and showed 'Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion' yesterday. There was a great response, with lots of sign-ups from keen students and sixth formers.

I found this on the BBC news website earlier. It seems Beijing has announced it will have five official mascots, including the Tibetan antelope, for the 2008 Olympic games inorder to "reflect the cultural diversity of China as a multiethnic country".

Whilst it's fantastic that Tibetans are being represented in such a prestigious international event, I can't help but feel that this is a cheap attempt by the Chinese government to legitimise the occupation and divert attention away from their on going repression in Tibet. It's also a far cry from the representation the Tibetans deserve, which is their own national team at the games.

Check out the picture and full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4430260.stm

From an article on BBC news website (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4423444.stm)

'Chinese President Hu Jintao has been greeted by a chorus of boos from hundreds of protesters as he arrived for a banquet in London's Guildhall...

Protesters gathered across the road from the Guildhall, booing the arrival of dignitaries and other guests....

As the Chinese president inspected a guard of honour from the Honourable Artillery Company in the building's forecourt, the protesters made themselves heard above the playing of regimental music...

Protesters were heard shouting "shame on you" as Princess Michael chatted with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Michael Savory, ahead of the arrival of Mr Hu.'

It's been a crazy, amazing day! Well it is now 12 am and the Students for a Free Tibet UK team are preparing to collapse onto the floor provided by Fiona and Conall. The day started with buying all the newspapers we could put our hands on, to find ourselves continually on either the front page of newspapers or on page 2 or 3! We reached front page of both the Telegraph and the Guardian, and SFTUK's Alice Speller was quoted in both the Mirror and CNN!

The day of protesting began outside Westminster early at 8:00, where Hu Jintao managed to slip in sneakily in a minibus without the protesters noticing..... but he was welcomed at his next visit to Downing Street as protesters lined the street from many different human rights groups. Hu Jintao was seen by many to look directly at the protestors before his car and entourage turned into Downing Street.

Protests outside the Royal Academy of Arts continued, with sneaky protesters hiding Tibetan flags under their coats and drawing them at the last minute as the car drove past. Also a large demonstration was in place as his car drove into the building.

The final protest occured at Guildhall, where the protestors chanted for several hours at the building where Hu Jintao was banqueting. A bond formed between the Tibet and Taiwan campaigners, with slogans such as "Hands off Taiwan, Free Tibet" directed at the banqueting hall. A small group of SFTUK managed to work out where Hu Jintao's car was leaving and with the support of the police staged a protest as he left the building. A photographer took photos of his face turning around and looking at the group.... so watch this space for the photos!!!

The Tibetan Community and SFT UK staged political theatre as the protests outside Buckingham Palace continued into the night. News even reached the 'The Scotsman'...

Protesters greet Chinese president

Hundreds of Tibetans and human rights activists staged a "die-in" outside Buckingham Palace as Chinese president Hu Jintao arrived for the State Banquet.

Students for a Free Tibet UK (SFTUK) said the protest, organised by SFTUK and Tibetan community members, aimed to highlight the Chinese president's "reign of terror" in Tibet, as London prepares to light monuments red in honour of his visit.

The group said that following the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, President Hu was responsible for the brutal imposition of martial law in 1989.

SFTUK's national co-ordinator Alice Speller said: "One in six Tibetans are dead due to the Chinese occupation, and yet the international community is silent in the face of such blatant state terror.

"Tony Blair must speak out about President Hu's actions in Tibet and China's ongoing occupation of that country, or he risks becoming complicit in the atrocities committed there."

Dalha Tsering of the Tibetan community in Britain and co-organiser of the event said: "As Hu Jintao receives the highest state honour in this country, we are staging this street theatre to remind him, and the world, of the death that he authored in my homeland, Tibet.

"Many Tibetans here will never meet family members because he took their lives, and created such fear that many have left for a life in exile.

"Hu still has the blood of my Tibetan countrymen on his hands, and yet world politicians are unwilling to seek justice on our behalf."

Tibetan activist Karma Chura-Tsang said: "As we protest near the monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Tibetan people remain unknown victims of 50 years of Chinese dictatorship.

"This is our symbolic tribute to the all those Tibetans who have died fighting for their freedom."

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights Reserved.

Toy tanks escort Chinese President to Buckingham Palace

12.00 London Two remote controlled toy tanks adorned with Chinese flags will escort Chinese President Hu Jintao to Buckingham Palace. Organised by Students For A Free Tibet UK, the tanks will roll alongside the royal procession, as a symbolic reminder to President Hu that his brutal military rule in Tibet will not be forgotten and China’s current occupation of Tibet must end.

Students from over a dozen UK universities unfurled banners reading “Free Tibet” along with hundreds of Tibetans and other supporters, before the toy-tanks were released.

On 9th March 1989, Chinese tanks and thousands of heavily armed troops rolled into the centre of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, suppressing non-violent demonstrations against China’s occupation of Tibet. Monks were thrown from the tops of buildings, women and children were imprisoned, tortured and murdered, simply for raising a Tibetan flag, or shouting freedom slogans. The Chinese troops acted under the direction of Hu Jintao, then Communist Party Secretary for the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

“As a civilised democracy, the United Kingdom must not ignore the atrocities committed by the Chinese government in Tibet,” said Alice Speller, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. “Hu Jintao’s past and present record of human rights violations against the Tibetan people makes him undeserving of the dignity of a royal procession,” she added.

In Tibet today, Tibetans can be arrested, tortured and imprisoned for possessing a photo of the Dalai Lama or expressing hope for the return of Tibetan sovereignty. “Our political leaders will fail their obligation to the people of this country, and their moral responsibilities as human beings, unless they raise the issue of China’s occupation of Tibet during their meetings with President Hu.” Miss Speller continued.

The students likened their activities in support of Tibetan freedom to the international support that helped end the communist dictatorships in Poland, Czechslovakia and East Germany. They hoped their protest of Hu Jintao would help bring an end to China’s unjust occupation of Tibet and help create a more peaceful world.

SFT UK is part of the international organization Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), with Headquarters in New York andoffices in Vancouver, Canada and Dharamsala, India, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Through education,grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, SFT campaigns for Tibetans fundamental right to political freedom.

For Further details: www.sftuk.org or www.sftuk.blogspot.com

Protests outside Buckingham Palace. The Tibetan Community and SFT UK get their message over to Hu Jintao.

A police man stops our toy tanks. We chased Hu Jintao down the road with them! "Hu's Forgot his tanks!" They're now famous on the BBC website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4418300.stm


Here's us with another tank!


"Free Tibet, Your Majesty!"


"Hu can't have missed us!"

Hi, it's Iain with a quick Blog update. I'm still sleepy, but we're all excited here in London! Hu Jintao has arrived and is meeting the Queen at 12. We'll be ready to be there too. So, if you're reading this get down to Buckingham Palace (Canada Gate) 10.30am today or look for us along the Mall. We'll be meeting again at 6.30pm for some street theatre. See you there!

Some of us folks from SFT UK, the Tibetan Community and the Tibet Society of the UK are busy getting things ready for the arrival of President Hu Jintao in London on the 8th.




We're preparing banners, press-releases and all sorts of materials for our actions in the coming week. Here's some pictures of us hard at work at the SFT UK HQ (Care of the Tibet Society)!

London – Dozens of student activists will join Tibetans and their supporters for demonstrations during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s State visit to the UK between 8th and 10th November. This will be the first State visit of a Chinese leader since 1999, when local authorities stifled peaceful demonstrations. President Hu's visit is expected to draw protests by Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, and human rights campaigners.

Students from over a dozen universities across the UK will join hundreds of Tibetans in London, to highlight China's continued occupation of Tibet. Co-organised by Students For A Free Tibet UK (SFT UK), the protests will extend international protests against China’s occupation of Tibet, seen in India, the United States, and Canada during State visits earlier this year. “Students will voice their support for a free and independent Tibet, in solidarity with six million Tibetans, who are denied their fundamental rights by Hu Jintao and the Chinese Communist government,” said Alice Speller, National Coordinator of Students For A Free Tibet UK. "As young people, we believe it is critical to support non-violent struggles for human rights and freedom so that we may invest in a more just and non-violent future."

“As the Communist Party Secretary in Tibet, President Hu was responsible for the brutal suppression of Tibetan pro-independence supporters, in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital” continued Miss Speller “Hu imposed Martial Law in Tibet in 1989, just four months before the Tiananmen Square massacre. Tony Blair must urge President Hu to negotiate directly with the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Tibetan spiritual leader, during their meeting on 9th November.”

SFT UK is part of the international organization Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), with Headquarters in New York and offices in Vancouver, Canada and Dharamsala, India, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, SFT campaigns for Tibetans fundamental right to political freedom.

# # #

For more information on Students for a Free Tibet UK please visit: http://sftuk.org/
For details of the protests, please visit our blog: (http://www.sftuk.blogspot.com/)

Four students from the Nottingham group coordinated the UK action at the Bombardier head office in the UK for the international day of action.

They were able to greet the employees as they entered the plant for work with flyers highlighting Bombardiers involvement in the Tibet railway.

Alastair, chair of the Nottingham group commented,

"A guy was sitting by the front gate in a suit the whole day watching us and asking us to move off their property whenever we strayed a little. Some employees later told us they had been instructed not to talk to us or take any information which is a pretty despicable way for Bombardier to control the situation - hiding the facts from their own employees. Nevertheless we gave out 160+ flyers to staff, a couple of which expressed their support. We only nearly got run over a couple of times!"

Well done Nottingham!

Click here to check out other international actions.

International Day of Action: November 3rd, 2005

This Thursday, November 3rd, Tibetans and supporters will take action at Bombardier offices in Canada, US, India, Germany, Austria, Poland, UK, Australia, France and Switzerland.

Help mobolize people in the UK to join this International Day of Action against Bombardier's involvement in the Chinese government's Tibet railway. Click here to join the mass demonstration in cyber space.

Materials for the day of action are now available, click here for sample fax letters, talking points, flyers and more!

To check out Hu jintao's schedule and action points click here.
Further information on the state visit will be added to the SFT UK web site as it becomes available.
If you want to get involved in the preparation then send an e mail to info@sftuk.org.