Support the Protests in Tibet!

Hundreds of Tibetans inside Tibet have carried out protest demonstrations over the past two days, marking the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. Protests of this scale are rare inside Tibet because of the absolute lack of political space. With the Olympic spotlight on China, Tibetans inside Tibet see this as a critical opportunity to challenge China's rule in Tibet and to demand freedom. 

It is critical that the protesters receive the full support of the global community. Please show the Chinese government that the whole world is watching and demand the immediate release of all Tibetans who have been detained in these peaceful protests. Send the letter below and phone the Chinese authorities in Lhasa, Tibet to lodge a complaint. Click here for a list of phone numbers and talking points.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Release Tibetan Protesters Immediately

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am shocked to learn that peaceful protests by Tibetans in recent days were violently stopped by the paramilitary People's Armed Police and that dozens have been arrested.

A witness of the Drepung protest, in which monks were simply walking and calling for the release of fellow monks who had been arbitrarily arrested after the Dalai Lama was awarded the U.S Congressional Gold Medal last October, reported that 10 military vehicles, 10 police vehicles, and several ambulances arrived at the checkpoint where the march was stopped. This raises serious concerns about the safety of the monks.

In central Lhasa, 17 people, including a 15-year old monk, were arrested for a protest and harshly beaten. They include Lobsang (15), Tsultrim Palden (20), Lobsang Ngodup (29), Lobsher (20), Phurdhen (22), Lobsang Thukjey (19), Lodie (30), Thupdon (24), Shoepa (30), Tsegyam (22), Gelek Pel (32), Tenpa Rigsan (26), Thupwang (30), Pema Garwang (30), and Samten (17).

On March 11th, 600 monks from Sera Monastery began marching to Lhasa, calling for the release of the monks arrested the previous day and for Tibet to be free. Approximately 2000 People's Armed Police and Public Security Bureau personnel fired tear-gas into the group.

I am appalled that your government has violently supressed the rights of these Tibetans to peacefully express their opinions. All of the protesters who have been detained must be released immediately.

I am deeply disturbed that China, preparing to host the Olympics in merely 147 days, is blatantly trampling on one of the most basic human rights - freedom of expression. Actions such as these arrests continue to stain China's international reputation.

Your government promised to improve respect for human rights before the Olympics begins, but your actions in Tibet show the opposite.

I will be following this situation closely in the coming days and alerting my government representatives to the situation inside Tibet. I urge you to release all the detainees and stop further use of violence against Tibetans.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 12, 2008


Background Information

Hundreds of Tibetans inside Tibet have courageously protested over the past two days, calling for freedom. Protests of this scale are very rare because of the risk involved. These are the largest protests inside Tibet since 1989, when current Chinese President Hu Jintao responded to mass demonstrations by imposing martial law. Click here to read more from Radio Free Asia.

On March 10th, the 49th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan National Uprising, 500 monks from Drepung Monastery, near Lhasa, began marching toward the city, calling for the release of fellow monks arrested last October after His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. They were stopped by Chinese authorities and dozens were arrested. A witness reported seeing about 10 military vehicles, 10 police vehicles, and several ambulances on site. Click here to read more details of the protest.

Shortly thereafter, a protest by 17 people, including nine monks broke out in the center of Lhasa. They were quickly arrested and severely beaten after calling for "Tibetan independence" and displaying a Tibetan flag. The monks are reportedly from Eastern Tibet (Kham) and were studying at Sera Monastery. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has released photos of the young monks.

Yesterday, on March 11th, approximately 600 monks from Sera Monastery began marching to Lhasa, calling for the release of the monks detained the previous day and shouting slogans including, "We want freedom!" "Free our people!" "We want an independent Tibet!" and "Free our people or we won't go back!". These protests are the biggest that Tibet has seen in the last 19 years, and it is crucial that the protesters receive all the support possible from outside Tibet.

The end to China's occupation will come when Tibetans inside Tibet can wage an organized resistance to Chinese rule without the threat of imprisonment and torture. So it is imperative that we do what we can to create the space inside Tibet for this to happen.

Please help support the courageous protesters so that more Tibetans can voice their opinions without fear of persecution. Take action to show the Chinese authorities that the whole world is watching. Click here for a list of phone numbers and talking points.