Tell IOC Executive Members: No Torch in Tibet!

International Olympic Committee Executive Members are meeting in Beijing right now. They have the power to stop the Chinese government from taking the Olympic torch through Tibet. Allowing the Olympic torch to be taken to Tibet while Tibetans are living under martial law and being shot in the streets for peaceful protest will only provoke tensions and lead to more bloodshed.

Please send the email below to the IOC's Executive Committee members and ask them to do the right thing by immediately withdrawing all Tibetan areas from the torch relay route. Let them know that they will be held personally responsible for China's actions in Tibet. 

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: IOC: No Torch in Tibet

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I join people of conscience around the world in calling on you to withdraw all Tibetan areas from the Olympic torch relay route. This global effort to stop the torch from going to Tibet is not in any way an attack on the Olympics, but is instead an effort to save Tibetan lives which is truly reflective of the Olympic values of 'universal peace and global humanity.'

The Governor of Tibet recently stated that "if anyone dares disrupt the Olympic torch relay they will be treated harshly and with no leniency." As we have seen in the past month, Tibetans are committed to speaking out for their freedom at this critical time. Therefore, taking the Olympic torch to Tibet is a serious provocation that will lead to certain bloodshed and further repression.

If you allow the Olympic torch to be taken to Tibet the global community will hold you personally responsible for the actions of the Chinese authorities.

You have the power to stop this from happening. Please do the right thing now and immediately withdraw all Tibetan areas from the torch relay route.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 11, 2008


Background Information

As Chinese military forces increase their crackdown across Tibet, Tibetans and supporters worldwide are increasing pressure on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to immediately withdraw the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Tibetan provinces of Amdo and Kham (now annexed into China's Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Gansu provinces) from the Olympic torch relay route.

On April 9th, Governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, Chamba Phuntsok said "if anyone dares disrupt the Olympic torch relay they will be treated harshly and with no leniency". As we have seen in the past month, Tibetans are committed to speaking out for their freedom at this critical time and therefore taking the Olympic torch to Tibet is a serious provocation that will lead to a further crackdown by Chinese authorities. The IOC has final say over the torch relay route and has the ability to withdraw Tibet from the relay route and prevent further bloodshed and repression.

The International Tibet Support Network has delivered personalized letters to all 15 members of the IOC Executive Committee asking them to withdraw Tibet from the torch relay route. To date, they have refused to listen and continue to deny responsibility.

Please speak out now and help pressure the IOC's Executive Members to immediately withdraw Tibet from the Beijing Olympics Torch Relay route.

Click here to learn more about this campaign: http://notorchintibet.org/