Tibetan Youth UK

London, 10 December 2006: Tibetan Youth UK today marked the International Human Rights Day by staging protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in London.

The protestors attracted the officials of the Chinese embassy, who were looking from the windows after hearing the loud voices of "Free Tibet - China Out"; "Human Rights - Shame on China" and so on. While acknowledging the spirit of Tibetans in Tibet, a cold windy and freezing weather couldn't discourage the zealous protestors, who steadfastly stood throughout the protest and also managed to get support from the passers-by.

The protestors highlighted the China's continued gross violations of human rights in Tibet in general and particularly the recent killings of Tibetan escapees at Nangpa La Pass by the Chinese border guards. We also urge the international community, particularly the offices of the United Nations and Human Rights Council to strongly pressure the government of People's Republic of China for the appalling human rights situation in Tibet and also demands the unconditional release of all the political prisoners of Tibet.

The protest concluded with the recitation of "Prayer for Truth" and shouting 'Bhod-Gyalo - victory for Tibet' by keeping strong determination and pledge to continue their freedom struggle.

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 7:26 pm 0 comments

London, October 11, 2006: Tibetans in UK staged a candle light vigil and demonstrate in front of the Chinese Embassy to protest against the recent fatal shooting of unarmed Tibetans as they tried to escape across the Himalayas from Chinese occupied Tibet into neighbouring Nepal.

Shocking eyewitness reports from members of the party that successfully crossed into Nepal have confirmed that Chinese forces opened fire on the party on 30 September 2006, killing a 17-year-old nun. Up to five more Tibetans are feared dead after the soldiers, stationed at the Nangpa Pass between Tibet and Nepal, opened fire on the caravan of more than 70 escaping Tibetans, which included children as young as seven. The news first broke on the popular mountaineering website www.mounteverest.net. Foreign mountaineers at the nearby Cho Oyu advance base camp witnessed the incident and described how the soldiers took careful aim and fired repeatedly on the defenceless Tibetans, even as they attempted to escape uphill.

Forty-three people from the group have successfully crossed into Nepal and have now reached the United Nations sponsored Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre in Kathmandu. The fate of the other Tibetans, including at least 14 children, remains unknown. There is concern that many of them may have been injured during the shooting and apprehended by the security forces.

Pema Yoko of Tibetan youth UK said “The killings expose the true nature of China ’s brutal rule in Tibet and contradict recent Chinese propaganda reports touting China ’s benevolent policies towards Tibetans. As a Tibetan living in the UK , it is important for me to voice my protest to the Chinese government on behalf of Tibetans in Tibet who face this persecution and cannot speak out for fear of government reprisal.”

Tibetans and its supporters strongly protests against the China’s inhuman act against innocent Tibetans in Tibet shouted slogans of “Stop killing in Tibet”; “Stop torture in Tibet” and “Free Tibet”. Lighting of candles and recitation of prayer pays tribute to the brave Tibetans who have lost their lives.

There are frequent reports of Tibetan refugees being shot at on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border but this is the most serious known attack in recent years. The fact that many Tibetan traders frequently cross the Nangpa Pass to sell goods in a nearby market without attracting the attention of the border patrol suggests that this was a calculated attack.

“Every year, 3,000 Tibetans attempt to escape into Nepal and India to seek freedom and education in Tibetan culture and Buddhist studies. If the situation in Tibet is fine as claimed by the official Chinese propaganda, then there would not be any need for Tibetans to risk their lives to cross over into Nepal and India. We condemn this atrocity and call on the Chinese government to immediately halt their oppression and violence against the Tibetan people.” Metok Sither, a spokesperson from the Tibetan Youth in the UK stated.

Tibetans and their supporters call on the Chinese government to immediately release the detained children and other refugees and to halt their persistent violence against the Tibetan people.

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 10:21 pm 0 comments

At least two Tibetans were killed and seven others wounded when Chinese border guards opened fire on them, a refugee support group has said.

The head of the UN-sponsored Tibet Refugee Reception Centre in Nepal, Loudhup Dorjee, said the alleged incident happened on Saturday.

He said about 70 Tibetan men, women and children had been trying to cross the Nangpa La pass from China into Nepal. Forty-two managed to enter. He had no information on the fate of the others.

'Two people down'
Earlier, mountaineering website MountEverest.net carried what it said was an eyewitness report of the shooting from an unnamed climber in the area.

"Without warning, shots rang out. Over, and over and over. Then the line of people started to run uphill," the climber said.

"We saw two shapes fall. The binoculars confirmed it: two people were down, and they weren't getting up. Then more Chinese army swarmed through Advanced Base Camp."

Within sight of horrified climbers preparing an assault on Everest, Chinese troops stationed on the Tibet-Nepal border have shot dead at least two Tibetan refugees trying to cross the border.

The refugees were trying to reach Nangpa La pass last Saturday and the Everest advance base camp was swarmed by Chinese troops after the shootout. Climbers regularly see caravans of traders and refugees crossing out of Tibet, but this is the first witness report by western climbers of the People's Liberation Army shooting refugees.

The killings highlight the yawning gap between China's state propaganda, which cast it as the friend and protector of the Tibetan people and the harsh reality of a brutal military occupation as experienced by three million Tibetans. The shootings also revive concerns about Beijing's human rights record as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in two years.

Every year, hundreds of Tibetan refugees escape from Chinese occupation. They try to cross at more isolated passes which are usually unguarded. About 70 Tibetan men, women and children were trying to cross the Nangpa La pass from China into Nepal within sight of the advance base camp at Cho Oyu, which was teeming with climbers preparing for Everest.

An unnamed climber, writing on the website mounteverest.net, said that the Chinese troops opened fire on the defenceless column and that the refugees panicked as the soldiers moved in.

"Early morning of 30 September, I walked out of our dining tent to gaze over towards the Nangpa La pass. I saw a line of Tibetans heading towards the start of the pass, a common sight, as the trade routes are open this time of year.

"Then, without warning, shots rang out. Over, and over and over. Then the line of people started to run uphill; they were at 19,000ft. Apparently the Chinese army was tipped off about their attempted escape, and had showed up with guns.

"Watching the line snake off through the snow, as the shots rang out, we saw two shapes fall. The binoculars confirmed it: two people were down, and they weren't getting up. Then more Chinese army swarmed through ABC (advance base camp)."

Refugees have been shot at along the border before, but this was the first time in recent years that Chinese troops had killed any.

The wide Nangpa La pass, between Tibet and Nepal, has been a common traders' route for centuries.Many Tibetans cross the pass to sell their traditional craft and Chinese goods in Namche Bazaar's Saturday market then return home, but some seek refuge in Nepal or India.

A 25-year-old who survived the shooting escaped to Nepal. He told activists in Kathmandu: "When the machine-gun fire started hitting around us, we ran in all directions. We ran back where we came from just trying to avoid the army. After hiding from the gun blasts for many hours, we climbed over Nangpa La in the middle of the night and walked the entire day on the Nepal side because we were so scared."

Lhundup Dorjee, of the Kathmandu-based Tibet Refugee Centre, said that 42 people had managed to enter Nepal but there was no information about the others. The refugee centre is in contact with the survivors.

Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has been in exile in India since the Chinese invasion of 1959. He has repeatedly said he was willing to engage "reasonable talks" with Beijing to protect those Tibetans who have stayed behind in their homeland. But the Chinese government has always rejected his offer and continues to treat harshly those who flee Communist repression in their country.

There has been no comment by the Chinese authorities on the shootings.

Chinese 'Kill nun' in Tibet refugee attack

by Jeremy page, Timesonline.co.uk

Chinese border guards who fired on Tibetan refugees heading for the border near Mount Everest killed a Buddhist nun and possilbly one other person.

However, several climbers reported watching in horror from Everest's advance Base Camp as the border guards started shooting early last Saturday morning. Click More...

by Mounteverest.net

Five days back, people including children were shot at right before the eyes of a large international community of mountaineers. At least one young nun lost her life. A couple of climbers made sure the world knew.

An American climber reported straight from Cho Oyu to ExploresWeb, "There is a story that happend here on 30th and the 1st that is not being told," he reported on October 2nd. His email was a horrible eye-witness report of climbers on summit push spotting Tibetan refugees getting shot while crossing Nangpa La. "Watching the line snake off thru the snow, as the shots rang out, we saw two shapes fall. The binoculars confirmed it, 2 people were down, and they weren't getting up." More click

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 6:09 pm 0 comments

[London] The long arm of the Chinese government was witnessed again today during the arrival in the UK of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. A large crowd of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supporters had gathered to welcome Wen Jiabao upon his arrival at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge. The media and human rights activists were kept in the dark as to his movements and schedule.

“The CCP supporters had flags, drums and even a Chinese dragon! Such extravagance clearly required beforehand planning. But the London police claimed they had no knowledge of Wen’s itinerary and were not making it public. So how did the CCP supporters know when to be where?” asked Pete Speller speaking on behalf of Students for a Free Tibet UK.

Xinhua, China’s state news agency, made headlines yesterday for announcing that foreign media in China now needed to seek its approval before distributing any news and pictures within China, raising state censorship on foreign media to a higher level.

“It appears that the British government has caved in to pressure from the Chinese embassy and decided to keep the people in the dark, a tactic regularly used by Beijing and other authoritarian regimes,” said Alice Speller, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. “ChinaChina itself is proving them wrong. Instead of liberal western corporations coercing china to open up and introduce more political freedoms, so far China has successfully forced western corporations and free countries to compromise their values and principles.” apologists have advocated free trade and open market economies as catalysts for freedom and democracy, but

Pundits have speculated that Wen Jiabao try to influence Britain’s policy on the EU arms embargo during his meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair today. Students for a free Tibet and Tibetan Youth UK will be demonstrating at Downing Street during Wen’s meetings. Since the Tiannaman Square massacre, which inspired the embargo, Tibet and China have seen little change in terms of freedom of expression.

“My country has been destroyed and everyone looks the other way. My people are suffering and everyone looks the other way. My religion and culture are being annihilated and everyone looks the other way,” said Karma Churatsang, president of Tibetan Youth UK. “Tony Blair must use this chance to stand firm on trade and the embargo. To stand firm for those whose voices have been ignored for too long. He should end his political career on a high and positive note by standing up for freedom and human rights, not on a shameful note for underhanded tactics and media secrecy. It is a shame to see the British government support China’s clamp down on freedom and human rights.”

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 10:58 am 0 comments

IMMIDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Alice Speller: 07786 982 222
Karma Chura-Tsang: 07725501995

[LONDON] Tibetans and Tibet supporters will call on Britain not to trade with China until TibetUK this week. Students for a Free Tibet and Tibetan Youth UK will be demonstrating throughout his visit including outside Downing Street is free as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits the on Wednesday as Wen Jiabao meets the Prime Minister Tony Blair.

It is likely that Wen Jiabao will try to put pressure on the British government to support a lifting of the European Arms Embargo on China. During the recent EU-China summit held in Helsinki he made several public attempts to push the Finnish government into supporting a lifting of the ban.

Speaking on behalf of Tibetan Youth UK Karma Chura-Tsang said, “The British government must not miss this opportunity to push Wen Jiabao on Tibet. Findings of the recent Foreign Affairs Select Committee East Asia Report demonstrate that China is doing little to deal with the ongoing human rights and environmental abuses. With such current evidence in the hands of MPs it would be embarrassing for the government not to demand change in Tibet but to kowtow to Chinese trade demands.”

Alice Speller, National coordinator for Students for a Free Tibet UK added “Students and young people must demand change from our government on Tibet. Tibet has been ignored or pushed to the sidelines for too long. It is time we took a stand in support of a non-violent movement. Blair must not support the removal of the EU arms embargo and must realize that increased trade with China comes at a cost, Tibetan freedom.”
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.

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 10:53 am 0 comments

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang announces:

At the invitation of Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Tajikistan Prime Minister Akil AkilovChinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany and Tajikistan from September 9 to 16.

Premier Wen will also attend the Ninth China-EU Summit and the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held in Helsinki, capital of Finland, and the Fifth Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx/t270537.htm

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 1:14 pm 0 comments

DHARAMSALA—Authorities in the Tibetan region of Karze in southwestern China's Sichuan province have detained the abbot of a major monastery, possibly in connection with the appearance of posters supporting Tibetan independence one year ago, sources in the area said.

"Chinese security officials arrested Khenpo Jinpa of Choktsang Taklung Monastery based in Choktsang village, Serda county, Karze prefecture, on Aug. 23," a caller from the region told RFA's reporter in Dharamsala. Karze is known in Chinese as Ganzi.

"His room was raided and searched without any kind of advance notice," the caller added.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2006/09/07/tibet_abbot/

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 8:10 pm 0 comments

Jonathan Watts in Beijing
Wednesday September 6, 2006
Guardian

Beijing's Olympics organisers have promised that the international media will be allowed to travel freely around China by the time the Games start in 2008, Britain's minister for culture, media and sport Tessa Jowell said yesterday.

The assurance - given by the head of the organising committee, Liu Qi - would require a loosening of some of the tightest restrictions on foreign journalists in the world. Correspondents are frequently detained by police and sent back to Beijing when they try to cover sensitive stories in the provinces.

Britain, Germany and other European countries have urged China to drop these controls and to grant the same freedoms permitted to Chinese reporters in London, Berlin and other western capitals.

Mrs Jowell, who is visiting Beijing as UK Olympic minister, said she received a positive response when she raised the issue with her counterpart, Mr Liu. "He gave me a clear assurance that he would support unimpeded movement of accredited and non-accredited journalists to report not just on the Games but on China," she said. Read More....

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 4:06 pm 0 comments

By Nick Mulvenney Reuters
Monday, September 4, 2006; 8:13 AM

BEIJING (Reuters) - Britain's Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said on Monday she would raise the issue of press freedom in a meeting with Beijing Olympic organizers (BOCOG) this week.

Jowell, who is responsible for her government's media and sports portfolios as well as the 2012 London Olympics, said reports of harassment of journalists in China were "matters of concern."

"I will be talking about press freedom with organizers tomorrow," she told reporters at the site of the main stadium of the 2008 Olympics.

"I think what is to be welcomed is that I understand BOCOG have made it clear that access will be granted to accredited and non-accredited journalists.

"This is an important step in the commitment the organizing committee gave the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that hosting the Games would turn China to face the rest of the world.

"These kinds of basic freedoms are freedoms the rest of the world in some cases take for granted and in others aspires to." Read More........

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/04/AR2006090400219.html

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 7:00 am 0 comments

Wed Aug 30, 1:52 AM ET Reuters

Time is running out to reach an agreement on Tibet's future which, if not sorted out by 2008, could become a blemish on the Beijing Olympics, a French parliamentary delegation said on Wednesday.

After meetings with Communist officials in Tibet, the group said they had the impression the authorities took a more "nuanced" tone toward the region's problems than the propaganda would suggest, but questions on Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, were rebuffed.

"There is one chance for Tibet and that's before the Olympics," Louis de Broissia, president of the French Senate's Information Commission on Tibet, told a Beijing news conference

after returning from the remote far-western Himalayan region.

"With so much international attention, the Tibet question could become a stain on the Olympics. After that, it's all over," he said.

De Broissia said it was possible a new generation of Tibetan leaders could espouse more violent forms of protest once the Dalai Lama dies.

The Dalai Lama, accused by Beijing of being a separatist, has lived in exile in the Indian hill station of Dharamsala since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule.

"The youth in exile are very impatient," he said. "It's in the interests of China to work fast and concretely."

The group was allowed only very limited contacts with people in Tibet other than officials, de Broissia said.

When they asked about the Dalai Lama, officials responded with questions about unrest among young Muslims in France, or the problem of Corsican separatists, he added.

"They told us the Dalai Lama was forgotten, discredited," the senator said. "We couldn't get anyone to really talk about the Dalai Lama. They would hide behind a disarming smile." Read More......

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 8:39 pm 0 comments

International Campaign for Tibet
August 16th, 2006

The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom has said that "the Chinese assertion that the Dalai Lama advocates Tibetan independence flies in the face of public statements made by the Dalai Lama." It has recommended that the British Government continue to press the Chinese Government on the issue of the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet.

This conclusion and recommendation are contained in the seventh report of the Committee that was made public in July 2006. The report was compiled after committee members visited TibetChina, met Chinese and British government officials and heard from expert witnesses as well as from the Office of Tibet in London. and

Committee members Sir John Stanley, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Andrew Mackinlay, Ms Gisela Stuart, and Mr. Richard Younger-Ross visited Lhasa and Tsethang from May 13 to 15, 2006 and met the Abbot and Management Committee of Sera Monastery, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region, Vice Chairman of the Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Deputy Mayor of Lhasa Municipal Government, Officials from the Development and Reform Commission, Public Security Bureau and Environmental Protection Bureau, Tibet Autonomous Region, Tsering, Deputy Director-General of the Working Committee of the People's Congress of Lhoka Prefecture, and the Abbot and Management Committee of Samye Monastery.

The Committee has said "freedom of religious belief and worship in Tibet remains significantly restricted." Further, it said that China's appointment of a Panchen Lama "is a serious abuse of the right of freedom of religion" and has recommended that the British Government press China to respect the right of the Tibetan religious leaders in choosing the next incarnation.

In response to a question by a Committee member on the British Government's views on Tibet, Rt Hon Margaret Beckett, a Member of the House, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said, "We are also seeking to use what I think is a degree of goodwill and mutual confidence that we are gradually building up with the Chinese Government to encourage political dialogue and try to encourage from all quarters an approach of trying to identify a greater degree of common ground so that there can be a more peaceful approach and peaceful settlement in the area of Tibet."

The Foreign Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the administration, expenditure and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its associated agencies.

Following are the full text of the Tibet section of the conclusions and recommendations, the Tibet section of the report, and proceedings of the examination of British Foreign Office officials on Tibet. The full report is available at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmfaff/860/86002.htm.

Conclusions And Recommendations Read More.........

# posted by Tibetan Youth UK @ 8:29 pm 0 comments