From London to Lhasa: Students for a Free Tibet UK

With only eight months to go to the Beijing Olympics 2008 China is winning a gold medal for human rights abuses. Promised improvements in freedom of speech and in the governments respect for human rights have turned into greater controls on journalists, forced evictions, imprisonment of AIDS & Democracy activists, continued persecution of religious practitioners and policies designed to erode the Tibetan national identity and suppress the freedoms of the Tibetan people.

The Olympic Game holds pride in this global tradition of always having ‘brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles’ and featuring athletes from all over the world to promote the Olympic Spirit.  World Human Rights Day was time to remind the Chinese Government of their responsibilities.

London

To honour China for their illegal and brutal occupation of Tibet, we, the Tibetans and support groups presented an award ceremony to China and the IOC medals of dishonor. Medals were presented by Samphel la from Tibetan Community in Britain, Karma  la from TYUK and Pema from SFTUK.

Bronze to Mr. Jacques Rogge - the eighth President of the International Olympic Committee for awarding the 2008 Olympic games to the city of Beijing - the headquarters of the world's  the most brutal regime with  the worst human rights record.

The silver medal goes to Mr. Wen Jiabao - The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China for being the head of a government with an appalling human rights record throughout China.

Finally the Gold medal and the crown for the worst Human rights award goes to Mr. Hu Jintao - the president of the People's Republic of China. Hu Jintao presided over Lhasa’s martial law in 1989 and is responsible for death of many Tibetans. During his tenure as head of Tibet, the 11^th Panchen Lama vanished, his whereabouts are still unknown.

Manchester

Activists from Manchester, Hull, Leeds and Huddersfield celebrated outside the Chinese Manchester Consulate on behalf of imprisoned Tibetan and Chinese people who are unable to.  Upon turning up, activists entered the consulate to wish everyone a happy human rights day. The activists friendly demeanour was not met in kind by the Chinese government representatives in the consulate. One Chinese official yelled 'This is an invasion!'

The activists, including Students for a Free Tibet, Leeds University Tibet Soc, Hull Human Rights Action, and Falun Gong practitioners continued chanting and distributing information before a Olympic Award Ceremony.

Gold medals for Human Rights Abuses and Repression of Religion were presented to Wen Jiabao, Hu Jintao and Liu Jianchao.

Hu, the President of China, is reported to have said, 'I'm honoured to receive this recognition for my blatant disrespect for the Human Rights of others. I like nothing better than to oppress Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, religious people and anyone who opposes me and my government. After years of hard work and the perfection of oppression, I can safely say I deserve these medals.'

Luke, of Students for a Free Tibet said 'As we approach the Beijing Olympics, it is clear that the Chinese government is playing games with human rights abuses. China's treatment of political prisoners, shootings of Tibetan refugees and repression of religions and ethnic minorities must end. Today, Tibet and human rights activists have gathered to pressurise the Chinese government to improve  its human rights record'.

Liam, of Hull Human Rights Action commented 'Not only does China repress it's own people, but also supports oppressive regimes in Sudan and Burma. China pledged to improve its human rights record by the Beijing Olympics, but instead has treated the Olympics as a licence for tyranny.'

Edinburgh

Edinburgh University Tibet Society and Students for a Free Tibet held a street party celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Congressional Gold Medal in solidarity with the Tibetans inside Tibet who’s celebrations where disallowed.  The consulate was cordially invited along to the celebrations but nobody turned up.

On the street we handed out vouchers for free tea and cake to entice passing students to join the party and celebrate Happy Human Rights Day.  Lots of them did!

On Monday 3 December, Pete Speller, of the 'Great Wall Six' and Paul Golding, who was part of the Beijing Wide Open blog, spoke about their experiences in China to students at Warwick University. Pete was arrested and detained for 36 hours in a police station in Beijing after he and 5 other activists from Students For A Free Tibet unfurled a 450 sqft banner on the Great Wall of China reading "One World One Dream Free Tibet 2008" in English and Chinese. After being interrogated, intimidated and threatened with violence the "Great Wall Six" were deported to Hong Kong. Whilst Pete was hanging the banner Paul was with Executive Director of Students For A Free Tibet, Lhadon Tethong, in Beijing. They were blogging about the propaganda being put out by the Chinese goverment in the run up to the Olympics. After several tension filled days of constant surveilance by the Chinese Police, interviews with journalists and an attempted meeting with IOC president Jaque Roggue they were arrested. After their 12 hours in police custody, they were deported along with the others to Hong Kong.

After they told their stories, a lively question and answer session brought up some interesting debate about the Tibetan independance movement. One Chinese man, unhappy with hearing the truth about China, stormed out of the hall shouting "Tibet is part of China!" and ripping posters off the walls. Others were more happy to stay and debate the issues.

President of the Warwick SFT Group Ed Eden said "It was really great to have them here, people really seemed to enjoy the talk. Hopefully this will boost our membership."

If you would like Pete, Paul or anyone else from the SFT board to talk about the Olympics campaign email info@sftuk.org.

Last week the Dalai Lama announced that he was considering alternatives to the traditional methods of selecting his successor.

For centuries, visions, divinations, tests and other methods have been used by high-ranking Tibetan lamas to identify the boy believed to be the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. However, due to fears that the Chinese government will interfere with this process in order to install a puppet Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama has stated that he may select his successor before he dies or leave it for the Tibetan people to decide democratically.

These fears are well founded, as in 1996 thugs working for the Chinese government kidnapped the then 6 year old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy selected by the Dalai Lama to be the Panchen Lama, and installed their own boy in his place.

What is most surprising about all this is that rather than dismissing fears that they intend to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama for their own agenda, the Chinese government have actually confirmed that that’s exactly what they intend to do. This is what the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a recent statement: 

"The Chinese government will not accept any of these proposals [by the Dalai Lama] as it wants to be in control of Tibet's future spiritual leadership."

 

We had long suspected that this was the case, but it was quite surprising (for me at least) that they should be so blatant about it. In another bizarre twist, the statement also comments that:

 

"The Dalai Lama's statement is in blatant violation of religious practice…”

 

I guess they would know, having done virtually everything in their power to violate religious practice in Tibet over the last 50 years.

 

It certainly is a worry that the Chinese government will try to install their own Dalai Lama, but he would never be a true leader for the Tibetan people, as he would not have their support. The biggest concern is that the Tibetans will lose this unifying figure that has acted as a rallying point and symbol of hope for all those in exile and in Tibet.

The latest network news report comes from the SFT group at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, who already have some great things lined up...

Our group has got off to a great start this year with loads of new members signed up and a productive first meeting. We’ve already got one big event planned, “Tibet Awareness Week”, which will be happening from 19^th-23^rd November. Over the week there’s going to be a cake stall fundraiser, a slide-show presentation, 4 film screenings and a talk by former political prisoner Phuntsog Nyidrol [right] on 21st November with Amnesty International. For further details of this or if you’d like to get involved in our group, join the SOAS SFT Facebook group “SOAS Students for a Free Tibet!”

Remember to send your group news to students@sftuk.org

Uyghurs, Taiwanese, Falun Gong and Tibetans joined voices on Chinese National Day, 1st October 2007.

Iona Liddell from SFT UK voiced the breadth of human rights concerns amongst the many peoples of China, "It is so obvious, in the run up to the Beijing Olympics 2008 we should be working more together, uniting our voices, all supporters and all peoples facing persecution under the Chinese Government".

Rebiya Kadeer, a successful Uyghur business woman turned refugee after her arrest by the Chinese authorities for speaking out about the Uyghurs basic human rights, gave an address at the event outside the Chinese Consulate in London. Her family in the Uyghur region remain in detention and incommunicado as punishment for such brave acts.

SFT UK's national networking and training conference is your chance to meet and be inspired by other students and young people campaigning for Tibet. Participatng in workshops run by experienced campaigniners, including UK activists from the Everest base camp and Great Wall protests, you will learn the skils and confidence to motivate others into action.

We at the SFT UK network can't wait, this is the first SFT conference to take place in Bristol, and the first to welcome two commited American SFT campaigners from SFT HQ in NYC. This year is critical for Tibet, the Beijing Olympics 2008 offers us our greatest opportunity to achieve the freedom of speech and religion that Tibetans desire.

BOOK NOW to ensure your place - email Ben (his address is on the flyer)

For more information visit: www.sftuk.org

Exciting news from Leeds University Tibet Society

On Monday 8th October, Leeds University Parkinson Court will play host to six Tibetan Buddhist monks, who will be making a sand mandala. A sand mandala is an important ritual in Tibetan Buddhism, where the monks use a variety of tools to lay the sand in the intricate design of a mandala. The sand mandala will be a colourful, beautiful and mesmerizing spectacle for all those who visit the Parkinson Court from 8th-12th October.

The monks themselves are Tibetan exiles, from Drepung Gomang monastery in south India. Drepung Gomang monastery was built following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949. Ten years later, Tibet's spiritual and temporal leader, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed uprising by lay Tibetans in the capital, Lhasa. Depung Gomang is named after a monks school in Drepung, near Lhasa, which was for a long time the world's largest monastery. Whilst Tibetan Buddhism has been spread across the world following hundreds of thousands of Tibetans following the Dalai Lama, those remaining in Tibet have been subjected to a brutal repression of their religion, culture and human rights.

LUU Tibet Society have organised the event, which is a first for the university of Leeds. Their president, Suzi Hale said 'Not only is Tibet an important geopolitical and human rights concern, it is also the home of a deeply spiritual people, and it is vital that Tibet's history, culture and religion are preserved. We're delighted that we can share a fascinating and beautiful religious ceremony with all those associated with the university. We hope that this will spread awareness about Tibet and it's rich religious culture and that the construction of the sand mandala and ceremonies will be peaceful and enjoyable for everyone.'

The opening ceremony will be at 10 am in the Parkinson Court, and the mandala will take 5 days to build. The sand mandala will be made in the Parkinson Court from 10am till 4am from Monday to Thurday, and all are welcome to come and look. Please be quiet around them as the construction of a sand mandala is a religious ritual and requires great concentration. There will be a stall selling Tibetan crafts and Buddhist goods, and one monk will be on hand to field any inquiries. Once the monks have finished (around Friday morning), the mandala will be on show for only a few hours before the closing ceremony at 3 pm. The sand mandala's short lifespan symbolises an important part of the Buddhist canon; that all things are impermanent.

For details, please;
e-mail: unitibet@leeds.ac.uk
visit: www.whatabouttibet.com
phone: 07872017285

With Freshers' Weeks happening all over the UK and a couple of new SFT groups popping up, we thought it would be nice to bring you some news about what SFT groups get up to. So here's a report from Aaron at the Durham University Tibet Society that he sent us over the summer holiday...

In preparation for the founding of Durham University Tibet Society 2007, the following year has been a great success in the laying of foundations. In January we coordinated with the People & Planet Society to raise awareness and held ''Night for Tibet''. Around 40 people attended and were enthusiastic to learn, a presentation summarising the Tibet issue was followed by a showing of 'The Forbidden Team' film. Throughout the year we have vigorously leafleted the Durham area and created new contacts and support in the process, particularly within the university.

Our big event to finish term before the summer break was titled 'Lick for Tibet', where lollipops enticed 18 students and staff in Stockton to sign up for Durham University Tibet Society, despite being one of the quietest days on campus due to exams. This paves the way for our second 'Lick for Tibet' event to be held at the Durham Freshers Fair in October.

If you've got any news about your group that you'd like to see posted up here, please send it to students@sftuk.org

When I read this article on the BBC news website, I have to admit I was a little surprised. Not by the fact that China was taking part in another political crackdown, anyone that knows a bit about China’s past will know this is not an uncommon event, but the fact that it was announcing it to the world. You really have to worry about a government when it is proud of its repression of peaceful protestors.

So what’s brought this on? Well the Chinese Communist Party will be soon be holding their 5-yearly party congress where they roll out their plans for China, and I guess they’re a little concerned that people might take advantage of the situation. They should be; if they’re announcing repression ahead of it, you just know they don’t have the best interests of the Chinese people at heart, let alone that of Tibetans.

One of the most interesting things about this announcement by Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang about striking hard against “hostile forces” are the hostile forces he chooses to mention. Mixed in with the usual suspects you’d expect from any government, such as terrorists and religious extremists, are forces that are more peaceful than hostile. In particular he mentions “the Falun Gong cult”, which is a spiritual movement that has never been hostile to the Chinese government, only repressed by them. Guilty conscience perhaps?

But my particular favourite is “overseas and domestic hostile forces”. Surely he couldn’t mean us, could he? SFT’s recent non-violent actions on Mount Everest and The Great Wall of China couldn’t have rattled the cage of the most populous nation in the world, could they? Who knows, but the mention of “ethnic splittists” means that Tibet is definitely on the minister’s mind.

But I think one of the saddest parts of this crackdown is the eviction of 4000 petitioners from Beijing ahead of the convention. For those of you that don’t know, petitioning is just about the only way Chinese citizens have of voicing their disapproval of government actions and trying to push for positive social change. Many petitioners wait for years in poverty-stricken conditions to have their say, and now, perhaps when their voices most need to be heard, the Chinese Communist Party are even taking this meagre right away from them, as well as evicting them from their homes. Perhaps being reminded of the effect of their brutal and greedy policies is just too embarrassing for Hu Jintao and his cronies.

SFT TV is finally here, it is an online update of daily news about Tibet and other related news. The news channel is hosted by the one and only kala from the SFT HQ, so yeah please check it out, you can find it on youtube, just search, SFT TV.

Episode 13 if SFT TV. (UK edition)

Episode 8. of SFT TV

It's one-year to go before the Olympics begin in Beijing and Team Tibet are today getting ready for an Olympics Warm-Up.

There's still no word on the 6 SFT activists (including our very own Pete Speller) who did the amazing banner drop on the Great Wall yesterday, and today Lhadon Tethong (Director of SFT) and Paul Golding (Tibet activist from the UK) have been detained in Beijing. Check out www.beijingwideopen.org for Lhadon's insightful and disturbing blogposts from China, videoclips and news of their detention. On this of all days - one year from the start of the Beijing Olympics - we should be using the freedom we have to highlight the situation in Tibet and China - see you on the streets...

Peter Speller, a board member of Students for a Free Tibet UK (SFT UK) was today one of the activists detained in China during a daring banner hang on the Great Wall of China. Pete has been a long-time supporter of Tibet and a member of Students for a Free Tibet, alongside his sister Alice Speller, for almost five years.

Speaking before leaving Pete said, "I believe in youth activism as a powerful
tool to help bring about social change in the world. I want to use my skills both as
an activist and a filmmaker to work with Tibetans and their supporters in their
struggle for freedom, and hope that my actions inspire other young people to do the
same.”

See the press realease below for further details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2007

***Video footage and photos available

Contact: Matt Whitticase (Hong Kong) + 852 915-21256
Alice Speller (London) + 44 (0)7786 982222

TIBET ACTIVISTS PROTEST 2008 OLYMPICS AT GREAT WALL OF CHINA

ACTIVISTS DETAINED FOLLOWING DARING BANNER HANG

Hong Kong – Six Tibet independence activists from the UK, US, and Canada
(1) were detained today after rappelling from the top of the Great Wall of
China with a large protest banner reading “One World, One Dream, Free
Tibet 2008” in English and Chinese. The dramatic action took place on the
eve of the one-year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Tibet advocacy
groups assert that China is attempting to use the 2008 Games as a tool to
legitimize its illegal occupation of Tibet. Chinese authorities removed
the activists after two hours; their current whereabouts are unknown.

“The Chinese government is exploiting the Olympics to gain acceptance as a
world leader. By protesting at the Great Wall, the most recognizable
symbol of Chinese nationhood, we’re sending a clear message that China’s
dream of international leadership cannot be realized as long as it
continues its brutal occupation of Tibet,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Deputy
Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “We’re appealing to the
international community to shine the light of scrutiny on China in the
coming year,” added Dorjee. “The Olympic dream of Tibetans is freedom by
August 2008, and we call on the IOC and the global community to help us
make this a reality.”

Today’s protest is also directed at the International Olympic Committee
for failing to fulfill its commitment to hold the Chinese government
accountable with regards to its human rights record. In 2002, IOC
President Jacques Rogge said, “If … human rights are not acted upon [by
China] to our satisfaction then we will act.” (2) According to a report
released by Human Rights Watch last week, “the Chinese government shows no
substantive progress in addressing long-standing human rights concerns.”
(3)

Matt Whitticase, spokesperson for Free Tibet Campaign said, “The IOC
assured the global community that China’s human rights record would
improve as a result of staging the Games. Instead, we have seen the
opposite with a hardening of China’s position in Tibet (4), a sustained
government-sponsored resettlement program of Tibetan nomads (5), increased
social and economic marginalization of Tibetans following the launch of
the China-Tibet railway (6), and the closing off of Tibet to journalists
and media scrutiny (7). To stop the Chinese government from acting with
impunity in Tibet, the IOC must publicly demand that journalists have
unrestricted access to Tibet. By refusing to “act”, as it promised, the
IOC only helps China to cover up its lamentable human rights record in
Tibet.”

Lhadon Tethong, a Tibetan and the Executive Director of SFT, is currently
in Beijing and will try to meet with IOC President Jacque Rogge today who
is in Beijing for tomorrow’s celebrations. Tethong is demanding the IOC
immediately oppose propaganda efforts by the Chinese government to
underscore its claim to Tibet, and use its influence to affect substantive
progress on human rights in China and a meaningful resolution to the
occupation of Tibet. In Beijing since Wednesday, Tethong has been openly
blogging at www.BeijingWideOpen.org, exposing the reality behind China’s
blatant Olympics propaganda. To mark the Olympics one-year countdown,
Tibetans and their supporters worldwide are organizing protests to demand
a solution to the Tibet issue. Demonstrations will continue at China’s
historical landmarks, sports arenas, and at Chinese Embassies and
Consulates around the world between now and the August 2008 Games.
-30-

Notes to Editor:
(1) The detained activists are: Melanie Raoul (Vancouver, Canada), Sam
Price (Vancouver, Canada), Leslie Kaup (St. Paul, Minnesota), Nupur Modi
(Oakland, California), Duane Martinez (Sausalito, California), Pete
Speller (Cambridge, UK).
(2) President Rogge was speaking on the BBC’s Hardtalk television
programme in April, 2002.
(3) Human Rights Watch press release available at:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/08/02/china16560.htm.
(4) In November 2005 Zhang Qingli, previously hardline Party Secretary in
Xinjiang, was appointed Party Secretary to Tibet. He has made increasingly
vitriolic public denunciations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, referring
to “a fight to the death with the Dalai clique”.
(5) Human Rights Watch report available at:
http://hrw.org/reports/2007/tibet0607/index.htm.
(6) The official People’s Daily reported on 25 July 2007 that tourists
traveling to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in the first 6 months of
2007 reached 1.1 million, an increase of 86.3% over the same period for
2006, according to the regional tourism bureau. Xinhua reported on 9 May
2007 that the region is forecast to host 3 million visitors this year, a
total that exceeds the population of the TAR.
(7) Despite a pledge by Olympics Press Chief, Sun Weijia, that “they
(foreign journalists) can travel anywhere in China. There will be no
restrictions” (DPA, 28 September 2006), China subsequently announced that
all foreign journalists must obtain a special permit prior to traveling to
Tibet.

August 8th is the one-year countdown to the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This is yet another chance for the Chinese government to roll out its Olympic propaganda and mask the suffering that is really going on inside Tibet. But we plan to steal their thunder and show what is really happening, and we need your help.

At 4:45pm on August 8th, members of Team Tibet, Tibet's unofficial Olympic team, will be meeting for a warm-up in Trafalgar Square as part of a press stunt to make sure that Tibet is mentioned wherever the Beijing Olympics are that day.

To make this really effective and grab the media's attention, we need as many people as possible to support them and take part in the warm up. So if you've been to one of our actions before, please join us again; if you've never been to one of our actions, what's stopping you? Come in T-shirts and shorts or some other sports gear and join in with Team Tibet.

Where: Trafalgar Square, London
When: Meet at 4:45pm on Wednesday August 8th
What to wear: something to do sports in, like shorts and t-shirt

After the warm up event we'll also be heading to the Chinese embassy for a rally.

Where: Chinese Embassy, 49-51 Portland Place, W1B 1JL
When: 6pm-8pm
Nearest tube stations: Oxford Circus, Great Portland Street and Regents Park

The Beijing Olympics are the biggest chance for years that the Tibetan freedom movement has had to press for change in Tibet. With the world watching China, we need your help to expose the truth of the brutality going on in Tibet.

You can find out more about Team Tibet at www.SupportTeamTibet.org and other ways to get involved in the Olympics campaign at www.studentsforafreetibet.org/olympics

My dear Watson, Holmes here. I say, back in 2001 China assured us of some big changes. As part of their Olympics bid the government promised improvements in its human rights record and greater media freedoms.

Now the One-Year countdown is fast approaching and it appears we have a mystery on our hands... The Case of the Missing Freedoms. A curious incident indeed!

Glad to hear however that SFT is already on the case. Excitingly, Lhadon Tethong, the director of SFT International, is on the ground in Beijing helping us out.  You'll be glad to know it's all here at http://beijingwideopen.org/

Read this, join us and together we can all help.

Yes that's right folks, as Gordon Brown (or is it Tony Brown) takes the UK hot seat, SFT UK's new board is already forging ahead.  The first ever SFT UK elections held in April this year have given us three amazing new people to represent you, the network of really sexy people around the UK campaigning for Tibet.

In July, the SFT UK Board had one of our bi-annual meetings in London.  We said a sad farewell to three founding stalwarts of SFT UK, and a big hello to those three newly elected.  Have a look at the pics of our not so swanky, but definitely homely conference venue (thanks guys)!

Since then the new board has been working away preparing for the new academic year.  And it's a big one for all Tibetans and Tibet supporters...

As you probably know, the Olympics are in Beijing next summer.  The world's focus will be on China and the government is doing it's utmost to show a good face.  SFT UK isn't against the Olympics itself of course but China's government is using this opportunity to show the world that all is well in Tibet when we know that's not quite the case!  SFT UK will be launching it's Olympics Countdown campaign on Aug 8th 2007, one year before the opening ceremonies in Beijing.  Keep an eye out for details nearer the time.

Till then, enjoy the summer, have fun and get in touch if you want to be involved!

www.studentsforafreetibet.org/sftuk

Everyone seems to agree that the new official London 2012 Olympic logo sucks.

So I've created a new one. Tell me what you think in the comments below, or submit your own to info [at] sftuk dot org. Better still, send one to the 2012 Olympic organisers here.

I've attempted to capture London's new rave vibes and willingness to cosy up with a dodgy regime. The work features Tibetan political prisoner Tenzin Delek Rinpoche wearing a hoodie.

Conall

On 16 May we were very lucky to be joined by Lhadon and Tendor from Students for a Free Tibet HQ in New York, who were on a flying visit to the UK. Those of you who keep up to date with SFT/Tibet news will know that both Lhadon and Tendor were involved in the recent protest on Mount Everest, Tendor at the action itself and Lhadon working behind the scenes in Kathmandu, so we were thrilled when they agreed to talk about what happened and what’s next for the Olympic campaign.

They started with a short video of the protest (which you can see below) before Tendor went on to talk about his time in Tibet. He vividly described his journey from Beijing to Lhasa, which was an emotional roller coaster from the low of seeing Chinese police in Tiananmen Square to the high of seeing the Potala Palace for the first time. But one of the hardest things was not being able to speak to other Tibetans, a decision the team had made in order to prevent the Chinese authorities from arresting any innocent people. “It was very hard”, explains Tendor. “Tibetans would come up to me in the street and start talking to me, but I’d have to say ‘sorry I don’t speak Tibetan’ in English and pretend I didn’t understand”. It would later turn out to be the right move.

From Lhasa, the action team travelled to Everest Base camp, where they arrived a few days early. “There was so little oxygen in the air. It was fine when we were still, but every time we took a step we were out of breath” said Tendor. But despite this, on 25 April, the team unfurled a banner that said “One World. One Dream. Free Tibet 2008.” in English and “Free Tibet” in Tibetan and Chinese on a small hill over looking a camp where Chinese climbers were assessing whether it would be possible to take the 2008 Olympic torch up Mount Everest. They then lit a symbolic Freedom Torch and sang the Tibetan National Anthem, which is banned in Tibet. The protest lasted about 15 minutes before they were arrested.

"During our two and half days of detention, the Chinese authorities repeatedly interrogated us on our way to Shigatse under their tight security, and later in the detention units”, said Tendor. “The authorities asked us whether any local Tibetans were involved or provided cooperation with our political action", but of course no one had. The activists were deprived of food and sleep during their detention and at least one of them was threatened by the Chinese police. But eventually they were released and expelled across the Nepalese border.

Since then news of the protest has gone around the world, being reported in the USA, Australia, India, France, South Africa, Japan and here in the UK. The action has given a great boost to the Olympics campaign, which as Lhadon explained, will be critical to the Tibetan freedom movement over the coming year. “The issue of Tibet is not dead as Beijing would like the world to believe”, she said. “The reality is that Tibetans are coming up with new and creative ideas and strategies on how to get them out once and for all."

Lhadon went on to outline the strategic outlook for the Olympic campaign, which will be particularly important here in the UK with London hosting the 2012 games. There will be continued subvertising of the Beijing Olympic brand, a push to link China's abuses in China with the Olympics and more strategic actions. “During the games there will be protests around the world, so if you can, book those two weeks off now”, Lhadon explained.

If you would like to get involved in the Beijing Olympic campaign, get in touch with us at info@sftuk.org.

Well China, we know you aren't too keen on electoral democracy, but at SFT UK, we rather like it. We've been totting up the votes and can now announce the team that will make up the new board:

Serving two years will be Alice, Iain and Pema.
Serving one year will be Ben, Iona, Lucy and Pete.

Congratulations to all! The board will also be appointing a number of additional directors to make sure SFT UK has the skills mix to campaign as effectively as possible for Tibetan freedom.

SFT UK watchers will notice that six of these folk have been reappointed - you can read about them here. Which just leaves me to welcome Pema, passionate Japanese-Tibetan activist and Tibetan Youth/Project Tibet organiser. You can listen to her lyrics and check out her graphic art on the Project Tibet MySpace page.

Four Free Tibet activists, including Tenzin Dorjee, SFT's Deputy Director, protested this morning on Mount Everest, unfurling a large banner which read "One World One Dream Free Tibet 2008" in English and "Free Tibet" in Tibetan and Mandarin.

The action team - which consisted of Tendor, a Tibetan-American and Kirsten Westby and Laurel Sutherlin, both Americans - displayed the banner for almost thirty minutes. After chanting Free Tibet slogans, Tendor sang the Tibetan national anthem and lit a "Tibetan freedom torch", carrying it into the center of the camp amidst scores of climbing tents. They were detained along with Shannon Service who was filming the action.

The high altitude protest was held on the eve of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcement of the Beijing Olympic torch relay route. It is the first known occasion where an exiled Tibetan has commited an act of nonviolent civil disobedience inside Tibet. It is also the highest altitude banner action in the history of nonviolent direct action.

Watch the video footage on YouTube.

More on the SFT International homepage and blog.

So last week's demo at the Royal Albert Hall went well. A modern classic, no less - fine British institution falls for quasi-capitalism/communist rising superpower, rising superpower persuades British institution to put on a photo exhibition demonstrating how superpower has never oppressed anybody in Tibet and how fabulous everything is; noisy student activists and Tibetans show up at the same time as Chinese minister for propaganda, institution looks rather foolish.

You can read the news story on phayul.

The really interesting bit of the story, in my opinion, doesn't feature in the press release we put out. It came out in a phone conversation with the police, as the demo was being organised. It goes a bit like this:

SFT: Hello again officer, this is to confirm that we intend to put on an alternative photo exhibition outside the Royal Albert Hall on the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Copper: You're not going to have any nasty, shocking or otherwise unpleasant images are you? No horrible pictures of people being tortured or anything like that? The British public would never stand for it and we might have to nick you for something.

SFT: No, but that does sound like a good idea, now that you come to mention it...

What I thought was quite telling was the policeman's expectations.

He knew full well that the Chinese government is more than happy to torture their detainees, that they execute thousands of prisoners every year and that they continue to use force to oppress those who peacefully stand up for their rights. The policeman didn't need to look at our "alternative" photo gallery to see the reality of the Chinese occupation - he had already seen through the falsehoods being spread by the Chinese "Ministry of Information" and their British allies.

The Chinese government will continue to churn out propaganda in the run up to the Games and beyond, but they will not win the information war - the world understands the truth of China, and a few sponsored photo exhibitions in British concert halls and galleries will do nothing to gloss over China's continuing crimes in Tibet.