Tibetans and Students for a Free Tibet activists today demonstrated at the London Headquarters of Central China Goldfields, a British company conducting exploratory mining in Tibet, demanding they withdraw from Tibet until the Chinese occupation ended. While Tibet is occupied, the Tibetan people have no say in how their homeland is used, resulting in widespread environmental destruction while the Chinese government and western companies profit.
From across the country, Tibetans and their supporters telephoned, faxed and emailed the company with their concerns. The message was getting through - although most of the senior managers were in China, the office staff had soon started forwarding the campaigners objections.
As a street demonstration took place outside, a small group entered the offices and was able to meet one of the company directors to challenge Central China Goldfields on their projects in Tibet. He acknowledged that there were ethical issues with working in Tibet and in dealing with the Chinese regime, but refused to commit to a withdrawal. The campaign continues!
Looks like the protest in London went really well - nice one. We did an education stall here in Dharamsala yesterday and Tibetans and injis signed letters to China Goldfields and Canadian mining companies...