August 24, 2008

London: The Chinese embassy in London was the backdrop for a strong statement of commitment from the Tibetan community in Britain and their supporters. As the closing ceremony of the Olympics commenced in Beijing, the gathered crowd listened to speeches by Tenzin Dorjee, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet, Sonam Frasi, member of the Tibetan government in exile and Terry Bettger, Campaigns Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. Pledges were taken both by Tibetans and Tibet supporters to continue campaigning for Tibetans inside Tibet.

Tenzin Dorjee addressed the crowd, saying "The Chinese government are vulnerable because they care about their image and they seek legitimacy, which is why they have spent billions of dollars on these Olympics. We must use their vulnerabilities as non-violent tools in our struggle for Tibetan freedom." Sonam Frasi spoke of the ongoing need to work towards a political resolution between the Chinese government and the Tibetan government in exile before leading a rousing oath: "Mahong par boddon dentha ma salbar, bodkyi chidon la muthue rangnue gangthon gyi badtson jagyu damcha zhugyu yin? [I hereby vow that until the Tibet issue is resolved, I will dedicate myself to the best of my potential to the just cause of Tibet]. Terry Bettger spoke of the eight protests carried out in Beijing by Students for a Free Tibet activists, and said to those gathered ?Even when the Chinese military do all they can to stifle the cry for freedom from the Tibetan people, we still hear it, and we will amplify that courageous Tibetan voice so that it echoes around the world.?

The rally was the last of a series of events in London during the Olympic games organised by UK based Tibet support groups, which included a bicycle rally, a Tibetan women?s protest, a formal raising of the Tibetan flag opposite the Chinese embassy and a march ending with the presentation of a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling for a strong stance from the British government in support of the Tibetan people.