From London to Lhasa: Students for a Free Tibet UK

London: For the British people the thought of silence greeting Big Ben's midnight chimes on New Year's Eve is unthinkable, whilst the absence of fireworks over the Thames to welcome the beginning of another year would be unimaginable. To call off celebrations that are deeply ingrained in tradition and custom would be absolutely unprecedented. So it is that people in the UK and the world over can relate to the strength of feeling, the depth of suffering and the level of oppression that has led to the formation of the No Losar movement in Tibet, and the boycott of Tibetan New Year celebrations.

The Tibetan community in London joined the worldwide No Losar movement last night as Tibetan New Year began with a sombre yet defiant atmosphere opposite the Chinese embassy. The recital of prayers and the lighting of candles acted as gestures of remembrance for the Tibetans killed by Chinese forces over the past year. The vigil was called by UK based Tibetans in solidarity with those Tibetans inside Tibet whose determination to make their feelings known has resulted in this historic act of silent protest.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson reportedly stated that Tibetans would be celebrating Losar as usual, and that any reports to the contrary were media inventions. "As per usual the Chinese government propaganda is the opposite of the truth," said Terry Bettger, Campaigns Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. "The No Losar stance was formed by Tibetans inside Tibet who are making a clear and peaceful statement of defiance against the huge level of oppression imposed upon them by Chinese forces. Even silent protest like this carries serious risks, but it demonstrates the spirit of resistance Tibetans have, even in the face of a Strike Hard campaign by the Chinese authorities which is designed to brutally stamp out any sign of dissent."

 

Bristol: The usual festivities for Losar, the Tibetan New Year, have been cancelled by Tibetans around the world, and will instead be marked by acts of remembrance for those who have died and disappeared under the Chinese Occupation of their homeland.

March last year saw the largest protests in Tibet for 50 years. China's response was swift and brutal. Today a climate of fear reigns. It is estimated that over 6000 Tibetans were detained in connection to the protests, and protesters are still being arrested today. The fate of over 1000 people remains unknown, rendering them extremely vulnerable to torture.

On Tuesday 24th February between 5 &7 pm at City Centre, one of the busiest routes in Bristol, exiled Tibetans and their supporters held a candlelight vigil.

Traditionally, Losar celebrations last up to 15 days, with major festivities occurring on the first three days. Traditional Losar celebrations include family get-together meal on New Year's Eve, horse racing on New Year’s Day, visiting friends and relatives, as well as religious rituals to wish good luck to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and to each other.

However the call has gone out from within Tibet itself to exiled Tibetans and supporters around the world to suspend celebrations and instead join together to remember the deaths, imprisonment and disappearances of fellow Tibetans in the uprising against China last year, and in the last 50 years of Chinese occupation.

Reported by: Tej, Amnesty International, Bristol
Photos by: Sherab, Bristol

 

LONDON - Wen Jiabao’s visit to the UK was marked by protest as two days of action targeted the Chinese Premier in a bid to highlight the Chinese government’s shameful human rights record in Tibet. At a time when the brutal ‘Strike Hard’ campaign is persecuting innocent Tibetans with raids, threats and arbitrary detentions, Tibetans and their supporters made their presence felt at four separate protests in London and Cambridge.

The Premier’s visit to the Chinese embassy on 1 February saw a crowd of over 200 demonstrators gather opposite holding aloft placards bearing the slogan ‘Where are the missing 1,000 Tibetans?’ and posters reading: ‘Wanted: Wen Jiabao for criminal acts against Tibet.’ As Wen arrived several Tibetans dashed across the street and were roughly dealt with by police. Five were arrested and later released without charges.

Wen’s appearance later that day at a China Britain Business Council dinner at the Natural History Museum was met with further vociferous protest from amidst a flurry of snowflakes. Guests queuing at the entrance were reminded by protestors of the legacy of their guest of honour with the chant ‘Wen Jiabao: blood on your hands.’

A further protest marked Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s meeting with Wen Jiabao at Downing Street on 2 February. The Prime Minister joined opposition leader David Cameron in discussing human rights with Premier Wen following calls from Tibet support groups that Tibet should be high on the agenda during the visit. “Gordon Brown must hold Wen Jiabao accountable for the Chinese government's ongoing campaign of terror in Tibet,” said Terry Bettger, Campaigns Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK, “Premier Wen and China's leadership claim that 'normal social order' exists in Tibet when the reality could not be further from the truth.”

Later at Cambridge University the Premier’s delivery of the Rede Lecture was disturbed by a protestor who hurled his shoe in the Premier’s direction and shouted “How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator?” Outside pro-democracy Chinese and human rights activists stood alongside free Tibet activists. Commenting on the protests spokesperson Terry Bettger said: “These demonstrations are a further indication of the strength of feeling against the Chinese leadership. Wen Jiabao cannot expect to endorse brutally repressive policies in Tibet and China without encountering protest from people of conscience.” SFT UK