Beijing Wide Open

This morning, just near the British parliament, 2 climbers unfurled a massive banner on Westminster bridge reading, “One World, One Dream: Free Tibet 2008.” They were arrested along with 2 other Tibet independence activists. These young people of conscience, including a man of British and Chinese descent, took this daring action to show their solidarity and support for the Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom. At this moment, when the Chinese government is brutalizing Tibetans inside Tibet, their action is like a ray of light in the darkness. I cannot say enough to thank them for their courage and their commitment to justice in this world.

I am in London now and doing continuous interviews about China’s controversial Olympic torch relay which arrives here on Sunday. Each time I speak I try to explain why Tibetans will be protesting. I try to clarify why sports and politics cannot be separated, especially when it comes to China. Over and over again, I say that the torch must not be taken to Tibet and I attempt to explain why this is wrong. But I cannot express this in a few second sound bite. » Read the rest of this entry «

Please help us send the truth about China’s torch far and wide around the world. With your help we can convince the IOC to cancel plans to take the Olympic torch through Tibet while Tibetans are suffering under a violent military crackdown.

http://NoTorchInTibet.org/

Pass it on…like a baton!

This Avaaz petition in support of the Tibetan people has reached over 1.3 million signatures from every country in the world. Please sign it and forward it around and help us reach 1.5 million signatures by Monday, March 31st the Global Day of Action for Tibet.

At a time like this, when a people is suffering so terribly at the hands of a brutal military regime, it can be hard to see how individuals can help. But this world is full of caring people - people of conscience - who can make a difference if they just take action and speak out at once. Your voice matters. It’s not just decision-makers in free countries who care what you think. The Chinese government, and Chinese people, care too. Just read through the vitriolic attacks some are posting on this blog and you will see how much they care. » Read the rest of this entry «

There were more protests in Tibet today. As a group of diplomats were flying out of Tibet, hundreds of Tibetans are reported to have protested in Lhasa. We sat around the dinner table tonight trying to imagine the scene. Their bravery. The chaos. How long can they keep this up? What is happening inside? No pictures. Barely a whisper of what happened.

Just in case anyone had any doubts that the real issue at stake in Tibet is one of freedom, the monks of the Jokhang have now risked everything to send this message to the world. They ran into the middle of the strictly controlled tour of foreign media when it reached the Jokhang (Tibet’s holiest temple), crying out to the journalists that the Chinese government is “lying” and trying to “trick” them into thinking everything is fine in Tibet. Through their tears they explained that there is no freedom in Tibet and that the Dalai Lama is not to blame for the protests. » Read the rest of this entry «

BREAKING NEWS:
Tibet Monks Disrupt Tour by Journalists

By CHARLES HUTZLER, AP

LHASA, China (AP) — A group of Tibetan monks disrupted a tour by foreign reporters to Lhasa Thursday, complaining that there is no religious freedom and that the Dalai Lama is not to blame for recent violence.

About 30 monks surged into a carefully stage-managed visit to the sacred Jokang Temple in Lhasa by foreign reporters. They yelled “Tibet is not free. Tibet is not free.”

They also said their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had nothing to do with recent anti-government riots by Tibetans in Lhasa, where buildings were torched and ethnic Han Chinese were attacked. Government handlers tried to pull the journalists away when the monks protested. » Read the rest of this entry «

Here they are. Look at them carefully and please remember their faces. If you want to understand the plight of Tibetans under China and if you want to know why Tibetans despise Chinese rule as deeply as they do, then read about these men and what they stand for. Zhang Qingli, Wang Lequan, and Li Dezhu aren’t the only ones responsible but they are integral pieces of the puzzle and their views speak volumes about Chinese racism towards Tibetans and other oppressed people under China’s fist, like the Uighurs of East Turkestan. The policies these three men promote make chillingly clear China’s plans for the future of Tibet.

An article in the Sunday Times entitled “Ethnic repression in Tibet masterminded by faceless trio,” exposes the sickness of their minds. May they be faceless no longer.

The world is not changing China. China is changing the world - bringing oppression wherever it goes.