Dec 10: 58th International Human Rights Day

[Dec 10, Vancouver] On a day when the elements weren’t particularly on the co-operative side, members of the Students for a Free Tibet, Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) and Amnesty International pitched information tables and kiosks in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery to commemorate the 58th International Human Rights Day. SFT also staged a very effective political street theater on the busy downtown Vancouver shopping area to display the harsh reality of prison labour camps in Tibet and to remind the holiday shoppers to spend their bucks this season on goods that are not made under unfair labour practices perpetuated by Chinese party officials.

Shouts of “Boycott Made in China!” and “Help Free Tibet: Say NO to Prison Labour Products!” were chanted heartily above the din of motorists and pedestrians as they shuffled their way towards their shopping obligations. People stopped by and stared bemusedly at SFT members, some of whom acted as political prisoners sewing clothes while a guard or two would menacingly hover around them, making sure that they didn’t lag behind in their productivity. It was enormously effective as many pedestrians stopped in their tracks and asked SFT members of what exactly was going on.

There was also a playful bear that sauntered around the tables and on the sidewalk greeting people with a sign that read: “Boycott Made in China!” It was a blithe twist to a horrendous reality in Tibet to remind and appeal to consumers to shop with conscientous awareness this holiday season.

Nov 30: Global Day of Action For Nangpa Pass Detainees

November 30th marks the two month anniversary of the bloody Nangpa Pass shootings. Despite international pressure, over 30 Tibetans, including 14 children, are still missing and are reported to have been detained by Chinese border forces. If Chinese soldiers can get away with shooting innocent children, some of whom are as young as seven years old, where would they stop? Would they shoot anyone who chooses freedom over oppression?

Join people from all over the world who are asking the Chinese government one simple question, CHINA: WOULD YOU SHOOT ME TOO? In doing so, you are helping to expose the true nature of China’s brutal and repressive rule in Tibet and showing the Chinese leadership that the WORLD IS WATCHING, especially in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Please take photos of yourself, your family members, and friends holding signs with the slogan, CHINA: WOULD YOU SHOOT ME TOO? Send photos to: photos@studentsforafreetibet.org.

Protests are also being organized at Chinese consulates across Canada. For more information, please contact: kate@studentsforafreetibet.org. An updated list of rally locations and organizers will be posted shortly!

Spirited Demonstrations Mar Chairman Hu’s Historic Visit to India

In the lead up to Chairman Hu Jintao’s first visit to India — the first one by a top Chinese official in 10 years — thousands of colourful Tibetans lined the streets of New Delhi, India’s capital, in anticipation of his arrival.

Nuns, Monks, children and youths joined this day to show their solidarity and raised their voice for the voiceless people in Tibet who are denied of all the fundamental rights. The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet and about more than 200 Arunachali people joined hands with the Tibetans to give their share of support. Also present at the gathering were many foreigners and Indian supporters.

Hosts of media personnels were present to witness the day and many other eminent guests also marked their presence. Among the guests were Lhadon Tethong, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)…

Great to see Lhadon and Students For a Free Tibet in the thick of the action. The protests will continue on for three days until Hu Jintao leaves. He is scheduled to visit all the major cities in India and rest assured, all the Tibetans and their supporters will be on his heels, every step of the way.

They can gag order one Tenzin Tsundue but they can’t stop thousands of poets, activists and freedom fighters. Down with the dictatorship! Power to the People!

Will She, Won’t She?

China Relents, Harper Takes it in Stride

After deciding not to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper — after asking for the meeting in the first place — Chairman Hu Jintao has decided to give Canada a shot and will sit down with him after all. Although the Chinese have left explicit instructions that any “irresponsible” discussions about their internal affairs (read: wanton human rights abuse) is off the agenda, Harper has been righteously resolute that he will bring these matters on the table and that he will not sell important Canadian values for the “almighty dollar”.

“I think Canadians want us to promote our trade relations worldwide, and we do that, but I don’t think Canadians want us to sell out important Canadian values — our belief in democracy, freedom, human rights,” Mr. Harper said.

This is certainly a laudable stance taken by our Prime Minister and a, somewhat, welcome surprise for many Tibetan freedom supporters and human rights advocates here in Canada. “Somewhat” in the sense that it is still not clear what issues the Prime Minister will exactly discuss with the Chairman and to what extent the talks will eventuate into a meaningful respite for the many millions suffering under the Chinese Communist Party’s fascist regime. Already, there are critics who are decrying the Harper Govt’s latest foreign policy stance, worried that this may cause them to wait a bit longer for that new Audi sedan — freedom of open speech be damned.

While noting that it is certainly possible to maintain warm economic relations with China and a chilly political relationship at the same time, Mr. Evans said Chinese leaders may want to punish Mr. Harper as a warning to other countries not to make human rights too much of an issue.

“There is a reading in China that the Harper government may take a more radical approach to China than any other respected international actor, and they are worried it could set a precedent.”

They are worried that China may back off from Canada because we set a precedent for other countries to become more responsible in their trades practices and negotiations? Pardon this spate of candour but — isn’t this what we’re fucking supposed to be doing?

How in the hell would you otherwise tackle China off its high horse now that it’s the nonpareil darling for all the enterprising, global companies? Make them more accountable, that’s how. We must realize that for all it’s economic growth, projected global dominance and clout; it’s still a country afflicted with a severe identity crisis and unstable economic growth. While China may have a burgeoning middle-class, consumer demograph; the discrepancy of income between urban cities and rural areas is increasing at an alarming rate. Peasants are pissed off, students can’t surf the internet freely, corruption runs rampant in the party et al. Investors must understand that this by no means a risk-free, “guaranteed returns times infinity” investment. And although this is a tried-and-true credence in the business circles, you’ll have to factor in the conscionable seizure of dealing with a party dictatorship that has again and again brushed off the plights of its millions of suffering citizens and crushed any sign of dissent or disapproval. Try taking that to the bank.

It’s a positive sign that Tibet will at least be at the forefront of the APEC summit, what with Bush and Co. pledging to do so. Now, it just remains to be seen how effective the talks will actually turn out at the end of it all.

Morning Coffee Links: Restricted Tsundue, Concerned Bush & Snubbing Harper

A torrent of bits of news about Tibet & China that’s been swarming around the interweb lately. Here’s the masterfully edited version for the ease of your reading.

Famed Tibetan Activist Under “City Arrest”

In an absolutely pointless and shallow display of obsequiousness, the Govt. of India has restricted political activist Tenzin Tsundue from leaving the hilly city of Dharamsala in the lead up to Chairman Hu Jintao’s visit to India. Tsundue has been ordered to stay within the “territorial jurisdiction of Dharamshala Town” until November 25 and threatened deportation to Tibet if he fails to do so. Nevermind that Tenzin Tsundue has never lived in Tibet and considers himself “more of an Indian, except for my chinky Tibetan face“.

In an effort to show that the Indian Govt. is dead serious about this, eleven policemen have been keeping round-the-clock monitoring on the peace activist. Upon being asked how he feels about this sudden lack of carefree wandering, the perenially poetic and opinionated Tenzin Tsundue replied:

“This is an attack on the freedom of all Tibetans and people living in democratic India. It is a shame on the Government of India and disrespect to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and all those who struggled for independence in this country. Clearly this is pressure from the Chinese government. I was born in India and I am working only nonviolently for the human rights and freedom of my people. This issue is not about me but it is about the six million Tibetans who are suffering every day under Chinese rule and who are deprived of their voice to speak out against the occupation.”

In other news:

Dubya Aims to Rib Hu Jintao about Tibet

US President George W Bush, fresh off the sting of his national party’s rear end being handed on a silver platter to him, is “expected to discuss the issue of Tibet and the Dalai Lama with Chinese President Hu Jintao, when the two leaders meet for a summit later this week”. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior White House official confirmed that the Prez feels strongly about Tibet and believes that there needs to be an open line of communication between the Dalai Lama and China about the long-standing issue of Tibet’s independence.

It is not clear when Hu Jintao will politely remind George W. Bush of his own troubles back home in America or about the ongoing quagmire that is Iraq. It is very clear, however, that there is no such thing as bad publicity and, therefore, SFT will wholeheartedly support and endorse any and all vainglorious attempts by the Bush administration to stamp their fleeting imposition as the world’s ultimate do-gooder.

We also hope that the Bush administration will pardon this most innocent and harmless tongue-in-cheekery.

And finally:

China Snubs PM Harper (Canada to Issue Emo Rant in Uncertain Future)

China, upset by Canada’s relentless criticism of it’s humans rights records and the recent cowardly Nangpa La Pass shootings of nuns and children, has decided to not engage any official meeting between Chairman Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation conference in Vietnam. In a childish display of he-said-she-said, both sides confirmed and later denied who asked out who first.

According to Chinese officials, Canada had asked for a meeting in Hanoi, but Canadian officials said China made the initial request.

“China approached us about a meeting. We said yes. We have since learned that the meeting offer has now been declined,” said Sandra Buckler, director of communications for Harper.

Chairman Hu is expected to don a bonnet and a pair of ballerinas as he awkwardly tries to avoid Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s gaze at the summit. It is not clear though if Hu can avoid the steely determination of Tenzin Tsundue and the wrath of the mass of Tibetans and Indians furious about his crimes against humanity while in India.

Keep it here for all the latest updates on Tenzin Tsundue and the rocky relationship between the two brooding trade partners.