International Law

Dear John Tibet will be free

By John Hirst

Dear John,

Just hours ago in Beijing, SFT members Alice Speller and Ginger
Cassady held an open-air press conference where they spoke about
the Chinese government's ongoing crackdown in Tibet. They vowed
that even after the Olympic spotlight moves on from Beijing, the
global movement for Tibetan freedom will continue until China
ends its brutal military occupation of Tibet.

With two more days left to go before the end of the Beijing
Olympics, the two Tibet supporters declared the protest campaign
in Beijing a success and spoke of the resolve of Tibetans and
supporters globally to continue to press the Chinese leadership
for meaningful change. At this moment, they are being followed
by over 20 plainclothes police.

On Wednesday night, after being followed for hours by over 50
under-cover police, Florian Norbu Gyanatshang, a Tibetan-German
man, and three supporters were detained -- but not before they
spoke out for Tibet near the Bird's Nest stadium. The activists
called out 'Free Tibet' as Florian Norbu unfurled the Tibetan
flag and two other supporters raised their fists in the spirit
of defiance and resistance displayed by Tommie Smith and John
Carlos at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City
(http://www.athletewanted.org/videos.html). The protest took
place as spectators were leaving the Bird's Nest where the men's
200 meter final had been held just hours before.

It was on the medal podium for this same event 40 years ago that
Smith and Carlos staged their courageous protest. It appears
that these four activists have been handed out 10 days in
'administrative detention.' Read more about this powerful
protest: http://freetibet2008.org/globalactions/tibetanflag/

Meanwhile, Beijing police released a statement yesterday that
they had handed out 10-day detention terms to six American
'citizen journalists' and activists who traveled to China during
the Games, committed to ensuring that the voices of dissent in
Beijing would be seen and heard by the world.

These individuals were in Beijing to amplify Tibetan voices
calling for freedom and human rights and the right of all people
to freedom of expression. They are no more guilty of a crime
than Tibetans or Chinese who speak out for justice, and for the
Chinese authorities to sentence them at all shows the
government's paranoia and intolerance of even the most peaceful
forms of expression.

Read more about this story and to find out ways you can help
bring them home:
http://freetibet2008.org/globalactions/citizenjournalists/update0821/

Check out www.BeijingWideOpen.org to watch Lhadon Tethong's
statement about their arrest.

We recognize that ten days in jail pales in comparison to the
fate of Tibetans and Chinese who dare to speak out for freedom.
However, we categorically reject the validity of the detentions
of the ten activists and Tibet supporters being held in Beijing,
as well as the notion that the expression or documentation of a
person's view is a punishable offense, and we immediately call
for the release of those detained.

TAKE ACTION: Demand their release today by calling the Chinese
foreign ministry: +86-10-65961114

The historic protests that have taken place in Beijing, in
Tibet, and around the world this Olympic year have ensured that
Tibet is recognized as an issue of global significance that
demands immediate attention from the Chinese leadership and
governments around the world. As the Olympic spotlight begins to
fade in the coming weeks, we will redouble our efforts to push
for change on the ground inside Tibet.

As SFT UK's former national coordinator Alice Speller said to
reporters in Beijing just hours ago, "This is not the end of our
campaign, this is only the beginning."

Tibet will be free.

Lhadon, Kate, Tendor, Han, Kala, Heather, Tsering, Celia, Perry,
Amy, Jonathan, Kathy, Kiri, Yangchen, Lobsang, Thupten and all
the whole SFT HQ crew

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Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=san&r=MpSBGQEqZ-PY

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on August 22, 2008 (boomark / email).