We're back this week with yet another great guest blog, this time from Vinita Kamath. Vinita is very knowledgeable on refugee issues, and she presents some very detailed and very helpful info. on the crisis in Tibet.
Be sure to read about Our Seventh Concern. Then post your comments and invite your friends to check it out as well!
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The Tibetan refugee crisis has been an on-going human rights concern for many years, and recent reports of killing and torture by Chinese border control troops have been particularly disturbing. Between 2,500 and 3,000 Tibetans make the dangerous crossing by foot over the Himalayas into exile in Nepal and India each year, fleeing religious and political repression, as well as discriminatory educational and economic policies by the Chinese government. One-third of these refugees are children.
Last fall, Chinese troops opened fire at a group of Tibetan refugees, killing a 17-year-old nun. Other refugees, including children, were detained by these soldiers, and many were tortured while in detention.
Learn More:
1. International Campaign for Tibet
- an international organization that has been working on remedying human rights abuses in Tibet for the past 19 years. ICT’s 2001 report “Dangerous Crossing: Conditions Impacting the Flight of Tibetan Refugees” provides an in-depth and informative analysis of the refugee situation.
2. YouTube video showing Chinese soldiers attacking Tibetan refugees (warning: graphic images)
Take Action:
1. Students for a Free Tibet- Activist Center
- provides students with an “Activist Toolbox” which explains how to organize around this issue within your school
2. Race for Tibet Campaign- Beijing Olympics 2008
- sign a petition urging China to improve its human rights conditions and demanding integrity from China and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before next year’s Olympics
- also, receive free advocacy tools (including ‘Race for Tibet’ stickers and post-cards) to help raise awareness in your community
3. Amnesty International Online Action Center
- sign and send a letter to various Chinese and Tibetan government actors condemning the shooting and torture of Tibetan refugees
Monday, February 19, 2007
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3 comments:
If anyone feels disconnected with the issue in Tibet, I found that rewatching Seven Years in Tibet was a good introduction.
Peter
Good suggestion, Peter... and any of the works by the Dalai Lama or Buddhist scholars probably couldn't hurt either.
Chinese propagandists are working to blacken the name of that great man of peace, the Dalai Lama. The Chinese government fears people who speak truth to those in power. That is why they just sentenced prominent Chinese civil rights activist Hu Jia to 3 1/2 years in jail, for simply advocating democracy and human rights in public. What this tells me is that it is worthwhile to continue to speak in favor of freedom, justice, and human rights in China, for if Chinese propagandists are working so hard to vilify the advocates of peace and freedom, they must deeply fear the effects of public advocacy of human rights workers seeking freedom and justice in China and Tibet. How deeply the government of China would love to jail every voice of criticism and dissent who dares to speak out on these pages! I ask each person who reads these pages to think of what it would be like to live in a place where writing the above article, or posting any criticism of the Chinese government on these pages, is punishable by lengthy imprisonment at the will of those in power. Free Tibet!
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