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Dear Luis Cesar,
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. 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.' Click here to read more about this powerful protest.
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 to ensure that the voices of dissent in Beijing were heard by the world.
These individuals were in Beijing to amplify Tibetan voices calling for freedom and human rights and to support 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 intolerance of even the most peaceful forms of expression. Click here to read more about this story and to find out ways you can help bring them home.
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.
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
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. 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.' Click here to read more about this powerful protest.
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 to ensure that the voices of dissent in Beijing were heard by the world.
These individuals were in Beijing to amplify Tibetan voices calling for freedom and human rights and to support 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 intolerance of even the most peaceful forms of expression. Click here to read more about this story and to find out ways you can help bring them home.
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.
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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