ATJ calls on participants of Xinhua Summit to urge China to allow freedom of press and expression in China and Tibet.

The Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ) appeals the participants of the World Media Summit organized by the Chinese government’s official new agency Xinhua to be mindful of the lies and propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party.

We appeal the participants to raise the issue of media censorship and violation of freedom of speech and expression in China and Tibet.

The ATJ believes that the summit is a guise to influence the international media opinion on China, which has always undermined the freedom of expression by crushing the voices that came in its way to authoritarianism and rule of tyranny.


Passang Norbu, a 19 year old Tibetan youth, was arrested on August 12 this year for simply watching Internet contents on Tibetan independence, photographs of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan protests against Chinese rule last year. Paljor Norbu, an 81 year old Tibetan, was sentenced in October last year to seven year’s in prison for allegedly printing the banned Tibetan national flag at his printing press. Moreover, there have been several cases of arrests and detention of Tibetan writers who simply expressed their opinions against the Chinese government.

The true face of China’s tolerance to freedom of expression was flashed across television screens last year when monks of Lhasa’s Jokhang openly spoke against the Chinese government and expressed their loyalty to the exile Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama before a visiting group of international journalists in a state monitored tour.

Journalists of Japan’s Kyodo news agency were beaten up by police in their hotel room and their laptops destroyed days before the October 1 celebration of the founding of the Communist Party. Reports have emerged of China’s censorship of several international news websites and attacks by viruses and malicious softwares on computers owned by journalists working for major international news agencies.

Tashi Wangchuk, President of ATJ, reiterated his hope that the Tibetan journalists in exile should be allowed to visit Tibet for an independent investigation of the situation there. "If China is true to its words and claims of stability and prosperity in Tibet, it should let us visit Tibet and witness the situation in Tibet for ourselves."

Many Tibetans have used cellular phones to capture images and videos of protests in Tibet to inform the outside world about the protests in Tibet last year. The government later imposed stricter restrictions on internet, telephone and cellular networks making it difficult to verify reports of arrests and torture in prisons. This is exactly the reason why there is a considerable time-lapse in the information we receive and the actual time of the happening. Many Tibetans have landed up in Chinese jails on mere suspicion of “leaking state secrets” to the outside world, and have been branded “separatists”.

ATJ urges the Chinese government to respect the Tibetan people’s freedom of expression, and allow free and independent access to journalists including the Tibetan journalists in exile.

Vamos continuar a agir pela libertação de Dhondup Wangchen !

Dhondup Wangchen, o realizador Tibetano do extraordinário filme "Leaving Fear Behind" foi acusado de "incitar o separatismo."

Os advogados de Dhondup Wangchen foram impedidos de o representarem, o que lança uma séria dúvida sobre o seu julgamento.

Dhondup Wangchen foi alvo de tortura quando em detenção e a sua sáude é bastante débil.

ACEDA AO LINK EM BAIXO E FAÇA A SUA PARTE!

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/t/7424/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1125

Obrigada!

Press Release of Protest in Japan Against the Exhibition, "Tibet: Treasure for the Roof of the World"

Immediate Press Release

The Tokyo Protest Rally Against the Exhibition, "Tibet: Treasure from the Roof of the World” on September 18th and 19th, 2009. Since the International Alliance Against “Tibet: Treasure from the Roof of the World” Exhibition (IAATE) created the campaign website in June this year we have sent the director of the Ueno museum, Mr. Seiichi Mizuno, the Tibet exhibit committee and the cooperate sponsors of the exhibition an open letter.

In the letter we asked to include the accurate modern Tibetan history (especially from the Chinese invasion in Tibet in 1949-50), so that the exhibition could help facilitatethe steps towards resolving fifty years of Chinese oppression in Tibet. Unfortunately, the response from the Tibet Exhibit Committee which represents all participated cooperate sponsors such as The Ueno Royal Museum, Daiko Advertising Inc., Asahi Newspaper, TBS, JAL and Nippon Express made us keenly aware that they have no intention to consider our requests by sending us a three sentence replyletter. This exhibition is clearly controlled by the Chinese government, which is the current owner of those Buddhist artifacts in the exhibit. The exhibition fails to include the accurate history of Tibet and gives a wrong impression to the visitors of the exhibition, many of whom share the Buddhist faith of the Tibetan people, and revere the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

Therefore, we have no choice but to intensify our media outreach campaigns to tell the truth about the modern history of Tibet that has been intentionally hidden from this exhibition. Tibetans and their supporters are planning a protest rally on September 18th (private viewing for the media & V.I.P.) and 19th (the general opening day) near the Ueno Royal Museum. We sincerely ask the members of the media not only to widely report about the protest rally but also to draw more attention to the untold issue - Tibet’s ongoing suffering under Chinese oppression. Over the past year, the Chinese government has engaged in a comprehensive cover-up of the torture, disappearances and killings that have taken place across Tibet since a wave of protests swept the plateau from March 10, 2008.

Beijing has also engaged in a virulent propaganda offensive against Nobel Peace Laureate the Dalai Lama. Therefore, to proclaim the truth about Tibet the Tibetans and their supporters will be distributing fryers near the Ueno Royal Museum on September 18th (private opening for the media and V.I.P.) and September 19th (general opening.) They will be having a protest rally on September 19th.

BACKGROUND BRIEFING - TIBET

This year On October 1, China celebrates its the 60th year-anniversary of the establishment of The People’s Republic of China. This is also the 60th anniversary of Tibet’s invasion by the PRC and it is likely to be marked in Lhasa by a display of military strength.

Before the occupation, Tibet was a nation with an established sovereign government, currency, postal system, language, legal system and culture. Since then, the Tibetan people have become marginalized in their own country, the Tibetan culture has been severely restricted, and tens and thousands of Tibetans have died as a result of the occupation, through torture, execution, suicides and starvation. The Chinese government has systematically destroyed many monasteries that represent Tibet’s cultural identity. Tibetans are arrested, tortured and imprisoned by simply reciting the words, “Free Tibet” or displaying the Tibetan national flag. Religious freedom has been increasingly restricted; monks and nuns continue to be beaten, arrested and imprisoned for refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama, their spiritual and temporal leader.

Following a wave of overwhelmingly peaceful protests across the plateau in 2008, Tibet remains under de facto martial law. These protests are the graphic illustration of the deep-seated frustrations of the Tibetan people and an indication of the failure of China’s Tibet policy. Tibet Silent Protest March by IAATE The International Alliance Against “Tibet: Treasure from the Roof of the World” Exhibition.

Date: 11:30 AM, Saturday, September 19, 2009

Starting time: 12 O’clock noon.
Place: Takecho-park, 4-21-1 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo(Metro: JR Okachimachi, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Okachimachi)
Rally route:Takecho-koen ~ Kasugadori ~ Takeyamae ~Okachimachiekimae ~ Uenohirokoji (Ueno Matsuzakayamae) ~Tenjinshita Kosaten Usetsu ~Ikenohata Icchome ~ Uenoonshikoen
Dispersing place: Uenoonshikoen (around 12:30 AM)
Guest Speaker: Mr. Lhakpa Tshoko (Representative of Liaison Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Japan)
*Note: We ask the protesters to dress in black to show our respect and grief to all Tibetans who have been killed by the Chinese occupation.

In April 2009, five Tibetans were sentenced to death (three suspended) and two to life imprisonment on charges of arson in Lhasa on March 14, 2008, which lead to worldwide condemnations of the sentences that urged China to review their due process by the international human rights organizations and the governments. This is the only period in which protests have continued in Tibet despite the severity of the crackdown. Since January 2009 there have been more than 20 separate protestssome were solitary events and others involved hundreds of people. All have been peaceful.

The 14th Dalai Lama has established the Tibetan government in exile in the northern India and has been tirelessly working towards a peaceful solution with the Chinese government. His non-violent approach to resolve conflicts and to find peaceful solutions have been applauded and led to his being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese officials have been engaged in a dialogue process to discuss the status of Tibet since September 2002. Unfortunately, the seven years of sporadic dialogues have not led to any substantive negotiations. The talks have not met the expectations of the international community for a meaningful progress towards a mutually agreeable solution for Tibet. IAATE firmly believes that all parties who are involved in the exhibition must exhibit these Tibetan artifacts with a fair and comprehensive explanation of its cultural and political background. They should facilitate a meaningful dialog between Tibet and China to resolve the ongoing issue.

The humanitarian and honorable efforts of the Japanese corporations will be recognized by the international community. IAATE will continue to work on influencing future promoters and corporations in Japan who will organize events that involve “China’s Tibet” to raise awareness, remind them of Tibet’s suffering and urge them to take humanitarian responsibility to promote an impartial truth of modern Tibetan history.

For Further information of our campaign please visit: http://seichitibet.com/en/index.html
For more details of the protests and rallies please contact:Eli WAKAMATSU / Masaki KAMATAEmail; press@seichi-tibet.comTel; Masaki Kamata JPN +81 (0)50-3735-7901(Japanese )Eli Wakamatsu UK +44 7711 746 172 (English/Japanese)ITSN Member *International Tibet Support Network http://www.tibetnetwork.org/

Exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama prays during a ceremony to comfort the victims of Typhoon Morakot, in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung.

China called off events planned with Taiwan, in apparent retaliation for the Dalai Lama's visit to the island, officials said Tuesday, as Tibet's spiritual leader led thousands in prayer.

(AFP/Sam Yeh)

Tibetan Democracy Day

The exile Tibetan government today said the younger generation Tibetans must take up political responsibilities. “The Kashag believes that they will be more responsible than ever before in political and administrative affairs of our society,” said Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kalon Tripa of the exile Tibetan government.

Rinpoche was speaking at the 49th anniversary celebrations of the Tibetan democracy here. The former academician who is serving his second term as the prime minister of the exile Tibetan government echoed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes for harmony between Tibetan and Chinese peoples. He said that efforts should be made to build friendship with Chinese people and not create differences and animosity. For full statement click here

The Kalon Tripa also said education, intellectual freedom, healthy exchange of differing ideologies are indispensable components of a true democracy. He expressed “immense gratitude” and paid “obeisance” to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his extraordinary efforts to transform the Tibetan polity into a genuine democracy.

Also present at the official function at Tsuglakhang courtyard was a French Senate delegation led by Sen. Jean Francois Humbert, Tibetan chief justice commissioner and justice commisioners, the speaker of the Tibetan parliament and members of the parliament, government officials, heads of NGOs, schools, monasteries etc.

The Speaker of the Tibetan parliament, Penpa Tsering, said in his address to the gathering that the Tibetans in exile must ensure more participation in elections. Expressing his disappointment over low turnout of voters in previous assembly elections he said every Tibetan eligible to vote must used the voting right for a more vibrant democracy. He advised everyone to be responsible citizens of the exile Tibetan government and help enhance democracy. The Tibetan exiles will go for Kalon Tripa polls in 2011.

September 2 is a special day and an official holiday for Tibetans around the world as they celebrate their democracy day.

This year completes 49 years since the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama declared democracy for Tibetans in 1960 and promulgated a constitution for a future Tibet, based on the principles of modern democracy.

To support his declaration of democracy, the Dalai Lama established a Tibetan Government-in-exile, with a parliament directly elected by the people. As part of democratic reforms, the Dalai Lama, in 1991, announced the “Charter for Tibetans in exile”, which, amongst other things, expanded the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, (now called Tibetan Parliament in exile) and were empowered to appoint the Cabinet (Tib: Kashag).

Speaking in 1991, after announcing this landmark decision, the Dalai Lama said: “Change is coming to the Tibetan political system. It is unfortunate that it happens in exile, but this does not stop us learning the art of democracy….This democratization has reached out to Tibetans all over the world…. I believe that future generations of Tibetans will consider these changes among the most important achievements of our experience in exile.”

As part of further democratization, in 2000, the Tibetan leader instituted another reform, requiring exile Tibetans to directly elect their Prime Minister with full administrative power. In 2001, for the very first time, Tibetans from 27 countries voted on a single day, with more than 80 percent electing Professor Samdhong Rinpoche as the first Kalon Tripa elected directly by the people.

To mark the day, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy will be holding a lecture by Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche on “Tibetan Democracy” later in the day.

In

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=25429&article=Exile+Tibetans+celebrate+49th+democracy+day

Mount Fuji Pilgrimage

"Tibetan exiles and their Japanese supporters made a pilgrimage up Mount Fuji on Saturday to pray for world peace and call for freedom for themselves and other minorities in China.

'Today there are a lot of problems in China, not just in Tibet but also in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia,' said Lhakpa Tshoko, the Japan and East Asia representative of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

'The nature of suffering we are enduring is the same, so we are also praying for our brothers and sisters in those regions,' he said.
China has ruled Tibet since 1951, after sending troops into the Himalayan region the previous year. The Dalai Lama escaped to India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The worst unrest in Tibet in years erupted in the regional capital Lhasa in March 2008. Deadly disturbances also broke out last month in China's northwestern Xinjiang region between mainly Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese.

At Mt Fuji, about 50 Tibetans, Mongolians and Japanese supporters on Friday started the trek up Japan's highest mountain.
Bad weather prevented them from holding a sunrise prayer ceremony Saturday on the summit of the 3,776 metre (12,390 feet) high mountain, but they later performed religious rituals on the flank of the volcano.

'We chose Mt Fuji because it is a very important mountain, loved by the Japanese people and revered in the Shinto religion,' said Lhakpa Tshoko.

The Dalai Lama plans to visit Japan in October."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Urges Tibetans and Chinese Scholars to Be Ever Determined in Finding a Just Solution

(Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Chinese delegates)

Geneva, 6 August - The issue of Tibet needs to be solved. How to do it is something we need to discuss, His Holiness told a gathering of Chinese and Tibetan scholars and officials at a conference organized jointly by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he wanted to hear new ideas and suggestions from the Chinese brothers and sisters on how the issue of Tibet can be resolved based on the Middle-Way Approach. His Holiness said, The purpose of our meeting is that obviously there is a problem. In Tibet, there is a crisis. Huge demonstrations were there all over Tibet. Severe restrictions were imposed. These demonstrations grew out of grievances through the generations. Most of the people who participated in the demonstrations are young. There is a need for a realistic response.

On the other hand, His Holiness said, Our contacts with the Chinese government is becoming difficult. So we are reaching out to our Chinese brothers and sisters. There is growing support. His Holiness said that to date there were more than 600 articles written in Chinese, all positive, on the issue of Tibet. So it is our mutual responsibility to solve this issue without separation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that it is important for those Chinese scholars who understand the issue of Tibet to write and make things clear on the issue of Tibet to the rest. For the Chinese scholars to understand the issue better His Holiness said he made it a point to frequently meet as many Chinese as possible. His Holiness said, This is an enlarged meeting. I expect no miracle. But this forum is one to strengthen friendship between Chinese and Tibetans.
In the morning His Holiness held two meetings, one with the Chinese and the other with the international media. In the after His Holiness inaugurated conference called Finding Common Ground. This conference will go on till 8 August. His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugural address was followed by an address by Yan Jiaqi, a leading social scientist and served as a senior adviser to Zhao Ziyang, the ousted prime minister of China who passed away in 2005.

Yan Jiaqi said His Holiness the Dalai Lama represented not only Tibetans in exile but Tibetans in Tibet. Yan Jiaqi listed all the qualities of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his selflessness, his sense of compassion and his ability to promote non-violence. Yan Jiaqi said all these qualities gave great strength to the Tibet movement. He said, In China I did not realize the power of religion. Now I realize the power of religion. He added that it is the right of every Tibetan to return to Tibet.

In

http://www.tibetoffice.ch/news/hhdl_germany_switzerland_2009/

Tibetanos protestam contra violaçao dos direitos humanos por parte da R.P.C.

Na capital Nepalesa Katmandu ocorreram violentos protestos na passada sexta-feira, por parte de Tibetanos exilados e contra a supressao Chinesa dos direitos humanos.

Civis entraram em confrontos com a polícia Nepalesa, à entrada do edifício das Naçoes Unidas em Katmandu.

Mais de 25 exilados Tibetanos foram detidos pela polícia enquanto gritavam "Free Tibet" e "Nós queremos justiça," tendo sido arrastados por polícias para carrinhas.

O Nepal nao questionou a política Chinesa de "Uma só China," de acordo com a qual o Tibete é parte integrante da R.P.C.

Para visionar o slideshow p.f. aceda a:

http://www.examiner.com/examinerslideshow.html?entryid=477108

In

http://www.examiner.com/x-2086-Foreign-Policy-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Tibetan-protest-against-Chinese-government--slide-show

Autoridades Chinesas condenam 8 Tibetanos

De acordo com informaçao recebida pelo Centro Tibetano de Direitos Humanos e Democracia (TCHRD), no dia 13 de Agosto de 2009 um tribunal Chines da "Prefeitura Autónoma Tibetana" da regiao do Golog, condenou oito Tibetanos a variados anos de detençao.

O Tribunal do Povo do Condado de Machen, P.A.T. do Golog condenou seis monges e dois civis a variados anos de detençao devido a terem tomado parte no protesto pacífico que decorreu no dia 21 de Março de 2009.

O referido Tribunal considerou-os culpados de terem incitado os protestos e as manifestaçoes contra o governo Chines, na sequencia do suicídio de Tashi Sangpo, que se afogou no Rio Machu, nesse mesmo dia.

Tashi Sangpo, na sequencia da sua detençao a 10 de Março de 2009, havia sido severamente agredido, desumanamente torturado e submetido a longas interrogaçoes antes de ser liberto, acabando por por fim à sua vida. Muitos sao os que consideram que o suicídio de Tashi foi motivado pelo tratamento sub-humano que lhe havia sido infligido pelas autoridades Chinesas, quando em detençao.

Na tarde do dia 21 de Março e na sequencia do suicidio de Tashi Sangpo, monges do mosteiro de Ragya irrmperam pelo escritório da Polícia de Segurança Pública desejando obter respostas para a morte de Tashi Sangpo. ´

A resposta das autoridades Chinesas foi a detençao de mais monges do mosteiro de Ragya assim como de Tibetanos civis, oito dos quais foram julgados recentemente pelo Tribunal do Povo do Condado de Machen.

Os oito Tibetanos sao:

1. Monge Palden Gyatso, a disciplinário no Mosteiro Ragya, condenado a sete anos de detençao rigorosa.

2. Monge Tsultrim, anterior disciplinário do Mosteiro Ragya, condenado a quatro anos de rigorosa detençao.

3. Monge Sangpo condenado a tres anos de detençao.

4. Monge Jamyang Khedrub condenado a dois anos de detençao. Secretário do conselho de directores do Mosteiro Ragya.

5. Monnge Gendun condenado a um ano de detençao.

6. Monge Sherab Sangpo, condenado a dois anos de detençao.

7. Hu-lo condenado a um anos de detençao.

from Gya-sa Village (lay person) was given one-year prison sentence.

8. Yang-kyab condenado a seis meses de detençao.

In

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/08/14/18615847.php

CAMPANHA

No âmbito de uma acção desenvolvida pelo International Tibet Support Network (http://www.tibetnetwork.org/), ao qual o Grupo de Apoio do Tibete se encontra associado, iremos empreender uma campanha junto de músicos, actores e realizadores de cinema, até ao próximo dia 14 de Agosto 2009

Esta campanha visa sensibilizá-los relativamente à situação de Dhondup Wangchen, assim como solicitar a leitura da carta redigida pela mulher e primo do realizador Tibetano detido pelas autoridades Chinesas, assim como a assinatura de petição visando a sua libertação.

Caso desejem auxiliar-nos nesta acção, p.f. entrem em contacto conosco via email: grupodeapoioaotibete@gmail.com

Obrigada!

Seguem a carta e petição para consulta:

Caro (nome do realizador),

Estamos a escrever em nome do realizador Tibetano Dhondup Wangchen, para apelar ao seu apoio. Nós somos a esposa e o primo de Dhondup Wangchen, e estamos profundamente preocupados com ele desde que foi detido no Tibete há mais de um ano.

Ele foi detido pelas autoridades chinesas a 26 de Março de 2008, por filmar entrevistas com Tibetanos comuns sobre a sua opinião acerca dos Jogos Olímpicos, do Dalai Lama e das políticas do governo chinês no Tibete. As entrevistas foram feitas no documentário "Leaving Fear Behind" que pode ver no site http://www.leavingfearbehind.com. Se desejar, teremos também o prazer de lhe enviar uma cópia do filme de Dhondup Wangchen, que já foi exibido em 30 países.

Temos conhecimento que Dhondup Wangchen - que está detido em Xining (Província de Qinghai) - poderá ser levado a julgamento numa questão de dias. Há indícios claros de que ele vai ser condenado com uma pena pesada, mas ele não cometeu nenhum crime: documentar os pontos de vista de pessoas comuns é um direito humano básico. Além disso, as autoridades chinesas obrigaram os advogados escolhidos pela nossa família a parar de o representar; como alternativa ele será defendido por um advogado nomeado pelo governo, deixando-nos muito preocupados com a justiça do seu julgamento.

Nós e os nossos parentes no Tibete não fomos oficialmente informados sobre o seu paradeiro ou prisão até Abril deste ano. Dhondup Wangchen foi torturado e mal-tratado e não está a receber tratamento para a hepatite B.

Isto foi o que disse Dhondup Wangchen quando decidiu ir ao Tibete e fazer este filme: "A ideia no nosso filme não é fazer um filme famoso ou particularmente divertido. Mas num momento de grande dificuldade e com uma sensação de desamparo, é para nós mostrar um filme tão significativo para obter algumas respostas e resultados. É muito difícil [para os Tibetanos] ir para Pequim e falar livremente. Então é por isso que decidimos mostrar os verdadeiros sentimentos dos Tibetanos no Tibete através deste filme… Acho que preciso defender os Tibetanos e é por aqui que preciso ir. Ficar longe dos meus filhos e da minha família é uma das dificuldades, se eu continuar a viver."

Nós estamos a apelar a eminentes realizadores para nos ajudarem a divulgar esta imitação grotesca de justiça.

Por favor assine a petição e com a sua ajuda acreditamos poder atrair mais atenção ao caso de Dhondup Wangchen e fazer com que as autoridades chinesas reconsiderem a intenção de o perseguir.

Todas as organizações de campanha pelo Tibete estão a trabalhar em conjunto para nos ajudar, outras organizações internacionais que têm até agora manifestado preocupação acerca de Dhondup Wangchen incluem: Human Rights Watch, Repórteres Sem Fronteiras e Amnistia Internacional.

Agradecemos o seu apoio do fundo do nosso coração.

Lhamo Tso (esposa de Dhondup Wangchen, Dharamsala, India)

Gyaljong Tsetrin (primo de Dhondup Wangchen, Zurich, Switzerland)

PETIÇÃO

Nós, abaixo-assinados,

sendo representantes da profissão de realizadores, apelamos ao Governo Chinês que liberte Dhondup Wangchen [Dangzhi Xiangqian] imediata e incondicionalmente, que foi detido exclusivamente por exercer pacificamente o seu direito à liberdade de expressão, enquanto entrevistava Tibetanos para o filme "Leaving Fear Behind", exortamos ao Governo Chinês a garantia de que, enquanto ele permanecer na prisão, não será torturado ou de outra forma mal-tratado, que tenha acesso à família, a representação jurídica da sua escolha e a qualquer cuidado médico que ele possa requerer.