CHAIRMAN'S NOTE
April - May 2008
It is with great sadness that I write this Chairman's note, fully knowing
that over the past few weeks Tibetans inside Tibet who observed the 49th
Anniversary of Tibetan uprising day on 10th March were prevented from doing
so, which escalated into mass demonstrations, so brutally put down by the
Chinese communist regime in Tibet. The stories that are coming out of Tibet
are very disheartening and these were well covered by international media
wherever they can. Suddenly China clamped down on all media etc, and Tibet
was virtually under martial law. The international community is fully aware
of the situation in Tibet, but there has been very little movement from
China towards solving the current situation. However, they have gone into
attack mode, constantly criticising His Holiness the Dalai Lama and saying
he instigated the disturbance in Tibet. The Dalai Lama has consistently
tried to get China to the negotiation table to solve the situation
peacefully, but China's leaders are so blind with power that they simply
refuse to acknowledge His Holiness' Middle Way approach. When will China
learn that unless they solve the Tibet crisis there will be no peace in
China?
During a weekend away in Blenheim events in Tibet erupted, and as Chairman
of Friends of Tibet and the representative of the Tibetan people in New
Zealand, my mobile phone was running red hot with interview requests from
the media. As well as questions on the events in Tibet, all of them asked
for my opinion on the Free Trade Agreement and the Olympics. As I, like
almost everyone else in New Zealand, do not have the details of the FTA, I
could not give an opinion of it. However, I did say that we are already
flooded with Chinese-made goods, and I imagine that there will be even more
coming into our shores. You cannot compete with 1 billion people. I have
written to PM Helen Clark requesting her while in China to talk to her
counterpart saying that we in New Zealand are concerned about China's
reaction to the Tibetan protests. She should take a moral stand on this
issue, as did the late PM David Lange on the nuclear ships subject. I was,
however, delighted that Helen Clark had a motion passed in Parliament
condemning China for its actions in response to the peaceful protest by the
Tibetans.
As for the Olympics, and the question of boycotts, I said that I felt in
unjust to ask athletes to boycott the Olympics as they had worked for many
years to be at such an event with the hope of returning with a gold medal.
However, if they are asked their opinion on Tibet they should be able to
give it, as Mark Todd did a few weeks ago. But we do ask the officials and
world leaders, to boycott the opening and closing ceremonies, like Prince
Charles, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and all Polish Government is not
going to Olympics - declared Mr. Miroslaw Dzrzewiecki - Polish Minister of
Sport to show their disapproval of China's heavy-handedness in Tibet's
peaceful demonstrators
Back in Auckland, we held vigils, protests and peace marches (see reports).
Throughout New Zealand, all sorts of protest action were taken, which were
organized by Friends of Tibet, the Tibetan community, and Students for a
Free Tibet in Otago University Dunedin. There were all well covered by New
Zealand media. There were so many events around the world in support of
Tibet, for which we are grateful. These were well covered by the world's
media. My inbox was flooded with reports from activities worldwide.
Please write to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and your local MP
asking that those Tibetans held be given fair trials and the following topics
should be brought to their attention.
Representatives of the United Nations should be allowed to monitor the
situation in Tibet.
Intervene to stop further bloodbath in Tibet and demand immediate release of
all those arrested.
Urge the Chinese leadership to lift the ban on media and allow free movement
of press in Tibet.
Ensure immediate and adequate medical relief to injured innocent civilians
peacefully demonstrating in Tibet.
Begin immediate dialogue with His Holiness Representatives and Chinese
government to find mutually agreeable peaceful solution for Tibet.
Please remember in your prayers those Tibetans who have lost their lives and
those who have been arrested or are about to be arrested for merely
demonstrating peacefully in Tibet.
I would like to say THO CHE CHAY (thank you) on behalf of the Tibetan people
to all our Tibet supporters in New Zealand for bringing the attention of the
Tibetan people to the general public of New Zealand. Your support for the
JUST CAUSE is greatly appreciated by the Tibetans in exile and in Tibet.
Finally, the Tibet Freedom Torch will be in New Zealand from 24th June to
1st July. This is a great opportunity for you to take part. If you would
like to run or walk with it, please send me an email at kesang@pl.net
stating your name, email address and the city you are in, so that we can
organize it. Please do it as soon as possible.
Best wishes and Tashi Delek
Thuten Kesang
National Chairman