As one of our efforts to bring seriousness to the Tibetan struggle, friends of Tibet (INDIA) is continuing with the campaign to boycott `Made In China products. We began with this campaign from the beginning of this year January 1st 2003. It was also in co-ordination with the boycott movement happening internationally. The boycott movement saw a revival last year with Tibetan and Tibet Support Groups all over the world networking and coordinating.
To take the campaign to a larger area, it was felt essential to gain support and participation from Dharamsala. Before we embarked on the boycott action, we felt it was important for the people to know and understand the reasons. We spent much time in educating and creating more awareness about the campaign.
From beginning of June 2003, we embarked on the boycott campaign with the help of young Tibetans living here in Dharamsala. Having addressed the issue with the customers, we worked with the sellers. We knocked doors at 206 shopkeepers, explaining the reasons for the boycott and requesting their participation. Today 152 shops, hawkers, restaurants and hotels are clean of MIC products and have signed with us, pledging that they will not sell MIC products. They have been awarded a sticker declaring `WE DO NOT SELL PRODUCTS MADE IN CHINA.
Forty-three shops have some MIC products which they will gradually clear off, but they agreed with us that they will not stock MIC products anymore. There are 6 shopkeepers who depend their family livelihood solely on the trade of MIC goods. However they are ready to change their occupation should they find some help.
This is an encouraging result after months of campaign and hard work. We are now asking organisation/institutions and associations to adopt as a policy not to sell Made In China products.
We plan to take up the matter with the Tibetan Government in Exile, in Dharamsala, which had on earlier occasions sent circulars and passed resolutions, and asked for public support.
We are coordinating with other organisations and individuals to initiate similar campaigns from within the various Tibetan refugee camps. The nine regional chapters of our organisation in Kolkotta, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin, Pune, Mumbai, Baroda, Dharamsala and Delhi are initiating the campaign in their respective places among the Indian community who continue to suffer the Chinese invasion of cheap and poor quality products.
Friends of Tibet (INDIA), Dharamsala
