By Xavier Galland
No matter what Beijing might say and want to hear the world knows that Chinese troops are occupying Tibet, to which they have no more historical rights than Iraq had on Kuwait.
Unfortunately it seems the international community does not have any interest in helping freedom, democracy and human rights prevail in Tibet, at least not until oil is discovered there. Until then, Tibetans fighting for the liberation of their country will have to rely on themselves – and on the charisma of their leader, the Dalai Lama.
Several exiled Tibetan organisations have their own website. One such organisation is the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, a non-governmental organisation based in Dharamsala, India. Their website can be reached at http://www.tchrd.org/
Along with providing Press Releases, Newsbrief and Pictures the site also offers a newsletter called “Human Rights Update” described as “a monthly publication detailing the current Human Rights situation in Tibet.
Drawing primarily on the testimonies of Tibetans who have recently arrived in exile, the update highlights the individual experience of Tibetans in Chinese-occupied Tibet.” Archives can be browsed all the way back to 1996.
The Publications section offers the TCHRD’s annual reports as well as thematic reports such as: Drapchi: Tibet’s most Dreaded Prison, Racial Discrimination in Tibet, Torture in Tibet, Prison Conditions in Tibet, Religious Repression in Tibet, State of Education in Tibet Today.
The Urgent Actions section is where you can actively participate in the promotion of greater respect for Human Rights in Tibet. Emulating a technique introduced by Amnesty International, and which has been greatly successful, the TCHRD presents the cases of several prisoners whose immediate survival is being threatened.
The technique is to send telegrams (or telexes, faxes, express mail, e-mail…) to people as diverse as the Chinese president, prime minister, provincial governors, the minister of justice, directors of prison bureaux and various United Nation offices and commissions – as well as copies of these to the Chinese ambassador in your country.
Finally, a long but interesting document is especially intended for tourists planning to go to Tibet and willing to know a bit more about the situation there. Its various sections include: Why Visit Tibet?, Historical Background, Recommendations For A Visit To Tibet, Things To Look For And Questions To Ask, Do’s And Don’ts, After Returning Home.
