News and Views on Tibet

San Leandro mayor suspends decision to fly the red flag on China’s national day

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DHARAMSALA, September – In what turned to be a setback for San Leandro council member Benny Lee the city’s mayor Stephen Cassidy has suspended the implementation of Lee’s proposal to raise the Chinese national flag atop San Leandro city hall on October 1, China’s national day, after protests from Tibetans and supporters.

Tibetans and supporters in San Francisco on Monday protested outside the City Hall of San Leandro where four out of the seven members voted in favor of Lee’s proposed bill.

Tibetans and their supporters carried out a series of direct protests across the Bay Area followed by intense lobbying of local politicians to defeat the resolution. Around 30 Tibetans were present in the hall during the proceedings which saw 5 Tibetans speak before the council consisting of seven members.

The resolution was supported by the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. Similar resolutions are reportedly being introduced in San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda.

Petitions were sent to call on Mayor Cassidy to defeat the resolution. Cassidy himself voted against the resolution but went short of a vote to defeat it.

Kunjo Tashi, the president of the Tibetan Association of Northern California said such meddling by China into local government affairs in America should not be tolerated. “We are pleased that Mayor of San Leandro City has upheld the principles of democracy that America is known for. We appreciate Mayor Cassidy for his courage and exemplary action against the forces undermining American democracy.”

The newly formed Tibetan National Congress, – a group comprising of Tibetan and foreign supporters of independence for Tibet as opposed to the exile Tibetan government’s middle way approach of seeking autonomy from China – has also thanked Mayor Cassidy for his action on its website.

SF Team Tibet is a coalition of four groups, Tibetan Association of Northern California, Students for a Free Tibet, San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress and Bay Area Friends of Tibet.

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