[BAFoT] Fwd: [TSG-L] International Tibet Network Members' Statement as Xi Jinping becomes China's President

[Giovanni Vassallo]

Giovanni Vassallo

International Tibet Network Members' Statement as Xi Jinping becomes China's President

Contacts: Tenzin Jigme +91 981 633 5361 English/Tibetan

Alison Reynolds +44 7711 843884 English

China's new President faces the Tibet Challenge [1]

Global Tibet movement calls on China's newly appointed President, Premier and State Council to acknowledge 60 years of policy failures and seek a resolution to the crisis in Tibet

Xi Jinping - whose revolutionary hero father was close to the 10th Panchen Lama and knew the Dalai Lama - has today been confirmed as China's State President, with Li Yuanchao in the largely symbolic role of Vice President. Li Keqiang is expected to be conferred as the new Premier of the State Council tomorrow [2].

China's new government leaders are taking up their positions just days after the global Tibet movement rallied around the world in their thousands [3] to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising and raise awareness of the immolation crisis in Tibet, where the number of Tibetans who have protested China's rule through self-immolation totals 107, of which at least 88 have died [4].

"China's new President has a crisis on his hands, with Tibetans in Tibet denouncing China's policy failures, calling for freedom and for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama" said Tenzin Jigme of the International Tibet Network, a global coalition of almost 200 Tibet Groups [5]. "Yet, far from seeking to address Tibetan grievances, China's new leaders have overseen an escalating crackdown, with anti-Dalai Lama propaganda and the criminalization of Tibetan protests exacerbating tensions in occupied Tibet."

Since Xi’s elevation to the top of China’s Communist Party in November 2012 China’s hardline response to the self-immolations has increased, with overt military presence [6], mass detentions and heavy sentences. On 31 January 2013 Lobsang Kunchok, a monk from Ngaba (Ch: Aba, Sichuan) received a suspended death sentence and his nephew, Lobsang Tsering, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment [7]. During the National People's Congress, officials of the Tibet Autonomous Region have stepped up their propaganda offensive with accusations "it was not convenient to disclose" that the Dalai Lama was directly involved in the self-immolations. Xi Jinping has met the Tibetan delegation at the NPC, with some news outlets reporting that Xi discussed political and administrative measures to end the self-immolations with delegates [8].

"Xi's Tibet Challenge is to recognize the urgent need for a change of policy in Tibet," said Alison Reynolds of the Tibet Network. "We put him on notice that Tibet will be a defining issue for his leadership of China, and we call on him to revoke 60 years of policy failures and address the Tibetans' peaceful calls for freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama," she added.

Notes:
1. Xi Jinping’s Tibet Challenge is a report that highlights China’s failed policies in Tibet and outlines the challenges he faces as China continues to  occupy Tibet through Three Pillars of Coercive Control: Military Occupation, Colonial Rule, and Fear and Intimidation. Read and download from Issuu http://bit.ly/QXfT3V and/or Google Docs http://bit.ly/RDLYPO

2. For profiles of China's new State leaders through a Tibet "lens", see:
Xi Jinping, State President, www.chinese-leaders.org/xi-jinping
Li Yuanchao, Vice President, http://chinese-leaders.org/li-yuanchao/

Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council, www.chinese-leaders.org/li-keqiang
more positions here
For a profile of Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxun, see www.chinese-leaders.org/xi-zhongxun

3. See http://tibet.net/2013/03/13/thousands-join-european-solidarity-rally-in-brussels-on-10-march/

4. The first known self-immolation in Tibet took place in February 2009. This protest by Tapey, a monk from Kirti monastery, Ngaba in eastern Tibet, was emulated by Phuntsok in March 2011 and was followed in that year by 12 further self-immolations. There were 83 in 2012 and X to date in 2013. For a comprehensive list of all confirmed self-immolations in Tibet, see www.StandupforTibet.org/learn-more. There have also been six instances of self-immolation among exiled Tibetans.

5. The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement, which campaigns for an end human rights violations in Tibet and restore the Tibetan people's right under international law to determine their future political, economic, social, religious and Cultural status. See www.tibetnetwork.org.

6. http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/thousands-tibetan-pilgrims-face-troops-religious-ceremonies-eastern-tibet

7. See http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/distress-death-sentence-tibetan-accused-inciting-self-immolatioN

8. See http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/08/uk-china-parliament-tibet-idUKBRE9270D620130308, also http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3710713.htm and http://www.indianexpress.com/news/xi-jinping-reviews-situation-in-tibet-amid-selfimmolation-protests/1085980/

Signed, Member Organisations of the International Tibet Network

In Western Europe:
Aide aux Refugies Tibetains
Association Dorje
Association Drôme Ardèche-Tibet
Association Rencontres Tibetains - C.S.P.T. Midi-Pyrenees
Associazione Italia-Tibet
Austrian Committee for Tibet
Autodétermination-Tibet 09/31

Briancon05 Urgence Tibet
Caisse d'Aide aux Prisonniers Tibetains
Casa del Tibet - Spain
Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT)
Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Les Lilas)
Corse - Tibet
Eco-Tibet France
EcoTibet Ireland
France-Tibet
Free Tibet
Groupe Non-Violent Louis Lecoin, France
Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal
International Campaign for Tibet Deutschland
International Campaign for Tibet Europe
International Society of Human Rights, Munich Chapter (IGFM)
Jamtse Thundel Association
La Porte du Tibet, Geneva
Les Amis du Tibet - Belgium
Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg
Lions Des Neiges Mont Blanc, France

Lungta Association, Belgium
Maison des Himalayas
Maison du Tibet - Tibet Info
Nice Tibet
Nos Amis de l'Himalaya
Objectif Tibet
Passeport Tibetain
Phagma Drolma-Arya Tara
Reseau International des Femmes pour le Tibet
Save Tibet, Austria
Society for Threatened Peoples International
Solidarite Tibet
Students for a Free Tibet - France
Students for a Free Tibet - UK
Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF)
Tibet 59 / 62
Tibet Democratie
Tibet Initiative Deutschland
Tibets Kinder im Exile V.
Tibet Languedoc

Tibet Liberte Solidarite
Tibet Libertes, France
Tibet Society, U.K.
Tibet Support Group - Ireland
Tibet Support Group - Netherlands
Tibet Unterstutzung Liechtenstein
Tibetaanse-Vlaamse Vriendenkring

Tibetan Association of Germany
Tibetan Community Austria
Tibetan Community in Britain
Tibetan Community in Ireland
Tibetan Community of Italy

Tibetan Youth Association in Europe
Tibetan Youth UK
TSG Free Tibet And You
Tsowa-Maintenir la Vie, France
Vrienden Van Tibet

In Northern Europe:
Association of Free Tibet
Friends of Tibet in Finland
Norwegian Tibet Committee

Swedish Tibet Committee
Tibet Support Committee Denmark
Tibetan Community in Denmark
Tibetan Community Sweden

In Central & Eastern Europe:
Fair Society o.s.
Friends of Tibet Slovakia
Friends of Tibet Society St. Petersburg, Russia

Foundation for Civil Society, Russia
International Youth Human Rights Group - Human Rights in Tibet
Lithuanian Tibet Culture Foundation
Polish Movement for a Free Tibet
Save Tibet Foundation
Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship
Students for a Free Tibet - Poland
Tibetan Association of Slovakia

Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech)
Tibet Support Association - Hungary
Tibet Support Group - Krasnodar Region, Russia
Tibet Support Group - Romania
Tibet Support Group - Sochi Region, Russia
Tibetan Community in Poland
Tibetan Programme of The Other Space Foundation
TSG - Slovenia
Union Latvija Tibetai (Latvia for Tibet )
Zida Cels, Latvia

In North America:
Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina
Bay Area Friends of Tibet
Boston Tibet Network
Canada Tibet Committee
Colorado Friends of Tibet
Committee of 100 for Tibet
CTC - Calgary
Dhokam Chushi Gangdruk
International Campaign for Tibet
International Tibet Independence Movement
Los Angeles Friends of Tibet
Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association
San Diego Friends of Tibet
Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet
Sierra Friends of Tibet
Snow Lion Foundation
Students for a Free Tibet
Students for a Free Tibet - Canada
Tibet Committee of Fairbanks
Tibet Justice Center
Tibetan Alliance of Chicago

Tibetan Association of Ithaca
Tibetan Association of Northern California
Tibetan Association of Philadephia
Tibetan Association of Santa Fe
Tibetan Association of Southern California
Tibetan Cultural Association - Quebec
TIBETmichigan
Toronto Tibet Youth Congress

United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT)
U.S. Tibet Committee
Western Colorado Friends of Tibet
Wisconsin Tibetan Association

World Tibet Day Foundation

In Central and South America:
Amigos del Tibet, El Salvador
Asociacion Cultural Peruano Tibetana
Asociacion Cultural Tibetano - Costarricense
Casa Tibet Mexico
Centro De Cultura Tibetana
Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica 
Fundacion Pro Tibet

Grupo De Apoyo a Tibet Chile

Grupo Pro-Cultura Tibetana, Chile
Le Club Francais
Pensando En Tibet - Mexico
Tibet Group-Panama
Tíbet Patria Libre, Uruguay

In Asia:
Anterrashtriya Bharat - Tibbet Sahyog Samiti

Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India
Circle of Friends (Philippines)
Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India
Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama
Gannasamannay
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet
Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet
India Tibet Friendship Society
Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super Sangha)
Japan Committee of 100 for TIbet

Lung-Ta Project
Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom Movement
National Campaign for Tibetan Support, India
National Democratic Party of Tibet
Ns3 Rigpa Community Builder's Foundation

Raise Tibetan Flag Campaign
Roof of the World Foundation, Indonesia

Students for a Free Tibet - Bangladesh

Students for a Free Tibet - India
Students for a Free Tibet - Japan
Taiwan Friends of Tibet
Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation
The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and Turkestan
Think Tibet
Tibet Lives, India
Tibet Philippine Support Network
Tibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh
Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan
Tibet Support Network Japan
Tibetan Community in Japan
Tibetan Student Association, Madras (TSAM)
Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre
Tibetan Rights and Freedom Committee (TRFRC)
Tibetan Women's Association (Central)
Tibetan Youth Congress

In Australasia:
A.C.T. Tibet Support Group
Australia Tibet Council
Australian Tibet House Inc.

Friends of Tibet New Zealand
Sakya Trinley Ling

Students for a Free Tibet - New Zealand
Tibet Action Group of Western Australia
Tibet Support Group Adelaide - Australia
Tibetan Community of Australia (Victoria)
Tibetan Women Association and Friends Australia (TWAFA)

In Africa and Middle East:
Friends of Tibet - Ismailia (Egypt)
Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People
South African Friends of Tibet
Tibet Support Group Kenya

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The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement, which is dedicated to ending human rights violations in Tibet and to working actively to restore the Tibetan people's right under international law to determine their future political, economic, social, religious and Cultural status.

The Network pursues its goals by working to increase the capacity of individual Member Organisations, through the coordination of strategic campaigns and by increased cooperation among organizations, thereby strengthening the Tibet movement as a whole. See www.tibetnetwork.org for more information.

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