Visit Little Lhasa in India (October 6-11,2008)

Visit McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala - the Little Lhasa in India from October-6-11, 2008. Trekking… Meeting ex-political prisoners and activists from occupied-Tibet…Visiting Buddhist monasteries Experiencing Tibetan culture... art... way of life …… And so much more.

Click here for a guide to Little Lhasa in India:

INTERESTED???

Please e-mail a 250-word write-up to Students For A Free Tibet, India at shibayan@studentsforafreetibet.org by 17th September telling us why you would like to participate in this camp.

For more information contact -

Shibayan Raha - +919810465415 , Tenzin Pelbar-+919903731984 , Pemba Bhutia -+919932883275

Exiled Tibetan hold candlelight procession against Olympics

North Korea Times
Friday 8th August, 2008
(ANI)

Varanasi/Manali/Kolkata, Aug 8 : Exiled Tibetans organised candlelight processions in three Indian cities on Thursday in protest against China hosting the 24th edition of Olympic Games.

Processions were held in the cities of Varanasi, Kolkata and Manali.

With the Olympics beginning in Beijing today, the Tibetans are trying to highlight China's illegal occupation of their homeland and their demand for freedom.

"There is breach of human rights in China. There is no peace and truth in that country but still they are holding Olympics. We are against Olympics in that country. We don't have any problem if any other country hosts Olympics. But a country where there is lot of bloodshed and violence should not be allowed to host Olympics," said Tisha, a Tibetan protester.

Tibetans believe that China should not be allowed to hold the Olympics because of its poor human rights record.

"Olympics should be held in that country where there is freedom and human rights. Chinese, they never give freedom to the people of Tibet. But they are going to hold Olympics there, because they wanted to show something to the world. They say something and do something," Karam Sithere, Vice President, Tibetan Kullu-Manali Association.

In Kolkata, students under the banner of 'Students for Free Tibet' (SFT) raised anti-China slogans and blamed it for "human rights violation."

They said that they wanted to make the world aware of their problems by staging such demonstrations.

"We are opposing Chinese for the Olympics. The country which violates human rights doesn't deserve to have Olympics," said Dhondup, a coordinator, SFT.

Over 25,000 Tibetans are expected to gather in New Delhi on August 8 to participate in a mass demonstration campaign and appeal the world community to boycott the Beijing Olympics.

Tibetan groups to hold rallies coinciding with Olympics

Express News Service

Posted online: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 03:21:05
Updated: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at 03:21:05

Kolkata, August 05 The city will witness a string of silent protest marches and candlelight vigil against the “Chinese occupation of Tibet” from August 7, on the eve of the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics.

These protest marches will be organised by various social groups working for the cause of free Tibet like International Tibet Support Network (ITSN), Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Students for Free Tibet and others.

“All of us who have been demanding the sovereignty of Tibet in a non-violent manner have decided to launch a peaceful agitation across the globe,” said Shibayan Raha, a member of the Student for Free Tibet.

“Since this year’s Olympics are being held in Beijing, everyone’s eyes will be on China and it is here that we will stand up and take part in a global protest against the forceful Chinese occupation of Tibet,” said Shyamal Chakraborty of Gana Samannay, a city-based NGO.

The protest will coincide with the opening ceremony.

On August 8, these organisations will hold a rally that will begin from Subodh Mallick Square and culminate at Metro Channel in the evening.

These groups plan to hold peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in Kolkata on August 14.

“Our battle to free Tibet has been going on for almost five decades. Tibet is being illegally occupied by the Chinese government and cultural genocide is being carried out there,” said Pamba Bhutia, a member of the Students for Free Tibet.

Take Action:Festival Of Protest

Thousands of Tibetans remain detained and missing as China prepares to host the Olympic games. Tibetans inside Tibet have risked everything to call for freedom and human rights. Join the festival of protest to show that Tibetan voices will not be silenced.

August 7th - 8th is the weekend of the Olympic opening ceremony and the start of our month long “Festival of Protest”.

Festival Details -

August 5th-Press Conference
Venue-Kolkata Press Club
Time-

August 7th- Candle Light Vigil(Part of Global Candle Light Vigil)
Venue-Metro Channel,Esplanade Crossing
Time -6.30pm

August 8th-Free Tibet Rally
Venue-College Square to Metro Channel
Time 3.30pm


August 24th-Closing Ceremony-Mass Convergence,Outlining Post Olympics Campaign
Venue-Metro Channel
Time-

Festival Coordinators-
Pelbar-+919836346110, Pemba - 919674135597
email-studentsforafreetibet.kolkata@gmail.com

City NGO takes up Tibetan’s cause

Express News ServicePosted online: Thursday , July 24, 2008 at 03:13:41Updated: Thursday , July 24, 2008 at 03:13:41

Kolkata, July 23 :Kolkata will now be a part of the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN). The city was not included in the group till date because the communist-ruled state had not allegedly allowed the network to enter the city. ITSN operates across the globe for the freedom of Tibet.
Ganasamannway, a local NGO, has launched a campaign to raise the demand of Tibet’s freedom in Kolkata. It organised a conference on the issue on Wednesday. President of Ganasamannwaya, Pratap Ghosh said: “One of the most tragic and unresolved issues facing the world today is the political status of Tibet and the treatment of the Tibetan people. Tibet was an independent, sovereign nation with its history spanning across thousands of years. But now the Chinese rule the Tibet. We have made a support group here and will fight for the cause.”
A member of the Tibetan Students’ Association, Tensing said,”We are living in utter hell. The Chinese Government has snatched every right from us. If anybody raises his voice against them, he is brutally slaughtered. We want every country to support our cause.”
To protest against the torture of the Chinese government in Tibet, ITSN has organised a symbolic movement called Tibetan Freedom Torch. The torch has been travelling all over the globe. It began its journey from Olympia, Greece and after passing through more than 50 cities across US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and New Zealand, it reached India on July 9. On July 24, the torch will reach Kolkata and will be received by Ganasamannay.

June 18: Global Day of Action

On June 18th-19th, China will parade the Olympic Torch through the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

On June 18th, Tibetans and supporters around the world will organize protests and actions to demand:

No Torch in Tibet! Stop the Crackdown! Media Access to Tibet Now!

CLICK HERE to visit the June 18th Day of Action page to find more info.