Write to the BBC concerning the 'A Year in Tibet' series

5th March 2008

You may be aware that BBC4 is airing a new series at 9pm on Thursday nights called "A Year in Tibet".

Free Tibet Campaign has obtained a preview copy of the first episode titled "The Visit" which is largely devoted to a visit to a monastery in Gyantse (a town in western Tibet) by Gyaltsen Norbu, the Panchen Lama appointed by China after China abducted Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy recognised by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama).

Free Tibet Campaign is very disappointed with the content of the episode. It makes no mention of the abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima so that the unitiated viewer is led to the conclusion that Gyaltsen Norbu is the real Panchen Lama. Free Tibet Campaign has written a letter to the Controller of BBC 4, Janice Hadlow, outlining its concerns and has also written to TV critics in the media setting out is concerns as to the nature of the programme.

We encourage you to watch the programme on Thursday night if you can and on Friday to write to the BBC expressing concerns that the programme reflects Chinese propaganda that Gyaltsen Norbu is the real Panchen Lama.

1)You can write via the website for BBC4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/yoursay

2) Or you can write a letter to BBC 4 Controller, Janice Hadlow at:

Janice Hadlow
Controller BBC4
Room 6239
Television Centre
Wood Lane
London
W12 7RJ

3) Please also write to your MP, expressing your alarm that the BBC is spending large amounts of license fee payers' money on expensive documentaries shot in Tibet which refelect Chinese propaganda on Tibet. You can contact your MP via the website http://www.writetothem.com/. This allows you to email or fax your MP direct from the website. Or you can write a letter to your MP at:

MP's Name (You can find out your MP's name by calling the House of Commons Info Service on 020 7219 4272)
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

FURTHER BACKGROUND TO THE PROGRAMME AND FREE TIBET CAMPAIGN COMMENT:

Norbu is described at the outset of the programme by the narrator as "only six when the Chinese declared he was Tibet's new spiritual leader". The narrator continues "his position has been very controversial ever since", completely failing to hint that Norbu's position is the greatest controversy in the history of China's ongoing occupation of Tibet.

As a Free Tibet Campaign supporter you are likely to be familiar with the following facts of the case: In May 1995, the Dalai Lama recognised a six-year-old boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama. Three days later the boy and his family disappeared. Despite numerous requests from national governments, international bodies and human rights organisations, neither the boy nor his family have been seen since.

The programme makes no mention of the abduction. Instead, fifty-four minutes into a one hour programme, the narrator simply says: "The Chinese government rejected the Dalai Lama's choice and appointed one of the other candidates" (that candidate being Gyaltsen Norbu, both of whose parents were members of the Chinese Communist Party).

In its letter to the BBC, Free Tibet Campaign points to 'the complete failure of the programme to explain to viewers that in the eyes of Tibetans there are two Panchen Lamas.' Tibetans consider the Dalai Lama's choice to be the real Panchen Lama and Gyaltsen Norbu, the Chinese-chosen Panchen Lama as the "Panchen Zuma" (false Panchen).

A much more accurate view of the attitude of Tibetans towards Gyaltsen Norbu is provided in this testimony given to Free Tibet Campaign by an exiled Tibetan monk now living in India: "In 2003, the Panchen Zuma visited our monastery. Everyone who came to visit him was given 100 Yuan and a Khata [offering scarf]. Pictures were taken of him giving head-touching blessings to the local people. It was like a show. Honestly speaking, no one was happy with that, because we have no faith in him. But it was ordered by the Government and we had to do what we were told."

Free Tibet Campaign concluded its letter letter to the BBC saying: "'The Visit' will leave BBC4 viewers with the impression that Tibetans have accepted Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama and as their spiritual leader. This is simply not true. 'Unprecedented access' should not mean agreeing to film an event stage managed by the Chinese authorities and presenting less than half the story as the truth."

China has acknowledged in official documents that its propaganda on Tibet is best articulated by western figures and broadcasters. Tragically, in its wish to record a photogenic and unique series on Tibet in Olympics Year, the BBC has fallen into China's trap and misrepresented the deeply held beliefs of the Tibetan people.

Please send copies of any responses to Free Tibet Campaign; this helps us to monitor the situation. 

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