Free Tibet Campaign

Students for a Free Tibet

[London] Tibetans and their supporters today unfurled a banner reading 'Reject the Railway - GW out of Tibet' at the Cond� Nast luxury travel fair in London, joining protestors around the world who are condemning China's Tibet railway on the eve of its first day of operation.

Two activists attached themselves with handcuffs inside the Olympia Exhibition Centre in Kensington, West London, where the travel fair is being held while representatives of the organisations met with GW employees at the GW stand. Speaking on behalf of the activists, Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue stated "The coming of the commercial trains into Tibet is the first serious onslaught of globilisation China is introducing in Tibet. What the Cultural Revolution and PLA couldn't do to Tibet may be done by a sea of Chinese population influx into Tibet. Whatever it takes the Tibetans will protest this and I personally will not allow China to jeopardise our future."

Campaigners are calling on travel company GW Travel to stop selling tours on the Gormo to Lhasa railway. "Tourists will be contributing towards a process of irreversible dissolution of Tibet's distinct identity, providing financial, political and moral support for China's occupation of Tibet. This aim of this project is to tie Tibet firmly to mainland China and will result in what His Holiness the Dalai Lama referred to as "cultural genocide" stated Yael Weisz-Rind of Free Tibet Campaign. The project has been criticised by environmental and human rights campaigners for the negative impact it will have on Tibet's culture, people and environment. "The railway will accelerate colonisation, allowing increased numbers of Chinese settlers and military troops to be resettled. In addition the railway will facilitate increased exploitation of Tibet's natural resources, bypassing the many Tibetans who live on the outskirts of Tibet's Beijing controlled economy." Stated Pema Yoko of Tibetan Youth UK. The cost of the railway, which is estimated at US$6 billion, is almost triple the amount Beijing spent in the Tibet Autonomous Region on healthcare and education between 1952 and 2000. "This railway is clearly motivated by a political strategy that aims to further consolidate Chinese control over Tibet" added Peter Speller of Students for a Free Tibet UK.

On the following day - Saturday 1st July - protestors will gather outside the Chinese embassy in London with Tibetan flags and banners, forming part of a global day of action. Protests will be held outside Chinese embassies and consulates in major cities around the world including New York, Ottawa and Dharamshala, India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile. Tibetans and their supporters have been wearing black armbands in the run up to the launch of the first ever rail link between Tibet and China, to symbolise their resistance to the railway and China's ongoing occupation of Tibet and to show solidarity with Tibetans suffering under Chinese rule.

Free Tibet Campaign is an independent membership organisation campaigning in support of the rights of the Tibetan people to freedom and independence.

SFT UK is part of the international organization Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), with Headquarters in New York and offices in Vancouver, Canada and Dharamsala, India, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, SFT campaigns for Tibetans fundamental right to political freedom.

Tibetan Youth UK is an association of Tibetan youth in the UK keeping the spirit of Tibet alive.

For more information on the Golmud (Gormo) Lhasa railway please go here or
www.sftuk.org
www.RejectTheRailway.org

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