Our campaigns |
 | Beijing 2008 - Shame the Games The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to award the 2008 games to Beijing was always controversial. Free Tibet warned even before the games were awarded that a country with China’s record of human rights abuses was not an appropriate host. With only months to go – too late to change the venue – the world has woken up to our warning. Recent events in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan regions of China have exposed the myth, carefully crafted by the Chinese authorities, that China in 2008 is an open society, a worthy host of the Olympics and everything for which they stand. Free Tibet has so far not called for an athletic boycott of these Games of Shame. It is not the fault of the athletes that the games are being held in Beijing. However, any world leader or other high profile public figure who attends the opening ceremony or any of the other Chinese government-organised celebrations should be ashamed. Free Tibet intends to ensure they are. |
For the past 20 years, Free Tibet has been bringing to light the imprisonment and torture of monks, nuns and lay people whose only “crime” is wanting to freely practise their religion and to live in an unoccupied country. Although Chinese authorities would never admit to being influenced by international public opinion, we know that we have helped to free political prisoners. At the beginning of March 2008 there were approximately 150 Tibetan political prisoners, the majority of whom were monks and nuns, and many more who were never charged. In the aftermath of the brutal crackdown of recent peaceful protests in Tibet, now no one knows how many have been imprisoned. Eye witness information received by Free Tibet Campaign suggests many thousands of people may have been arrested. Until more information is available, we will not be able to update the list of current political prisoners. For general information about our campaign for the release and humane treatment of political prisoners, click here. Our Urgent Action Campaign gives a voice to those who cannot speak. In addition to raising awareness of the plight of political prisoners, we also take on foreign companies and governments profiting from China’s occupation of Tibet. The dedication of Urgent Action Campaign members has led to many Free Tibet successes. For people in Tibet it also means so much to know they have not been forgotten. Read more Our ongoing campaigns include the call for the Panchen Lama to be released from his lengthy prison sentence. Read more Past campaigns include our efforts to disuade companies from investing in China, including reference to the Gormo-Lhasa railway and its effect on the Tibetan people. Read more
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