Lausanne – A group of 10 Tibetans and supporters peacefully protested today when the olympic torch came to Lausanne. They shouted slogans and displayed a banner saying “Athens YES – Beijing NO! Free Tibet”. Whilst Tibetans and their supporters wish the people of Athens a peaceful and successful Olympics, the torch’s tour through various cities of the world marks the start of the worldwide Tibet movement’s opposition to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Tenzin Sewo, spokesperson of the groups, said: “We hope that people and athletes in Athens raise their voice in concern of the situation in occupied Tibet and the human rights in China, the next host of the Games.”
As the Olympic flame travels around the world, Tibet supporters are raising awareness of the concern around the Beijing Games. Those attending the Athens Olympics will be encouraged to peacefully demonstrate their support for Tibet and for human rights by remaining silent during and after Beijing’s presentation in the closing ceremony.
“We wish Athens a peaceful and successful Olympics, and hope that Athenians will come to support our campaign as well.” said TenzinSewo “The people of China deserve the 2008 Olympic Games, but their government still does not”
China was awarded the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with an overwhelming majority on 13 July 2001. By giving the Olympic Games to Beijing, the IOC conferred huge political respectability on a regime presiding over a continued deterioration in human rights.
Supporters of Beijing’s bid claimed that the Olympic Games would facilitate an improvement in human rights, but the reality on the ground three years later is very different. There has been a surge in arrests in Tibetan areas in the last two years, particularly in Sichuan Province where China recently sentenced prominent Tibetan religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, to death with a two-year suspension. A well known supporter of the Dalai Lama, he was accused of “splittist” activities and of being involved in “causing explosions”, but China has never revealedthe evidence against him and the case is widely regarded as being a gross injustice. The period of his suspended death sentence expires in December.
For further contact:
Véronique Girardin (french)
+41 79 417 68 36
Tenzin D. Sewo (german)
+41 79 506 85 12
Alison Reynolds (english)
+44 77 11 84 38 84
www.2008-freetibet.org
