Worldwide week of action steps up pressure on China
Santa Barbara – Outraged members of the organization Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) at UC Santa Barbara will participate in a worldwide week of action to highlight the plight of imprisoned Tibetan spritual and community leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. On Wednesday, December 1st, students will converge in the Arbor at UCSB for a 24-hour fast in solidarity with the Tibetan Youth Congress in India and other Tibetan support groups all over the globe.
The outdoor solidarity fast will begin on Tuesday, November 30 at 11pm and last until Wednesday, December 1 at 11pm at the Arbor on the UCSB campus.
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is a highly respected Buddhist leader from eastern Tibet. He was convicted on false charges and sentenced to death by the Chinese authorities in December 2002, with a two year reprieve. He has been held incommunicado detention since his sentencing and could be executed by the Chinese government anytime after January 26th 2005.
“Tenzin Delek is a Buddhist monk who is well-known for teaching his community nonviolence and compassion, as well as working for the preservation of Tibetan culture, religion, and the environment.” Said Miguelito Mendoza the Regional Coordinator for Students for a Free Tibet for all chapters in CA, NV, HI. “His story illustrates how dire the situation is in Tibet under the Chinese occupation-the Chinese government will not tolerate any Tibetan who works for the preservation of Tibetan identity, because they view this as a threat to their authority. Our SFT members here at UCSB are committed to doing everything we can to fight this injustice.”
In February 2004, Human Rights Watch released a report(http://hrw.org/reports/2004/china0204/) harshly criticizing the Chinese government for Tenzin Delek’s imprisonment. Tibetans and their supporters around the world have been campaigning for Rinpoche’s arrest and have vowed to intensify pressure on the Chinese government until he is released.
Numerous international governments have already demarched China on this case.
Students for a Free Tibet is an international student run organization that works in solidarity with the Tibetan people in their struggle for freedom and independence. Through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, we campaign for Tibetans’ fundamental right to political freedom.
For more information:
www.studentsforafreetibet.org
www.savetenzin.org
http://hrw.org/reports/2004/china0204/
