By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, January 7: A leading Tibetan advocacy group based in Washington DC has petitioned the social networking giant Facebook to account after it deleted a post by a Beijing based Tibetan writer, allegedly under Chinese pressure.
The International Campaign for Tibet, a prominent advocacy group based in Washington DC, is urging people to tell Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to let the Tibetan voices be heard.
‘Tell Facebook: Let Tibetans Be Heard’, as the petition is called, has already been signed by over 4000 people and counting.
The ICT said that the social networking site has violated Woeser’s freedom of expression and Tibetans’ right in letting the world know the real situation in Tibet.
Calling the removal of her post “wrong and shameful”, it said, “Censoring the truth about China’s oppression of Tibetan- so severe and pervasive that some see setting themselves on fire as their only way to be heard.”
Matteo Mecacci, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, said the existence of freedom of expression on any media can be fully assessed only when social and political activism is taken into account.
“China’s ban on Facebook reflects that so far the social media’s giant had refused to apply the censorship standards typical of China’s social media. It was therefore worrying to see a video posted by Woeser about Kalsang Yeshi’s self immolation deleted by Facebook, as other recent interference with individual accounts. We are seeking a full explanation and calling on Facebook to fully uphold the freedom of expression that has become an integral part of its “brand”,” added Matteo.
Matteo said his organization launched the campaign to call on Facebook to stop blocking images of Tibetan self-immolations, especially if the users are posting them with many technical difficulties from within China, as Woeser does.
“Censorship from the free world would be the ultimate offense to these courageous people who are trying to bring justice and freedom to places where people do not now enjoy them.”
Since 2009, 136 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet protesting against China’s occupation of Tibet, its hard line policies and demanded return of the exiled Tibetan leader to Tibet.
On December 26, Woeser posted information about a 37 year old Tibetan monk Kalsang Yeshi who died after setting his body alight last month and included a link to a video of the monk in flames.
Within hours, Facebook deleted the post saying the video “didn’t meet Facebook’s community standards”.
