Press Release
Zürich, June 3, 2006 – A peaceful protest today by over 150 young Tibetans at the Switzerland – China football match, Switzerland’s final warm-up game prior to the World Cup, was thwarted by Zürich police today. Posters, Tibetan national flags, T-Shirts and even key chains were confiscated from the Tibetans – evidence that China had successfully managed to pressurise the host nation with their policy of censorship.
Two hundred posters had been prepared for the protest, each one black with a white cross printed on it. These posters would have symbolized a
graveyard in the venue, Hardturm Stadium, for more than 1 million Tibetans who have lost their lives through the illegal occupation of their homeland. Even before the start of the match, the activists were being observed by plain-clothes policemen. Thereafter, all posters and Tibetan national flags were confiscated from the activists. Even though it was permitted to bring flags into the stadium, they were eventually confiscated.
The security staff in the stadium was extremely well-informed. Armed with a small postcard of the Tibetan flag they went on the hunt for the activists as though they were suicide bombers.
Tibet has been occupied by China since 1949/50. The situation is still precarious and human rights are systematically being violated. Today, Tibetans are imprisoned even for possessing a photograph of the Dalai Lama.
“We demand fair play! Also off the pitch and also in Tibet! It is unthinkable that the Olympic Games will be held in two years time in a country that grossly violates human rights. These Games symbolize tolerance, fairness and equality. The situation in Tibet must fundamentally improve in the next two years,” said Tenzin Dawa Chokchampa, co-President of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe.
“It is a sensitive issue to mix sport and politics. However, in this case one has to be mindful of the Chinese propaganda machine. The
Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing only serves to give the totalitarian regime a better image. As long as the situation in Tibet shows no dramatic improvements there will for certain be protests by Tibet supporters in the future,” said Migmar Raith, board member of the Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association.
Contact:
Kelsang Gope
Tel.: +41 79 357 32 46
k.g@vtje.org
www.tibetanyouth.org
