Stop the Crackdown in Tibet and China

Since 16 March 2011 peaceful protests in the Ngaba area of eastern Tibet (Ch: Aba, Sichuan Province) have been violently suppressed by the Chinese authorities. Protests started when a young monk named Phuntsok from Kirti Monastery set himself on fire, marking the third anniversary of events in 2008 when at least 10 Tibetans were shot dead after demonstrations began.

Since Phuntsok's death there have been numerous further protests and detentions, including the forcible removal of more than 300 monks from Kirti monastery. A further three Tibetans are reported to have died, including two elderly Tibetans who had been standing guard at the monastery in an attempt to prevent the monks being taken away. Two Kirti monks have received three-year prison sentences.

This crisis in Tibet is taking place whilst the Chinese government is in the midst of the worst crackdown on free speech in at least a decade. With the world’s attention on the uprisings in the Middle East, China is clamping down on lawyers, activists, netizens, and artists. Since February 2011 more than 40 individuals have been arrested, including well-known artist Ai Weiwei who was detained for over two months, and at least 100 people summoned or questioned by police.

Please take action now to Stop the Crackdown in Tibet and China.

Send the Urgent Action below urging world leaders world leaders to stand up for Tibet and demand China cease its brutal crackdown on free speech.

Subject: Stop the Crackdown in Tibet and China

Your Letter:

Since 16 March 2011 peaceful protests in the Ngaba area of eastern Tibet (Ch: Aba, Sichuan Province) have been violently suppressed by the Chinese authorities. Protests started when a young monk named Phuntsok from Kirti Monastery set himself on fire. His action marked the third anniversary of events in 2008, when at least 10 Tibetans had been shot dead after Kirti monks began a demonstration.

Phuntsok, who was heard to shout messages of support for the Dalai Lama, later died after the police extinguished the flames and were seen beating him.

In the period since 16 March further protests have taken place, with dozens of Tibetans in Ngaba having been detained following protests during which Tibetans shouted slogans including "Free Tibet," "Invite Dalai Lama to Tibet" and "Independence for Tibet".

On 21 April, paramilitary forces forcibly removed more than 300 monks from Kirti Monastery, taking them away for "patriotic re-education". Elderly Tibetans keeping vigil at the monastery and who tried to prevent the monks being removed were beaten, and two - Dongko (male) and Sherkyi (female), both in their sixties - died.

One further Tibetan is reported to have died on 7 April from injuries sustained during protests outside a police station, and in early May two Kirti monks - Lobsang Dargye and Kunchok Tsultrim - received prison sentences of 3 years each.

This crisis in Tibet coincides with one of the harshest crackdowns on Chinese dissidents for years. With the world’s attention on the uprisings in the Middle East, China is clamping down on lawyers, activists, netizens and artists, including the well-known artist Ai Weiwei who has been in detention since 3 April. Many of these activists have simply disappeared without access to China's admittedly flawed legal system. Nicholas Bequelin, of Human Rights Watch said, "The situation for rights activists and critics of the government is grim, with many of the advances made by a generation of courageous activists being rolled back in a very short time."

China has repeatedly demonstrated its lack of respect for international concern about its human rights record. If China wishes to be regarded as a responsible member of the international community this situation simply cannot continue, and I appeal to you, as the world's most influential leaders, to both individually and collectively express your condemnation of China's crackdown on free speech.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Barack Obama

President of the United States

Fax:(202) 456-2461

Dr Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister of India

Dr Angela Merkel

Chancellor of Germany

David Cameron

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

M. Nicolas Sarkozy

President of France

Dmitry Medvedev

President of the Russian Federation

Julia Gillard

Australian Prime Minister

Fax:(612) 627-3410

Ban Ki-moon

United Nations

Navanethem Pillay

UNHCHR

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Country*

Please press 'send' only once.