Global Day of Action – DC

Last Wednesday, November 2, the Tibetan Youth Congress and other Tibetan advocacy groups staged worldwide rallies to protest Chinese repression and occupancy of Tibet, particularly the recent crackdown on Kirti Monastery in Ngaba and the resulting self-immolations. Since last March, 11 monks and nuns have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese rule (including a nun on Nov. 3, since this protest). The first one was in 2009, making a total of 12 Tibetans who've felt the only way to be heard was to make such a shocking sacrifice. For more details, check International Campaign for Tibet's fact sheet.

Here's a video from the protest in Washington, DC, which began at the Chinese Embassy and ended at the White House. Speakers include the president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tsewang Rigzin; two members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Minnesota, President Jigme Ugen and Sangay Taythi; as well as Jamyang Norbu, noted writer/activist/blogger (and in previous postings here and here).

Rebiya Kadeer

In light of the recent unrest in Xinjiang, a northwest territory of China in dispute by the indigenous Uyghur people, I'm showing some video from an interview with Rebiya Kadeer. A native of Xinjiang – called East Turkestan by Uyghurs before its occupation in 1949 and still today – Kadeer rose to prominence as one of the wealthiest people in China. In 1997, she openly criticized a violent crackdown of Uyghur protestors that left many dead, and was eventually imprisoned in 1999 for organizing against the Chinese Government. She was released to the US in 2005, and has continued to lead her people's fight for human rights, freedom and democracy while in exile as the president of the World Uyghur Congress. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, she is considered a separatist and a terrorist by China where, like the Dalai Lama, it is illegal to possess her picture.

This interview – at an August 2008 protest march in Washington DC, where Tibetans, Uyghurs and other groups protested the Olympics in Beijing – was the first and last time I had the privilege to meet her. This article quotes a line that sums up her indomitable spirit: after a police chief reportedly told her, “We will crush you like a snake”, she replied, “And I will emerge from prison like an eagle”.

Note: the sub-titles here are rough translations taken from the interview translator, Alim Seytoff.

Wei Jingsheng: Interview Excerpts

With all the news recently about Liu Xiaobo, an advocate for freedom in China which just won him the Nobel Peace Prize, and also condemned him to an 11-year sentence in Chinese prison last December, I put together some excerpts from an interview with another famous Chinese dissident: Wei Jingsheng. Arguably the most well known activist for Chinese Democracy outside of China, Wei was arrested in 1979 on charges of counterrevolution and spent 18 years in jail. Since his release in 1997 through a US-China exchange, he's lived in Washington DC and has continued to fight in exile for democracy, freedom and human rights in China, as well as throughout Asia. The author of "Courage to Stand Alone: Letters from Prison and Other Writings" and numerous articles, Wei has won many awards for his activism, including seven nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.

On August 7, 2008, I interviewed Wei Jingsheng outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC where he was part of a protest against the Olympics being held in Beijing. Attended predominantly by Tibetans, they were accompanied by Chinese, Taiwanese, Uyghur, Inner Mongolian, North Korean, and Vietnamese groups who support human rights and freedom in China.

(Note that this is a loose translation taken from the interview's interpreter Huang Ciping, Director of the Wei Jingsheng Foundation.)

Interview Excerpts: Jamyang Norbu

CIA Impact on Tibet? Part 2: Lhasang Tsering

Arriving after the CIA had pulled their support, Lhasang Tsering was a member of the armed resistance force in the Mustang, Nepal operation from 1973 to 1974, its final year. Later in Dharamsala, India, he was the Principal of the Tibetan Children's Village, briefly served in the Tibetan Government in Exile, was President of the Tibetan Youth Congress, and one of the co-founders of the Amnye Machen Institute. Currently, he is a Poet/Writer, and owns a bookshop.

A passionate and outspoken voice in the Tibetan community, here he shares his viewpoint in a continuing series of answers to the question: "What impact do you think the CIA had on Tibet's resistance against China?".

March 10 Montage

On March 10th, Tibetan support groups staged protests, rallies, marches, and candlelight vigils across the world. Here's a montage of four of those events: New York City, London, Dharamsala, India, and Washington DC.

Thanks to all who generously helped on a shoestring budget: NYC-John Marton, London-Duncan Shears, Dharamsala-Legdup Tsering & Tenzin Norkyi, DC-Jeff Krulik, and music by Joel Langley, Green Goose Music

March 10, 2009: Dharamsala, India

Continuing with stories of March 10 as we near the 51st anniversary of Tibet's National Uprising Day, here's another short documentary from one of last year's observations of this special day in Tibetan history. As the home of the Tibetan government in exile, Dharamsala's events continued throughout the day, beginning with the annual ceremony and speech from the Dalai Lama.

March 9, 2009: Washington DC

March 10th has been commemorated by Tibetans every year since 1959 as the National Uprising Day, when the Tibetan people united in revolt against the Chinese occupation of their country, and to protect their spiritual and political leader, the Dalai Lama. As the 51st anniversary approaches, I'll be posting videos that tell the story of that day in one way or another. Today I'm revisiting a short I made last year of a rally in DC, one of many events around the world in honor of 2009's 50th anniversary.

To document March 10th this year, I'm planning a montage of various events from as many cities as I can gather footage from. If anyone will be shooting video or stills this Wednesday, and would like to share with this blog, please email me at lisa@kefiworks.com. Credit will be given to anyone who's work is shown, and will be much appreciated.