URGENT: Rare footage confirms Chinese repression in Tibet

On Saturday, March 21st more than a thousand Tibetans protested in Ragya, an Amdo town in eastern Tibet, after a young monk named Tashi Sangpo jumped into the Machu river (Yellow river). When he engaged in this desperate act, Tashi was in police custody for reportedly raising the Tibetan flag atop the monastery and distributing pro-independence leaflets on March 10th. Although Tashi remains missing, Tibetans in the area say it is unlikely he could survive given the strength of the river.

Remarkably, rare cell phone footage of the protest that followed this incident has made it out of Tibet. Watch the footage. Read SFT's statement to learn more.

The Chinese government is doing everything it its power to prevent the world from witnessing the extreme repression in Tibet at this time, but they can't hide the truth.

On Friday, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile released a video, including footage smuggled out from Tibet, that confirms Chinese forces have been using extreme violence against Tibetans following the March 2008 protests.
Watch a clip of the footage.

Watch the full video. ***Warning: Video includes extremely graphic images. footage.tibetanbridges.com


This disturbing and graphic footage shows the unimaginable suffering Tibetans are enduring at the hands of the Chinese authorities. But our actions can show them that they are not alone.

At this dark time, it is essential that we keep the international spotlight on Tibet and pressure Beijing to stop its violent crackdown.

TAKE ACTION

* Alert your government representatives about the recent protests in Tibet and call on global leaders to raise the issue directly with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the upcoming G20 meeting in London on April 2.
* Sign onto a letter from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other Nobel laureates and celebrities in support of the Tibetan people. Once 100,000 people have signed the letter, it will be delivered to the Chinese authorities. View the signatory list for an updated number of signatures. Ask your family members, friends, chapter members and community members and also sign.
* Tell the world, in your own words, what 50 years of Chinese occupation has meant to you (if you are Tibetan) or for the Tibetan people (if you are a Tibet supporter). Send us a video statement or written statement that we can post on the SFT blog in response to China's claims that it has "liberated" Tibet.

Thank you for taking action for Tibet at this critical time,

Lhadon, Tendor, Kate, Heather, Chand and all of us at SFT HQ