Dear Friends,

Further to the news that Dhondup Wangchen has been transferred from a detention centre to Xichuan labour camp in Qinghai province, ITSN has a new urgent action to Qiang Wei, Qinghai’s Party Secretary. The action follows on from last week’s request to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which 1,100 people signed, to raise Dhondup’s case and press for his release during her recent visit to China.

The action can be signed and promoted to others using this link: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3185. After individuals have signed the action they are directed back to the Free Tibetan Heroes site where they can get further information about Dhondup Wangchen and other Tibetan political prisoners.

We have also learned that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s health is deteriorating and his family are continuing to appeal for his release. To help show the strength of international support for Tenzin Delek’s case we ask for your help to reach the target of 40,000 signatures from individuals outside Tibet. The petition and promotional video (which is available in six languages) have recently been posted on a number of popular websites including Radiohead’s home page.

The online Petition for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche can be found at: http://www.freetibetanheroes.org/home.php/profiles/tenzin-delek-rinpoche/petition. See http://www.vimeo.com/11527575 for a copy of the video (available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese).

Both these actions are easy to promote by sending a link to supporters or placing on your websites and social network pages. You could also consider setting up a ‘wireless’ petition or urgent action booth, similar to a traditional hard-copy signature collection point but instead with a laptop and a internet router, a USB modem or in a WiFi hotspot.

If your group is not a member of ITSN and you would like more information about joining this growing network please contact Tenzin Jigme (jigme@tibetnetwork.org).

Many thanks

Alison

Alison Reynolds
Executive Director, International Tibet Support Network
alison@tibetnetwork.org
www.tibetnetwork.org
+44 7711 843884

Add your voice to the petition calling for a new trial for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. http://www.freetibetanheroes.org/home.php/profiles/tenzin-delek-rinpoche/petition

Urge U.S. Congress to Support Quake Victims’s Right to See the Dalai Lama

Following the devastating earthquake that struck Tibet on April 14th, the Dalai Lama has expressed his desire to visit the quake zone to offer prayers and help alleviate the suffering of his people. Read more.

Just days ago, a heartfelt letter from Tibetans in Kyegundo was sent to China’s leaders requesting the Dalai Lama be allowed to visit the area. Read the translated letter.

TAKE ACTION: Write to your Congressional Representatives and ask that they urge the U.S. government to support the Dalai Lama’s desire to visit quake zone.

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/Tibetquake

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Urgent Action: Send Message to Hu Jintao Immediately!

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM “Friendship Group for Tibetan & Chinese People” ==Subject: Yushu (Kyegudo) Earthquake: Your Help Needed! / 玉树（Kyegudo）地震：您的帮助需要！

Dear Members, You must have already heard about the Earthquake in Kyegudo (Yushu), TAP, Qinhai, the latest report says the official death toll has reached over 1700 people mostly Tibetans [1].

Read the rest of this entry »

SFT ACTION PLAN:  TIBET’S PANCHEN LAMA TURNS 21

This Sunday, April 25th, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet’s second most important spiritual leader will turn 21 years old and spend another birthday as a prisoner of the Chinese government.

TAKE ACTION: Join the Global Call for the Panchen Lama’s Release

• Sign a petition to China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
• Send a birthday wish to the Gendun Choekyi Nyima.
• Write a message of support to him & his family.

In 1995, after being recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, Chinese authorities kidnapped the boy and his family. He has not been seen nor heard from since. Read more about how you can help push for his release.

• Appeal letter to Senator Maria Cantwell
• Appeal letter to Senator Patty Murray
• Appeal letter to Rep Jay Inslee
• Appeal letter to Rep. Jim McDermott

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URGENT ACTION!!! Sign this petition:   http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/anniversary

MAR 15th: According to Radio Free Asia, on Sunday, dozens of Tibetan middle-school students in Machu County in eastern Tibet protested for Tibetan independence near the county centre. They were joined by more than 500 Tibetans from the area. When 40 of the protesters were detained, hundreds gathered in front of the government offices to demand their release.

Read more here: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2167

In spite of China’s massive security clampdown in Tibet, these young students refused to be silenced. Please take action to demand their release and an end to China’s military crackdown in Tibet.
Send a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao

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Free Tibetan Heroes - This website is dedicated to all political prisoners in Tibet; the site is maintained by the International Tibet Support Network’s Political Prisoner Campaign Working Group, which has devised and is promoting a range of actions in support of Tibetan political prisoners.

Missing Voices - 10 March 2008 marked the beginning of a wave of protests against the repressive policies of the Chinese government in Tibet. Since then a large number of Tibetans have been silenced by the Chinese authorities. Many of them „disappeared“ or have been detained simply because of peacefully voicing their dissent with the Chinese government‘s repressive policies in Tibet. By March 2009, one year since the demonstrations, more than 1200 are believed to be held in detention or their whereabouts are unknown. This campaign is a symbol of solidarity for these Tibetans. Their missing voices must be heard again. And you can help! Speak out for the silenced prisoners in Tibet.