A campaign poster
The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), based in Dharamshala, has launched a campaign “Banned Expression: Support Free Speech in Tibet”. The campaign was launched to coincide with the 64th International Human Rights Day on December 10, and the day was dedicated to all the Tibetan writers, singers and intellectuals under the Chinese authorities whose freedom of expression is severely undermined.
The campaign is supported by the Voice of Tibet Radio and the launch was hosted by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.
Tsering Tsomo, Director of TCHRD said, “over a hundred Tibetan writers, poets, artist, intellectuals and cultural figures have been arrested, tortured and imprisoned since the 2008 uprising in Tibet. By daring to refute China’s official narrative of events surrounding the 2008 uprising, these courageous Tibetan represent a significant new challenge to the Chinese authorities.”
Since 2011 under the “mass line” policy in Tibet, major surveillance and information blockage has been implemented rigorously around the whole region. TCHRD says the “Banned Expression: Support Free Speech in Tibet” campaign aims to highlight the “fast shrinking space for writers and artists to freely and fearlessly express their views, and to pressure China to respect Tibetan rights”.
Tibetans gather at TIPA for an awareness rock concert organised by TCHRD, VOT and TIPA, in Dharamshala.
The campaign launch closed with the momentous awareness concert by a leading Indian rock band Parikrama attracting a huge turnout by Dhasa locals and visitors.
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