SFT UK 2011 review

Annual review 2011

Photo: SFT Launching the Enough! campaign in Nice

A Students for a Free Tibet UK report

About SFT UK

Students for a Free Tibet UK (SFT UK) works in solidarity with the Tibetan people intheir struggle for freedom and independence. The SFT UK network is part of theinternational SFT movement of young people and activists around the world. Througheducation, grassroots organising, and non-violent direct action, we campaign forTibetans’ fundamental right to political freedom. Our role is to empower and trainyouth as leaders in the worldwide movement for social justice.

SFT UK’s vision is of an independent Tibet, as part of a just and equitable world, freeof oppression, in which there is respect for the earth and all living things. We see aworld where young people realise that they can and must take responsibility tochange our world for the better, and are equipped with the skills and knowledge to doso effectively and non-violently.

SFT UK has an volunteer board who manage their own projects within theorganisation. These projects range from campaigns to fundraisers and grassroots toadministrative responsibilities. SFT UK does not have an office and board membersuse their own resources. The board are elected every October, with board positionslasting for two years. Any SFT UK supporters may apply for the board, and areencouraged to take part in SFT UK training conferences, attend SFT’s flagship ActionCamps or to have run their own Tibet group at uni before applying for the board. SFTUK is especially keen to train and recruit more Tibetans to join the board and to getactive within the network. The board has up to eight members and the Chairman iselected by the rest of the board in April, a position which lasts one year.

Thank you to all of SFT UK’s board members and others who have volunteered overthe year, and to those who have moved on to prominent roles elsewhere like formerNational Co-ordinator Jigdal’s move to SFT India. And a special thanks to all ofSFT UK’s supporters and donors, without whom we would not be able to grow thisorganisation and be a part of the strenghtening of the Tibetan independencemovement worldwide.

Bhoe gyalo!

Students for a Free Tibet UKC/O Unit 9, 139 Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 3HF, UKE-mail: info@sftuk.orgWeb: www.sftuk.orgTwitter: twitter.com/sftukFacebook: http://on.fb.me/rq3kYV

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2 SFT UK’s board members through 2011: - (Current): Pema (Director), Liam, Gabriel (Chair), Sonam, Tsephel, Lisa, Tom.Padma, Jigdal and Claire left the board in 2011 after moving out of the UK, Sum-Lung left to concentrate on his studies.

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Tibet today

3 Campaigns-The Enough! campaign-Nomad Rights-The Lhakar movement-Political prisoners-Other campaigns

4 Lobbying

5 Network building-Grassroots-Coalitions-Training

6 Communications-Traditional media-Digital media-Supporter communications

7 Finance-Fundraising-Finances

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Photos: Flag protest in Tibet, Uprising Day march in London, Tibetan nomad on the plateau, the Enough! campaign launch in Cannes,arrested monks paraded on Tibetan streets, outside parliament for the debate on the crisis in Tibet.

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Introduction

This has been a year of epic change around the world. In spite of the Chinese government’s refusal toacknowledge the inevitable forces for freedom that are steadily building, Tibetans in Tibet are challengingChina’s control at every turn.

At SFT, we’re working around the clock to maximize the impact of their actions while pushing the movementforward and achieving milestones for Tibetan freedom, and at SFT UK we’re building our presence andstrengthening our network to support Tibetans in Tibet.

2011 has been a significant year for us. Tibetans inside Tibet have reached a breaking point. On the 1stDecember, Tenzin Phuntsok became the 12th Tibetan this year to set himself on fire in protest againstChina’s oppression. Seven are known to have died, and pamphlets handed out in Ngaba, Eastern Tibetsuggest that more Tibetans are prepared to take this drastic and tragic action. But we do not have theluxury of despair. At this critical time, we must give Tibetans in Tibet a reason to hope. We must show themthat their actions are being heard and met with overwhelming global support.

We know what we’re doing isn’t in vain. Following SFT’s protests at the G20 in Cannes and the Global Dayof Action involving Tibet support groups across the world, we received an audio message from EasternTibet: “We know about your efforts on our behalf, especially your global actions around the world…everything you do brings a huge relief to us.”

Thank you to everyone who has supported SFT’s campaigns and programs in 2011. Together, we aregiving Tibetans in Tibet that reason to hope, and SFT UK will keep building this movement in 2012.

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Photos: Shocking photo of the self-immolation of Palden Choetso and a vigil in London for those who self-immolated.

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12The number oftibetans knownto have setthemselves onfire in protestagainst chinasoppressiverule in 2011

Tibet today

The current status of the Tibet movement and what it meansfor SFT UK

A year of resistance

2011 has been a momentous year for resistance movements worldwide. It’s also been a year where someof the world’s longest standing and most brutal dictators have fallen. Some of these changes have comeamid violence and others through peaceful means, but all show us something which we must always barein mind in activist work; however powerful oppressive regimes are and however difficult the challenge ofopposing them may be, things change.

What became known as the ‘Arab Spring’ in early 2011 started with non-violent protests in Tunisia, wherelong-simmering grievances against the oppressive dictatorship of Zine Al Abedine Ben Ali developed intolarge scale peaceful protests after the self-immolation of market trader Mohammed Bouazizi. Shockwavesechoed through the Middle East when the protesters successfully toppled the regime, with similar successin Egypt, despite dictator Hosni Mubarak starting out commanding the world’s third largest army.Elsewhere, Libyan resistance fighters ended Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year reign, South Sudan gainedindependence from Omar Al-Bashir’s tyrannical rule and the deaths of other brutal leaders like Al Queda’sOsama Bin Laden and North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il demonstrated that terror can be defeated. The ‘ArabSpring’ even struck China itself, where authorities scrambled to contain a series of protests inspired by the‘Jasmine Revolution’. In fact, China is increasingly becoming a hotbed of discontent, with some 180,000protests against the state in 2010, prompting the government to spend more on ‘internal security’ in 2011than on it’s massive army for the first time, but which has failed to prevent huge protests like those in Dailanand Wukan in 2011. Meanwhile Chinese activists like Liu Xiaobo and Ai Weiwei have again taken centrestage this year, and more and more Chinese, Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongolians are using technology tofind ways around state controls. Tibetans, who have resisted Chinese rule for over 60 years, are not alone.

It’s a trying time for authoritarian regimes and a true renaissance for civil resistance movements. This isn’tlost on the oppressive Chinese Communist Party, who cite ‘stability’ as one of their primary concerns.China is unstable, and the Chinese state’s continuing focus on flooding Tibet with military and limitingTibetans’ connections to the outside world shows that the peaceful Tibetan resistance represents asignificant threat to China’s control. And it’s a resistance which has evolved significantly in 2011.

More info - http://www.sftuk.org/about-tibet

Photos: Crowds calling for change in Morrocco as part of the ‘Arab Spring’, Chinese citizens resist the state in thetown of Wukan, Tibetans under arrest in a series of leaked photos and video exposing state brutality in Tibet.

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£5533 bbiilllliioonnThe amountChina spent on‘internal security’ in2010; an increase of16%

The Tibet movement

In 2011 we’ve seen some real changes in the Tibet movement, both inside and outside Tibet.

There can be little doubt that despite China’s attempts to hide information about the ‘Arab Spring’ from citizens under it’s control, Tibetans have been inspired by these events. There has also been a clearchange in the movement since the Tibetan uprising of 2008. The movement has diversified; we’re not justseeing monks and nuns, the traditional leaders of political movements in Tibet, take to the streets. We’realso seeing students, artists, writers, musicians, environmentalists, businessmen and nomads take part inall manner of activities in 2011, from street protests to petitions for political prisoners, from human chains atmining sites to flag hanging off the roofs of buildings, from expressing Tibetan national identity in the arts toforming the Lhakar civil disobedience movement which is sweeping across Tibet. There can be no doubtthat the Tibetan freedom movement is being led by Tibetans in Tibet. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama hassaid this year, Tibetans in Tibet are our boss, and it’s up to us to support them.

The movement outside Tibet is also changing, and not only with the transition within the Tibetan government-in-exile. What has long been a ‘support’ issue is becoming a true resistance movement. Tibetis no longer the ‘dead cause’ some people believed it to be before 2008, and this year of successful resistance has again exposed the myth that ‘non-violent movements don’t work’. We’ve seen non-violentmovements come to fruition this year, and we’re seeing such a movement grow in Tibet today. Tibetans inexile are also leading this movement, and this is something which SFT seeks to encourage and facilitate.Tibetans will always have supporters to help them, but they themselves are the true and rightful leaders ofthis movement. The more young Tibetans who can be trained and developed to lead, both inside and outside Tibet, the sooner an independent Tibet will become a reality.

But it’s also been another hard year for Tibetans. As China steps up its repression, 12 Tibetans have takenthe drastic step of setting themselves on fire to highlight what is happening in their country. At least sevenhave died and reports indicate that many more are willing to take this potentially fatal action. Many hundreds of Tibetans still languish in some of the most horrific prisons in the world, suffering all manner oftorture which many do not survive, while more Tibetans are being arrested, beaten and imprisoned for aslittle as sending e-mail to friends about Tibet, making documentary films, owning MP3 recordings of ‘subversive’ songs, complaining about police brutality or refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama. And Tibetans are still being denied education rights, fair job opportunities and religious freedom while hundredsof thousands of nomads are being forced into tenement housing reminiscent of the reserves into which Native Americans were placed as their culture was pushed close to extinction. There’s still a long and difficult road ahead before Tibet gains its freedom.

Photos: Tibetans take part in a daring action to fly a large photo of the Dalai Lama and national flag off a building, the extent of Chinese militarybuild-up in Tibtan areas.

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some reportsstate that 55,000troops wereplaced intongaba in march,a rate of around1 to every 10 tibetan citizens

Campaigns

What SFT UK is doing to promote freedom for Tibet

The Enough! campaign

SFT, in collaboration with other Tibet groups, launched the Enough! Campaign for global multi-lateral actionto end the crisis in Tibet, where 13 young Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule; 12in 2011 alone. Until 2011, there had only been one known case of self-immolation, that of the young monkTapey in 2009. But on 16th March, 20-year-old monk Phuntsok Jarutsang of Kirti monastery in EasternTibet set himself on fire. He was set upon and beaten by Chinese police and later died in hospital, mostlikely of his burn wounds. His action highlighted the depth of despair Tibetans are feeling over the abuseand oppression they suffer at the hands of the Chinese regime. In particular, it underlined the repressivecontrols exerted on Tibetan monasteries, where Chinese ‘work teams’ descend on these religious centresto carry out ‘patriotic re-education’; forcing monks and nuns to recite communist texts and demanding theydenounce their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. In 2011, the UK’s Conservative Party Human Rights Commission reacted to news from Tibet by explicitly calling for an end to patriotic re-education, adding tothe US State Department’s ongoing criticism of China’s repression of religion in Tibet. But China’s reactionto Phuntsok’s self-immolation was not confined to monasteries. Hundreds of Tibetans protested against theauthorities, who laid siege to Kirti, attempting to starve the monks out, beating two senior citizens to deathin the process. They arrested hundreds of monks and laypeople, even sentencing those close to Phuntsokfor ‘murdering’ him. These harsh tactics didn’t work, and in August another monk, Tsewang Norbu ofNgaba, also died of self-immolation, and similar cases erupted, with teenagers Lobsang Kalsang, Lobsang Konchok, Kalsang Wangchuk, Chopel, Kyayang and Norbu Damdrul, Dawa Tsering and the nunTenzin Wangmo all self-immolating in October. Another nun, Palden Choetso, self-immolated in Novemberand former monk Tenzin Phuntsog in December.

These incidents came amid a build-up of military presence in Tibet, which SFT and other groupsdocumented with photos, footage and eyewitness testimony throughout the year. They’ve also taken placealongside a growing amount of protests and inventive methods of civil disobedience by Tibetans from allthree regions, showing that the Tibetan people have had enough of Chinese rule. The Enough! campaign is designed to echo the demands of Tibetans inside Tibet and to press for multi-lateral actionfrom governments across the world to call on China to end it’s oppression of the Tibetan people.

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Photos: SFT activists launch the Enough! campaign in Cannes, Tibetans enthrone a life-size image of the DalaiLama, protest at the Chinese Embassy, London.

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55,,000000The number oftibetans whoattended theenthronementof a life-sizeportrait ofthe dalai lamain kham, subvertingstate controls

On 2nd November, more than 100 actions were carried out in 65 cities and at the G20 Summit in Cannes,France to launch the Enough! campaign.

SFT and Tibetan Youth Association in Europe members rappelled off the Cannes Railway Station, unfurlingprotest banners and Tibetan flags. A week later, US Secretary of State Clinton urged China to reform itsTibet policies and other high-level politicians have followed suit. SFT UK sent activists to take part in thoseactions, helping to grab media attention for the Tibetan cause across the world. SFT UK also stagedprotests, political theatre and ‘Chalk Tibet’ actions outside some of London’s most prominent landmarkssuch as the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and the Chinese Embassy. Similar actions were organised throughout 2011, most notably around the self-immolations of Tibetans in Tibet. Through actionslike these, we can not only make more people aware of what’s happening in Tibet and join the movement,but we make sure Tibetans who are abused, imprisoned and killed while standing up for their rights andtheir country are not forgotten. For its part, the Chinese government and Embassy has responded by blaming the crisis in Tibet on ‘external forces’; proof again that they use the worldwide Tibet movement as ascapegoat for their own failed policies because they see it as a threat.

The Enough! campaign is gaining popular support, with over 40,000 people, including Nobel Laureates,politicians, celebrities, and musicians, signing the pledge at www.StandUpforTibet.org. We brought this petition to world leaders at the G20, and groups in the UK and across the world have passed it on to theirgovernments. In the US, the petition was given directly into Barack Obama’s hands. We also used the success of the petition to work alongside Avaaz to launch another petition about the crisis in Tibet, for whichwe gained over 670,000 signatories in 2011.

Both public protests and international support can make a difference, as we’ve seen across the world in2011, and in 2012 we’ll continue to push for multi-lateral action for Tibet. The US, Japan and the EU havealready issued very positive statements, while in the UK there was a parliamentary debate on Tibet, the firstsince 2008, led by the Liberal Democrat’s Deputy Leader Simon Hughes, and there have been calls fromthe Foreign Secretary for greater freedom in Tibet.

Tibetans’ demands are probably best summed up by teenage monk Norby Damdrul, who, as he self-immolated in October, called for “complete independence for Tibet”. This is the cornerstone of SFT’s message, and in 2012 we will continue pushing for an end to the Chinese occupation.

Photos: Political theatre at Downing Street, London on the Global Day of Action and some of the notable celebritiesand politicians who signed the Enough! petition.

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4400,,883300The number ofpeople whosigned theEnough! petition in2011

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Nomad Rights campaign

The Chinese government is quietly pursuing a sinister plan to force all 2.25 million Tibetan nomads off theirancestral land into reservation-style, concrete housing blocks. Once there, their livestock are confiscated orslaughtered, no jobs or education in urban skills is offered and they slip into poverty. In September, SFTlaunched the Nomad Rights campaign to raise the global alarm and to demand an end to China’s forced resettlement. A week of protests coincided at the UN General Assembly, and www.NomadRights.org waslaunched, along with a video on the plight of Tibetan nomads that has been viewed over 8,000 times.

SFT UK kicked off the Nomad Rights campaign in April by organising SFT’s first ever environmental conference at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London, where we invited experts on the Tibetan plateau from around the world. They delivered seminars on climate change, mining, resettlement,alternative incomes and the culture of the plateau, offering scientific insights which can be used in theinternational campaign to protect this vital environment and the nomadic culture which has managed it sustainably for thousands of years.

We’re also expanding our networking both at a grassroots and NGO level by linking up with environmentalgroups, like the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, with whom we have common ground regarding the deterioration of the Tibetan plateau. The plateau has a significant bearing on the planet’s environment, notonly because it houses the sources of many of Asia’s largest rivers like the Ganges and Brahamputra, butbecause the speed at which the Tibetan ice sheet is melting will have catastrophic consequences for downstream nations like India and Bangladesh if it isn’t tackled. Enviromental groups understand that Tibetan nomads have preserved this environment for thousands of years, while China’s rapidindustrialisation of the region, including damming and deforestation, is accelerating the impact of climatechange. SFT’s area of expertise is Tibetans’ rights, but allowing nomads to continue their traditional lifestyleis also vital to ensuring the survival of the plateau.

The battle for nomad rights is a battle for the land itself, and that’s a key part of SFT’s message. InsideTibet, we’ve seen an increase of protests against mines, pollution and deforestation, including one incidentin Maisu where Tibetans sabotaged chainsaws and set up a constantly manned checkpoint to stop Chinese loggers entering a forest to cut it down. The world can’t let what happened to the Native Americansand Aboriginal Australians happen to Tibetan nomads, and in 2012, we’ll be taking the nomad issue to newaudiences, to governments, companies and international bodies to push for respect for nomad rights.

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22001155The year bywhich chinaaims to ”‘“”endtibetan nomadsway of lifeforever.’”

Photos: A nomadic resettlement compex and a nomad living on the Tibetan plateau (photo: Jim McGill)

The Lhakar movement

One of the most exciting developments to come out of Tibet in 2011 has been Lhakar; the Tibetan self-reliance and non-cooperation movement. It’s important for two main reasons; first it’s been entirely led by Tibetans inside Tibet and second, it marks a shift to the next stage of peaceful independence movements.Tibetans have begun mass organised civil disobedience. They’ve said they are inspired by Gandhi’s civildisobedience movement, which brought independence to India against apparently insurmountable odds.

What began as a campaign to take simple actions on Wednesdays (‘Lhakar’ meaning ‘white Wednesday’;the Dalai Lama’s ‘soul day’) has evolved, spread and expanded. Tibetans are engaging in low-risk and sustainable activities; eating only in Tibetan restaurants, buying only from Tibetan shops, not using Chinesewords while speaking Tibetan. One prominent case involved Tibetans in Nangchen in Kham complainingabout the high price of vegetables being sold by Chinese sellers, as Tibetans are often paid less than Chinese immigrants, even for the same jobs. When the sellers refused to lower their prices, Tibetansbanded together, with Tibetan vegetable sellers from other counties traveling to Nangchen to sell vegetables at affordable prices, forcing Chinese buisinesses to close. Other examples include Tibetans fining each other for using Chinese words and insisting that those who attend religious festivals, includingChinese security, wear Tibetan dress. Actions like these are spreading across Tibet, and are helping Tibetans develop a greater sense of unity while underlining their cultural and national identity as Tibetans.

To promote the Lhakar movement in exile, SFT supported the launch of www.Lhakar.com and launchedwww.lhakardiaries.com, encouraging Tibetans and supporters worldwide to take a Lhakar pledge and for Tibetans to do something intrinsically Tibetan every Wednesday and blog about it. This is creating a senseof unity in the exiled community as well and helps exiled Tibetans, especially those who have never beenable to visit their own country, to feel connected to their culture and people.

The Lhakar movement has a strong future and the togetherness it creates echoes the protest calls from inside Tibet, where we’re seeing more cases of Tibetans calling for unity among the Tibetan people; a message which is being distributed through music, film, art and poetry and which the Chinese state is having difficulty keeping up with. Tibetan writers like Tashi Rapten, Pema Rinchen and Jolep Dawa were arrested in 2011 for their work criticising the Chinese state and encouraging unity among Tibetans, but theirwork is being shared; another avenue, like Lhakar, which Tibetans are using to maintain and strengthentheir national identity. SFT UK will continue to promote Lhakar and the Tibetan artistic renaissance in 2012,while both training and encouraging more exiled Tibetans to take part.

Photos: Exiloed Tibetans mark Lhakar by eating Tibetan tsampa, vegetable market in Nangchen.

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66 yyuuaannThe differencein price betweena kilo of applesbeing sold bychinese (8 yuan)and by tibetansellers (2 yuan)in nangchen.

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Political prisoners

Hundreds of people are being held for political reasons in Tibet today. We can’t highlight every case, andthe truth is that many Tibetans are taken away secretly, with little or no news about their arrests, treatmentand wellbeing known. But by highlighting the cases of individual prisoners, we can not only campaign fortheir release but shine a light on the systematic detention and abuse of Tibetans under Chinese rule.Sometimes this improves the treatment they receive, sometimes they are released early but always theirnames, their lives and their heroism are not forgotten.

SFT UK has been working alongside a global network of groups to promote freetibetanheroes.org, whichhighlights 12 prisoners. We have been promoting actions based around these prisoners using differentmethods, such as a text message campaign for imprisoned cadre Norzin Wangmo, petitions for TenzinDeleg Rinpoche and Lobsang Tenzin and a video letter writing action for film maker Dhondup Wangchen.SFT UK also helped organise a visit to the UK by Dhondup Wangchen’s wife Lhamo Tso, who spoke at theSFT UK conference in Hull.

SFT UK also reports news of new cases, such as those which occurred during a series of protests andcrackdowns in Ngaba and Kardze during 2011, and on the development of cases such as fears over Lobsang Tenzin’s health in prison. SFT UK also launched the ‘Guardians for a Free Tibet’ webpage, whichhighlights six prisoners and asks supporters to help fund our work to highlight their cases while also takingactions for that prisoner in the local area. We also join other Tibetan, Chinese and Uyghur groups forprotests to highlight political prisoner cases on Human Rights Day and other key dates.

Sadly 2011 has also seen the deaths of more Tibetans in prison and further instances of the Chinesestate’s practice of torturing inmates and releasing them to die in hospital so that records do not show they

885500There are atleast 850 political prisoners intibet, withmany more detained andbeaten duringongoing crackdowns.

Photos: Imprisoned Tibetan heroes Jigme Guri, Runggye Adak, Dhondup Wangchen, Norzin Wangmo, PaljorNorbu, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, Lobsang Tenzin, Bangri Chongtrul Rinpoche, Tashi Rabten, Kunga Tseyang,Kelsang Tsultrim and Dolma Kyab.

died in custody. 2011 has included disturbing cases of Chinese aurthoritiesbeating, arresting and torturing children as young as 13 and a case where ayoung woman with no connection to a self-immolation case was tortured for aweek because she was the daughter of a man authorities suspected of sharing information about the crisis in Tibet. In 2011, film has been leaked of Chinese police beating Tibetans, while in one of many cases, a Tibetan man was beatento death apparently for speeding on his motorbike. It is important to report casesof detention, abuse and torture to expose China’s brutal rule in Tibet and to embarrass the Chinese state, who place great value on ‘saving face’ in public.China cannot ‘save face’ or convince the world that it is a ‘developed’ nationwhen it is seen to continue this backward, medieval approach to Tibetan dissent.

Other campaigns

Occupation is no vacationThe St. Regis Lhasa Resort became the first luxury hotel in Lhasa in November 2010, and UK-based Intercontinental Hotels plans to open another huge complex in 2012. SFT’s senior staff met with St. Regis’ executives in the US and in London we leafleted share-holders at Intercontinental’s board meeting in Mayand spoke to them about the occupation of Tibet and how Tibetan workers are often marginalised in theirown land. With China constantly banning foreign tourists from entering Tibet and the crisis in the country,it’s important that we reach out to companies looking to invest in Tibet and show them that not only is thatinvestment insecure, but that it is contributing to the abuse and oppression of the Tibetan people.

Stop mining TibetOne of China’s main reasons for occupying Tibet is to extract it’s vast natural resources, which China usesto fuel it’s industrial centres drive it’s economy, but Tibetans continue to stand up to show that they opposethese developments in their country. We’ve been taking part in postcard campaigns against China Gold inCanada and are encouraging the World Gold Council, based in the UK, to certify gold from Tibet ‘conflictgold’, thereby making it less valuable to extract for export markets. Many foreign companies have pulledout of Tibet over the years, but cases like one in Kardze in September, where Chinese mining officialsopened fire, injuring two Tibetan labourers, represent the true face of China’s mining operations.

Wen Jiabao UK visitWhen senior Chinese ministers visit the UK, it’s important they know the level of support that exists forTibet, and that they ‘lose face’; one of their key things they wish to avoid on state visits. SFT UK and othergroups made sure Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s 2011 visit and the media attention surrounding it wasfilled with images of Tibetan flags, slogans about human rights and coverage of the true face of China’sleadership. We had a letter printed in the Guardian the day before the visit, and had our protests covered inthe Metro and Standard newspapers and prime time bulletinns on BBC, ITV and Sky TV. SFT UK also usedthe opportunity to speak to delegates at Wen’s speech at the Royal Society, including former Deputy PrimeMinister John Prescott. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy spent more money than ever bussing in paidChinese flag waving ‘supporters’, who failed to gain comparable media coverage. Wen’s visit was anotherPR disaster, following Vice President Li Keqiang’s visit earlier in the year.

Refugees in NepalThe treatment of Tibetans in Nepal is likely to be an area of concern in 2012, after SFT’s successful campaign to put pressure on Nepalese authorities not to send 23 young Tibetan refugees back to face arrest and torture in September. China’s influence in Nepal is worrying, and SFT UK will be encouragingNepalese politicians to defend their sovereignty and Tibetan’s rights by refusing to kowtow to China.

Photos: Some of the Tibetan refugees who were eventually given safe passage from Nepal to India, protest during Wen Jiabao’s UK visit.

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11,,000000The number ofchildrenthought to beinfected by leadpoisoning inthe water supply from amine in amdo.

Lobbying

How SFT UK is pushing for political action for Tibet

Every year, SFT UK co-organises the Mass Lobby for Tibet, bringing UK politicians face-to-face with UK Tibetans and supporters. It’s a great way to build relationships with MPs and bring the issue home to them.It’s part of a worldwide drive to gain political support for the Tibetan people. At the same time as the UKlobby in March, more than 100 Tibetan-Americans and supporters descended on Capitol Hill to urge greatercongressional support for Tibet. The next day, SFT Canada arrived in Ottawa for two days of lobbying theCanadian parliament for Tibet. National Tibet lobby days were also held in Sydney, Australia, New Delhi,India; and Tokyo, Japan. And we’ve seen some positive statements of support from British MPs, for whomTibet is an issue with cross-party support, especially important now that we have a coalition governmentwith a small majority. British voters’ opinions count, and SFT UK will be running training sessions in 2012 toempower UK voters, particularly Tibetan constituents, to help create an effective mass lobby force forMarch and continue the dialogue with MPs throughout the year.

We’ve also seen some encouraging signs around the self-immolations in Tibet, with the first parliamentarydebate on Tibet since 2008 and strong words of encouragement from supportive MPs such as SimonHughes and Fabian Hamilton, who we will be working with in 2012 to follow through some of their recommendations on where next to take the Tibet issue to build momentum in parliament. It was great tosee around 50 UK-based Tibetans attend the debate, helping bring the issue home to MPs.

We’re also reaching out to MPs at party conferences. SFT UK’s Pema met delegates and posed some difficult questions to Chinese Vice Ambassador Qin Gang at the Labour Party Conference this year, forcinghim to avoid the issues of human rights abuses and oppression in Tibet. Again, a Chinese state representative was embarressed in front of his peers, and again the real issues behind the propagandawere exposed to British MPs.

SFT UK is also supporting the International Tibet Network’s drive to be more joined up in our approach toworld leaders. China is good at using divide and conquor tactics; picking off other nation’s complaints abouthuman rights abuses one by one, but we’ve shown with the Enough! campaign that if we approach governments across the world at the same time, we can gain further-reaching support and we hope to encourage nations who value the principles of democracy and freedom to work together to condemnChina’s opposition of these principles; principles which we all have a vested interest in protecting.

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More info - http://www.sftuk.org/mass-lobby-parliament

Photos: Pema (SFT UK) and Karma (TYUK) deliver a letter to the Prime Minister’s office, UK-based Tibetansmeet supportive MPs at the parliamentary debate, Pema and Tsephel meet Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay.

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33according to mp’’sresearchers, theamount of constituents whoneed to writeabout an issue before an mp regards it important.

Network building

How SFT UK is helping build the Tibet movement

In 2011, SFT expanded its international online action network to over 60,000 people and our Facebook network grew to over 100,000. SFT has national networks in 10 countries, and 650 chapters, most based inuniversities. SFT currently employs 12 staff members worldwide, which from mid 2011 has included SFTUK’s Director Pema Yoko, who has been working remotely for SFT’s HQ in the US as well as leading SFTUK. In 2012, SFT UK aims to make this a permanent paid position, giving us more capacity to focus ourwork in the UK and build SFT UK into an effective non-profit organisation.

GrassrootsWe’re also looking to expand our grassroots chapters in the UK, and have been pleased to see the Hastings and Edinburgh Tibet groups getting so active this year. We’ll be working to develop them in 2012,along with targeting new groups, visiting universities and expanding into sixth forms to raise awarenessabout Tibet and train young people to be advocates for social justice. We’ll also continue working with ourestablished groups like those in Hull and Essex, continuing to provide campaigning materials, fresherpacks, weekend training sessions and speaker tours. We’re growing as an organisation, but students willalways be our backbone. We’ll be strengthening our commitment to empowering young people in the UK in2012, and hope to see more students making an impact on their campuses and joining the board.

CoalitionsSFT UK’s influence in the UK Tibet Support Group coalition has grown in 2011, with us more able to takethe lead in organising events such as the Panchen Lama vigil and Global Day of Action protests. We’rekeen to strengthen the coalition in 2012 and help streamline our activities to put Tibetans in Tibet at thecentre of everything we do. With the March Uprising Day and Mass Lobby coming up, 100 years afterTibet’s last official declaration of independence, we and our partners will keep putting Tibet on the map.

We’re also keen to develop our networking in other coalitions which SFT UK is a part of, such as Chinese,Uygur and Tibetan Solidarity UK and the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. SFT UK also launched our OneStruggle website www.sftuk.org/onestruggle to show how different causes are affected by the Chinesestate, and will continue to network with peaceful causes oppressed by the Chinese state.

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Photos: SFT banner, members of Hull Human Rights Action group protest, Tibetans, Chinese and Uyghursmark the anniversary of theTiananmen Square massacre.

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For more info, contact us at:sftuk.org

More info - http://www.sftuk.org/campaign/network-campaigns14

3355the number ofcountries whichcurrently havean sft presence.

TrainingTraining is a big part of what SFT does, and SFT UK are expanding our opportunities to develop new advocates for Tibetan freedom while also teaching people about their own rights and political freedoms andhow to use them. SFT training teaches young people not only about Tibet, but about social justice and theprinciples which underpin a free society. These are the principles which will benefit generations to come!

We were delighted to be taking part in the training of delegates at SFT’s flagship Free Tibet Action Camptraining week in Germany this year, where we joined some of the best Tibet activists and experts in theworld for a packed schedule of hands-on interactive training sessions for Tibetans and supporters fromaround the world. We continue to develop our own training sessions, and were encouraged by the passionand commitment of students taking part in SFT UK’s annual training conference in Hull.

We’ve also started taking our training sessions to new audiences this year, notably to the Tibetan community, and we hope to deliver more training to UK-based Tibetans in 2012, particularly in the build-upto the mass lobby. We’re also planning more focused training sessions with our university groups and one-on-one training for prospective board members.

It’s all about developing people to lead this movement, especially developing Tibetan leaders. In 2011, SFTheld leadership conferences in the US, UK, Japan, Taiwan, and Canada, attended by more than 300 students, activists and Tibetan community organisers, who were trained in nonviolent resistance, online andmobile security, public speaking, grassroots recruitment, media advocacy, and direct action coordination.We’ve also played an active role in delivering training sessions for other Tibet support groups in the International Tibet Network and SFT international has been developing the Lhakar Academy in India, wherefuture leaders of the movement can learn everything they need to bring the Tibet movement to the nextlevel. SFT UK’s Pema was one of the first graduates this year.

It was also great to work with a whole new generation of free thinkers when SFT UK had a three day tent inthe Kids Field at the Glastonbury music festival, where we taught kids Tibetan phrases, got them making Tibetan hats and rangzen bands and colouring yaks. SFT UK had stalls at other outdoor events as well,such as the Womad world music festival, all attracting new people to the cause and building networking opportunities.

In 2012, we’ll continue reaching out to tell people about Tibet and train them on how to take action.

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More info - http://www.sftuk.org/free-tibet-action-camp-2011-2

Photos: SFT UK’s tent in the kids field at Glastonbury, SFT training activists at Action Camp in Germany.

For more info, contact us at:sftuk.org

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22000000the year ofthe first sftaction camp.look out forthe next onein 2012!

Communications

How SFT UK is raising awareness about Tibet

Traditional mediaSFT UK continues to get the Tibet issue into newspapers and TV reports, most notably by organisingprotests, vigils and being a part of SFT’s daring non-violent direct actions. We’ve been quoted in most ofthe main news outlets this year, whether as SFT UK or as part of coalitions, and this also helps more people find out about what’s happening in Tibet.

SFT also gets information out of Tibet, including shocking video footage of the self-immolation of the nunPalden Choetso and the protests which Tibetans took part in following her death. SFT HQ uses contacts onthe ground inside Tibet, and from those who have fled into exile. As part of the network, we share this information with the public, with news agencies and with other Tibet groups, ensuring that the voices of Tibetans in Tibet are heard by as many people as possible, and that the Chinese state cannot abuse Tibetans and their rights behind closed doors. Many people are unaware that abuses occur in Tibet on adaily basis; China cuts communications and bans journalists to prevent news coverage, but the more weexpose each case, the more visible the truth about China’s occupation of Tibet becomes.

Digital mediaWe’re living in a digital world, and SFT is leading the way on using social media to generate support, networking opportunities and grassroots organisation tools. SFT UK have been tweeting throughoutmarches this year and streaming our fundraising events live to supporters. We’ve also been using more accessible social media campaigns such as the Ai Weiwei f*ck off campaign on Twitter and Tumblr, whichcoincided with us helping artists highlight Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei’s case at the Tate gallery, and whichwas re-tweeted by musician MIA, bringing the issue to new audiences. SFT UK also shares the work of theTibet Action Institute; an offshoot of SFT International which educates on internet security for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet and develops apps with which Tibetans can share information and expose what ishappening in their country without being tracked and arrested.

Supporter communicationsIn 2011, we’ve also been developing our supporter communications, including the SFT UK magazine, whichis available as a digital magazine, with each issue read by hundreds of people. We’ll continue to share information about what’s happening in Tibet in 2012, and encourage supporters to do the same.

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Photos: Sky News are refused access to Ngaba, where troops flood the streets, messaging at London protest.

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For more info, contact us at:sftuk.org

More info - http://www.sftuk.org/about/sft-uk-publications16

1166the age of tibetan schoolgirl TashiPalmo, beaten,arrested anddenied medicaltreatment forcalling forindependence.

FinancesHow SFT UK is funding its work

FundraisingSFT UK had a highly active year when it came to events, both fundraising and campaigning based, resulting in a higher income total than expected. This was largely due to the decision to grow the organisation this year and employ paid people in part time roles, first as consultants then effectively asstaff. This resulted in more events being planned and more donations gained, but also in more expenditureon wages.

SFT UK presented ‘Poetry in Resistance’ to celebrate banned works by Tibetan writers in 2010 and followed it with ‘Revolutionary Beats’, highlighting Tibetan music, which has been steadily becoming a newprotest tool in recent years, with political sentiment in popular songs by the likes of Tashi Dhondup andSherten as well as rap group Yudrug. Tibetans in exile have also been getting in on the musical revolution,with the Shapale Song going viral. As well as raising awareness, SFT UK has been raising funds sellingmerchandise at stalls, through online appeals and with the second sponsored momo eating competition.

During part of the year, SFT UK paid Padma Dolma and Pema Yoko for part time work on both fundraisingand campaigns. Padma organised a string of events and Pema wrote cash appeals and focused on encouraging supporters to give a regular gift by joining SFT’s rangzen circle. Going forward, we hope to encourage more people to join the rangzen circle to secure more regular income which will keep SFT UKsustainable. We will also continue to organise events and write quarterly cash appeals.

As SFT UK currently does not have an office, a large amount of funds are saved on rent and bills, and asthe board use their own resources, funds are also saved on equipment. This makes SFT UK a relativelycheap organisation to run and allows us to spend more on our campaigning and events. In recent yearswe’ve agreed that it’s time which is the biggest expense for us; there’s so much we want to do, but outsidework and studies we just haven’t had the time to do it, so now by employing somebody, even on a part timebasis, we’re seeing the benefits and starting to grow as an organisation which is able to carry effective campaigns and organise professional events. That ability brings us closer to our goal of bringing freedom toTibet, and it’s SFT UK’s supporters who make it possible so thanks to everybody who’s attended an event,made a donation, bought a t-shirt or joined the rangzen circle in 2011!

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More info - www.sftuk.org/donate-us

Photos: SFT UK at the Womad world music festival, momo eating and SFT Hastings get into the Lhakar spirit.

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For more info, contact us at:sftuk.org

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£33the monthlyamount supporters canjoin therangzen circlefor, making sft uk’’s campaigningsustainable.

Income*

DonationsDonationsGrassroots incomeTotal

Other fundraisingEventsOnline appealMerchandise salesGeneral donationsTotal

GrantsTotal

Total income

Expenditure*

Printed materialsTotal

EventsTotal

MerchandiseTotal

GeneralTotal

Staff and consultantsTotal

Membership feesTotal

Total expenditureAccount total end of year 2011**

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* Denotes income up to and including December 2011** SFT UK’s financial year ends in April.

For more info, contact us at:sftuk.org

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£3,725.46£1,359.27£5,084.73

£3,138.30£1,203.48£820.63£444£3755.84

£1,939.65

£12,636.79

£893.50

£2,784.18

£1144.47

£789.42

£6,172.50

£71.63

£11,855.70£781.09

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For more info, contact us at:sftuk.org

Reason 10: SFT is grassrootsWe’re a network of students, Tibetans, activists, professionals, artists, volunteers, and many others workingat the grassroots level to mobilise people power in a way that truly changes the course of history.

Reason 9: SFT is globalWe are everywhere. With members in more than 50 countries, chapters and networks in 35 countries, andoffices in 4 countries, our constituency spans the globe.

Reason 8: SFT is diverseSFT’s membership is composed of Tibetans, Americans, Europeans, Indians, Chinese, Canadians, Australians, Japanese, Taiwanese, and dozens of other nationalities with diverse cultural backgrounds andpolitical viewpoints — because the goal of Tibetan freedom unites everyone.

Reason 7: SFT is about youthOur base of young Tibetans and supporters know change is possible. We harness the passion, commitment and inexhaustible energy of youth in our work for Tibetan freedom.

Reason 6: SFT is nonviolentWe apply nonviolence theory and practice to our activism for Tibet because we believe it’s the most effective way to achieve our goal. There is no better way to fight for peace than to promote nonviolence asa weapon.

Reason 5: SFT is cutting-edgeSFT’s membership and leadership is made up of the most talented innovators, strategists, and visionarytechies. We use the latest information technology and social media tools to successfully execute campaigns and actions that inspire Tibetans and directly challenge China’s control over Tibet.

Reason 4: SFT is about trainingWe invest in the next generation of Tibetan leaders and Tibet activists through our unique leadership training programs. Our Free Tibet! Action Camps and regional trainings help young leaders hone their skillsto effectively lead strategic campaigns and nonviolent actions for Tibet.

Reason 3: SFT is about a better worldWe believe in hard work and in having fun. We emphasise the importance of humor and laughter in ourwork, so that freedom is not merely the destination but also the journey.

Reason 2: SFT is strategicWe carefully plan and strategise before we act. Our leadership has the vision, experience, and strategy todevelop and execute effective campaigns and actions.

Reason 1: SFT is for an independent TibetUltimately, we believe that the social, economic, environmental, and cultural interests of the Tibetan peoplecan only be truly safeguarded if Tibet is an independent nation. We know this goal is possible and will wework everyday to achieve it.

10 reasons to support SFTin 2012

2011 annual reviewA report by Students for a Free Tibet UK

Tibet will be free.