_Press Release

Vigil for Tibetans: In solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet and in exile

Wednesday 19th March

5.30pm

Parliament, Wellington

A vigil for Tibetans will be held in parliament grounds on Wednesday the 19th of March at 5.30pm as part of number of solidarity actions taking place around New Zealand and the world today. These solidarity actions are a statement of support for Tibetans in Tibet and in exile in response to their on-going oppression by the Chinese government and the latest violent suppression of protests, arbitrary imprisonment and executions all across Tibet.

‘The harsh and swift crackdown on Tibetan people trying to stage protests in Tibet is completely unacceptable by a country due to host the Olympic games this year.’ Said Pema of the Tibetan Solidarity Network.

Keith Locke of the Greens, Bridget Pipe-Fowler of Amnesty International and Claire Clarke of Wellington Friends of Tibet will all add their voices to the multitudes across New Zealand condemning the actions of the Chinese Government as they speak at the vigil.

Claire Clark, Secretary of Friends of Tibet Wellington is calling on the New Zealand Government to write a letter of condemnation to the Chinese Government over the brutal atrocities now occurring in Tibet. She says ‘genocide is happening as the Chinese oppress the Tibetan people. The continued Chinese occupation of Tibet is not acceptable in the 21st century’.

A statement from Tibetans and their families in Wellington will be read out.
‘I am so worried about my people in Tibet. We are desperate to hear from them as the photos of bodies and reports of mass arrests and executions mount up on the internet.’ Said a Tibetan family in Wellington.

The group will call for the New Zealand Government and the NZ Olympic Committee to uphold New Zealand’s reputation and act as good global citizens in meaningful and stronger opposition to what is occurring in Tibet, followed with definitive action.

ENDS

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