User:Tibettruth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Independent Tibet Network is a non-profit research and campaigning network supporting independence for Tibet and East Turkestan. Formed in 1988 (as then Campaign Free Tibet, the name was changed in 1996 following a decision by the Tibet Support Group-UK to rename itself as Free Tibet Campaign) it has been actively campaigning on the issue of Tibet and East Turkestan via a network that operates globally with close links to Tibetan and Muslim-Uighur groups. Apart from providing political and financial support, it campaigns on a range of human rights/environmental issues.
Along with the organisation Optimus, Independent Tibet Network has exerted a positive and informative influence at various forums including; the United Nations Human Rights Commission, World Human Rights Conference UN Vienna 1994, Fourth UN Conference on Women 1995, and Permanent Tribunal of Peoples, Strasbourg 1992. In addition to lobbying and direct-action it also publishes human rights bulletins and reports two of which, ‘Children of Despair’, Martin Moss-1992 and ‘Orders of the State’, Martin Moss and Jeffrey Bowe-2000 document the harrowing issue of coercive birth-control in Tibet, [1] East Turkestan and communist China. Indeed, within this field the organization established itself as an authoritative and independent source of information and research. Its work has informed the US Senate, UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on China 2000 and 2007, the British Medical Association and Amnesty International,[2] all of whom acknowledge and condemn medical atrocities caused by this programme.
Within the Tibetan movement Independent Tibet Network has provided an articulate, determined, consistent and wide–ranging campaign. This has included establishing the world’s longest running vigil for Tibet outside the Chinese Embassy in London, promoting and supporting an international boycott of goods made in China, direct action events to lobby government and other institutions, regular media briefings, an ongoing series of public events across the UK (aimed at increasing understanding of the Tibetan issue), a political prisoners campaign, which for 18 years has supported Tibetans inside Drapchi. In 2002 a campaign against the 2008 Beijing Olympics was established, with online action/information and lobbying of participating athletes and athletic organisations to support human rights by displaying a blue-ribbon. A campaign targetting the BBC's film, 'A Year in Tibet' was launched in March 2008, which included an online petition [3] The organisation also fundraises for orphaned Tibetan children.
In addition Independent Tibet Network has made innovative and creative use of the internet, having launched www.tibettruth.com in 2000, [1] which pioneered many campaigns now taken up by others, including an online boycott of Chinese goods and online faxing of Senators/MP. The site offers a wealth of information, online campaigns and news on Tibet Central Asia and China. It is the main resource for our subscribers. In 2008 Independent Tibet Network began a successful and popular series of tibettruth podcasts [2] on Tibet.
Independent Tibet Network was established to support the common political aspirations of Tibetans for independence,[4] a goal that has been recognised by the Dalai Lama, and one which as the political demonstrations across Tibet during March and April of 2008 reveals, remains at the centre of the struggle waged by those inside Tibet.
