Suggested chants / slogans for a Free Tibet protest:

Suggested chants / slogans for a Free Tibet protest:

• 1234, occupation no more, 5678, Tibet is-an apartheid state!
• New Zealand (or whether you are) please choose a side, human rights or apartheid!
• From Tibet, to Palestine, occupation is a crime!
• Hey, hey, ho, ho! Occupation has got to go!
• One solution, revolution!
• The people, united, will never be defeated!
• Tibetans are under attack. Stand up, fight back!
• (front calls) FREE TIBET, (back calls) FREE TI-BET!
• When I say peace, you say now! Peace! Now! Peace! Now!
• Free Tibet, not free trade!

Free Tibet Protest in Dunedin, New Zealand

100 people participated in a protest organized by Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), the Organisation for Global Nonviolent Action (OGNA) and the Coalition for Tibet Aotearoa on Friday the 4^th of August in the city centre of Dunedin, New Zealand. 

The protest was called in light of the current situation in Tibet, which is at its worst since the Chinese invasion in the 1950's.

“In the last year alone there have been 47 self-immolations in Tibet in protest to the Chinese government's rule and oppression”, says Joe Llewellyn, co-leader of SFT and OGNA. 

Starting from the Peace Pole in front of the Otago Museum, the crowd marched, with a banner saying "Tibet is burning - end the oppression of: Tibetans, Uyghers, Mongolians and Chinese", to the front of the Meridian Shopping Centre, blocking off George Street traffic to perform a ‘die-in’ – a symbolic lying down to symbolize the lives lost in the conflict that is ongoing in Tibet.  The group then progressed to the Octagon lawns where speeches were made, and the printed faces of the 51 self-immolators were lined up to emphasize the tragedy of the situation. 

The march and die-in were well received by the public, the die-in deliberately held only for a few minutes to minimize disturbances to traffic.  People from the sidewalks began joining the march as the crowd progressed and many cars showed their support by honking. 

 “Since the Beijing Olympics the situation has become increasingly worse, with an increased military presence and regular media blackouts”, says Joe Llewellyn. 

The Chinese Government has a track record of silencing political dissidents, Liu Xiaobo, Ai Wei Wei and Chen Guangcheng are recent examples, though many more remain unreported. Mr. Llewellyn says “There are now hundreds, if not thousands, of political prisoners- reports indicate the latest self-immolations have lead to 600 more Tibetans being incarcerated”.

Speaking about a recent report from the Washington-based Human Rights Watchdog, Freedom House, he said: “Freedom House have just upgraded Tibet in their 'Worst of Worst list' together with countries such as Somalia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea. It's a list of the top nine countries in terms of human rights violations”.

He says, “We are protesting to raise this under-reported issue. It also gives people a chance to have their say on it”.

“We are planning future action including a nation-wide petition and protests before the Dalai Lama's visit to New Zealand next year”.

Mr. Llewellyn says “The Free Trade Agreement New Zealand has with China should not be to the detriment of Chinese minorities”.