Tibet Society UK

Introduction

The Tibet Society UK is the world’s oldest Tibet support group. It was founded in 1959, within hours of His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama fleeing Tibet, following the uprising against Chinese Occupation. It is a non-profit, non-government organisation (NGO) which lobbies and campaigns on behalf of the Tibetan people. The patron of the Tibet Society is His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Tibet Society is also a member of the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN), a worldwide organisation that brings together groups which focus on non-violent means for achieving Tibetan Independence.

The Tibet Society UK lobbies the UK Government through the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

On May 22nd 2008 Tibet Society hosted His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public talk at the Royal Albert Hall, entitled Universal Responsibility in the Modern World.

Campaigns and Activities

Annual Exchange between UK and Tibetan MPs

In 2007 Tibet Society began an annual exchange between UK and Tibetan MPs. In July 2007 six Tibetan MPs were invited to London to witness British politics in motion. The delegation was given an insight into the workings of the British parliament.

Following this in September 2007, five British MPs travelled to Dharamsala to witness the workings of the Tibetan Government in Exile. The group consisted of Norman Baker MP, Harry Cohen MP, Fabian Hamilton MP, Julie Morgan MP and Richard Younger-Ross MP. As a direct response to this visit a representation was made to the International Development Minister to supply relevant aid to the Tibetan community in exile to address the problem of there not being sustainable employment opportunities for the Tibetans living in Dharamsala.

Early Day Motions

The Tibet Society campaigns for the general public to lobby their MPs to sign Early Day Motions (EDMs) regarding Tibet, and also encourages MPs to table new EDMs and sign those already tabled.

Support Tibet Not Terror

In 2003 the Tibet Society launched the ‘Support Tibet Not Terror’ campaign. The campaign asserts that since the Tibetan people are still steadfastly refusing to adopt terrorist tactics to fight their cause against repression they must receive support for their non-violent stand. The Tibet Society takes the position that the Tibetan struggle provides a strong example of an alternative to violent political resistance. The campaign calls for people to contact and lobby their MP to voice their support for Tibet.

Olympics - support Team Tibet

Tibet Society supports the international campaign, ‘Bring Tibet to the Olympics’. The campaign saw the establishment of the National Olympic Committee of Tibet, with the goal of sending ‘Team Tibet’ to the Beijing Games. The campaign ethos is that sport can be a powerful way of joining people from different cultures and societies together so rather than boycotting the Games, the purpose of Team Tibet is to celebrate alongside China and all the other nations taking part to prove that cooperation between nations can happen and be a real ‘force for good’.

In the UK events included the launching of Team Tibet with a warm up by the athletes in Trafalgar Square. Tibetan Olympic torches were lit to symbolise the desire of these Tibetan athletes to compete for their nation in Beijing.

The Team Tibet Campaign is looking for competitors at the games to show solidarity with Tibetans and voice their disapproval of the Chinese government’s record on human rights, to wear a Team Tibet logo and write to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Campaign Actions

On March 22, following protests in Tibet in and the military response that ensued, Tibet Society organised a solidarity march through central London ending with a rally at Trafalgar Square. Amongst the speakers were Kate Hoey MP and former political prisoner Ngawang Sangdrol.

In April 2008 the Tibet Society helped to organise a mass protest along the route of the London leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The protest received worldwide media coverage as Tibet supporters from all over Europe congregated around the route to show their solidarity for the Tibetan people in the aftermath of the military crackdown against Tibetan protesters by the Chinese occupying forces.

Every year close to the anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising on March 10 a march and rally through London takes place to commemorate the events of 1959 and remember those Tibetans who were killed by Chinese forces. Tibet Society works with other UK based Tibet support groups to fund and facilitate this annual event.

Funding

The main source of funding comes through membership subscriptions and donations.

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