Students for a Free Tibet, UK
www.sftuk.org students@sftuk.org

"Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) works in solidarity with the Tibetan people to achieve their quest for freedom and independence. We raise political, economic, environmental, and social issues that affect Tibetans living in Tibet and in exile to the government and the public in the UK. As a network of young people around the world, we campaign for fundamental right of Tibetans to independence. We believe that young people can and must take responsibility to change our world for the better."

"Help us to be free, to be independent, to be able to do what we choose -
in our own country" Palden Gyatso, monk and former political prisoner

"The achievements of Students for a Free Tibet show that non-violent action does work"
His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Founded in 1994, SFT has become a major grassroots organising force with hundreds of groups in dozens of countries around the world. SFT groups organise demonstrations and non-violent direct actions and participate in campaigns to influence political decision makers, put international pressure on the Chinese government and free political prisoners. SFT UK was founded in 2002 by a group of students from universities around the UK. We work with groups around the world to coordinate actions internationally but also run campaigns targetted specifically at the UK.

SFT UK unfurled a 100m banner reading
"Free Tibet, China killed 1.2 million Tibetans, Free Tibet, Thousands still in prison, Free Tibet"
in Russell Square, London, in 2004

Current Campaigns

To free and stop torture and abuse of hundreds of political prisoners held in Chinese prisons in Tibet, imprisoned for crimes of practicing their religion and their right to free speech (Universal Declaration on Human Rights).

Environmental Campaigns on issues outlined above.

Free the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Chokeyi Nyima. Recognised as the second highest Lama of Tibet by the Dalai Lama, he has been detained since 1994 when he was six years old.

Boycott 'Made in China'.

Encourage the UK Parliament and the European Parliament to recognise the Tibetan Government in Exile as the legitimate government of Tibet

As part of China's 'Western Development Plan' a railway is being built from Golmud (China) to Lhasa. This will accelerate the policy of population transfer and ethnic dilution, further jeopardising the Tibetan way of life. SFT opposes the development of this railways and aims to raise awareness of this issue.

Some Recent Outcomes of International Pressure

Since January 2001 an unprecedented number of Tibetan political prisoners have been released. Ngawang Sangdrol, a young Buddhist nun was first arrested for speaking out on Tibetan independence when she was only thirteen. After ten years in prison she was released in 2002, nine years before her sentence was due to expire.
An unofficial dialogue between Chinese Representatives and envoys of HH the Dalai Lama has been restarted.
After a year-long campaign, SFT and a coalition of Tibet supporters successfully defeated a World Bank project that would have funded the transfer of 60 000 Chinese settlers into Tibet.

E-mail us: freetibet@cusu.cam.ac.uk