Free Tibet has collaborated with British band Cornershop to make a music video showing that despite six decades living under occupation and in spite of the risks, Tibetans continue to demand their freedom from China.This video is another way of reminding people of the occupation of Tibet and bringing their struggle to new audiences.

The video combines images of:

• Mass protests in 2008 against China’s rule in Tibet
• State repression against Tibetans
• March 2011 London demonstration in solidarity with the Tibetan people and their struggle for freedom

The comparative freedom of Bubbley Kaur’s vocals and the upbeat nature of the track contrast with the violence of some of the images and reinforce the solemnity of the London demonstrators. We hope to broadcast the single and video into Tibet through international radio stations who can bypass China jamming radio signals.

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Learn about China's occupation of Tibet

Learn about the footage and images that appear in the video

Background:

In 2011 China is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its military occupation of Tibet, which it calls the ‘peaceful liberation’ of Tibet. Yet 60 years of Chinese rule has far from crushed the Tibetan spirit and in spite of all the suffering, the Tibetan resolve persists.

China justifies its rule over Tibet with a treaty, known as the 17-point-agreement, signed by Tibetan delegates in Beijing on 23 May 1951. The agreement effectively surrendered Tibet’s independence to China. In 1959 when the Dalai Lama escaped to India he denounced the validity of the Seventeen-Point Agreement as it had been signed under duress, by 'the threat of gun.’

In June, China closed Tibet to foreigners in preparation for the ‘celebrations’ so that any Tibetan protests and repression would be hidden from the rest of the world.

Tibetans in occupied Tibet live in constant fear and their human rights are violated in a myriad ways. The survival of Tibetan religion, culture, language and identity are threatened by Chinese policies aimed at destroying or assimilating them. Lengthy prison sentences continue to be meted out to Tibetans for peaceful acts that are viewed as criticisms of the Chinese government or a call for a free Tibet. These acts include flying the banned Tibetan national flag, sending emails about the current situation in Tibet, writing songs about the occupation or calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. These acts result in the charge of ‘splittism’ which can carry a life sentence. Splittism is not defined in Chinese law and therefore can be applied arbitrarily.

Despite risking torture and lengthy imprisonment Tibetans continue to resist China’s occupation through songs, poems and peaceful protests. The largest protests against Chinese occupation in 50 years swept across the Tibetan Plateau in the spring of 2008 involving a wide cross section of Tibetan society. The protests were brutally put down with dozens of Tibetans killed, thousands detained and hundreds sentenced, disappeared and unaccounted for.

Despite surveillance and restrictions peaceful protests continue in Tibet. The situation is very intense in Tawu and Ngaba, eastern Tibet, following the self-immolation of two young monks. Armed police and soldiers have been stationed at their monasteries.  In Ngaba house-to-house searches have been conducted in the town, checkpoints have been set up, telephone and internet communication continue to be regularly restricted with local people are too afraid to speak to external contacts about the situation.