Victims of Chinese oppression available for interview throughout Olympics

Three UK-based human rights activists and victims of Chinese government oppression are available throughout the Winter Olympics to discuss their experiences and the reasons why so many governments have chosen to boycott the Games.

Among other topics, the three activists are able to speak about:

Chinese government oppression of Tibetans, Uyghurs and Hongkongers.
Protests against Beijing 2022.
Unrest during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Biographies:

Pema Yoko – Tibetan

Pema Yoko was arrested in China during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for calling out on China’s human rights violations and occupation of Tibet. As the former Director of Students for a Free Tibet she has travelled the world, inspiring youth, community organisers and government leaders into action. Pema has led direct action protests in London, Geneva, Athens, Nice, Beijing and Brisbane.

Pema was born in the UK. She continues to work in the Tibetan Freedom movement and is currently the campaigns officer for the Tibetan Community in Britain.

Rahima Mahmut – Uyghur

Rahima is an Uyghur singer, human rights activist, and award-winning translator of the poignant prison memoir ‘The Land Drenched in Tears’ by Soyungul Chanisheff. She is currently UK Director of the World Uyghur Congress, Executive Director of Stop Uyghur Genocide, and an Advisor to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. She translated the testimonies of survivors during the recently concluded independent Uyghur Tribunal in the UK, and is a prominent voice for Uyghurs in the UK.

Rahima’s work includes producing music for award-winning Al Jazeera documentary ‘Living in the Unknown,’ working as a consultant and translator for the Bafta-winning ITV documentary ‘Undercover: Inside China’s Digital Gulag,’ and as a translator for the BBC documentary ‘China: A New World Order.’

Finn Lau – Hongkonger

Finn Lau is a Hong Kong human rights activist-in-exile, China analyst and chartered surveyor. He is currently the founder and spokesperson of Hong Kong Liberty and was one of the 10,000 arrestees of the 2019-22 Hong Kong movement and a victim of severe physical assault.

He has proposed key strategies against the Chinese Communist Party and launched global initiatives like newspaper advertisement campaigns, and rallies and marches in over 50 cities throughout 2019-21 advocating Hong Kong democracy, human rights and autonomy.

Finn’s notable work includes contributions to the BBC documentary “China’s Magic Weapons”, CNN global affairs TV programme “Amanpour”, Al Jazeera TV programme “The Stream”, and Arte documentary “Escape from Hong Kong – A New Life in British Exile”.

ENDS

Interviews can be arranged through Free Tibet. Contact Will Hoyles, media officer on 07772 512519 or email [email protected].

Other interviewees, background briefings, images and videos can also be provided on request.