Tibet should be free to express itself

3:05pm Friday 9th November 2001

Your comment “Humanity is paramount” (News Shopper, Oc-tober 17) pointed out that “It is important to recognise that civilians anywhere should not suffer because of the actions of any government or army.” How true.

The people of Tibet have been subjected to state sponsored terrorism since 1950 following the Chinese invasion. Over one million Tibetans have died and an entire culture all but destroyed along with over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries, temples and institutions.

This has been done in the name of progress and, in particular, because central to Chinese Marxist political philosophy, “religion is poison”. At present the Chinese are engaged in a massive campaign to promote atheism amongst Tibetan youth.

Tibetan history has been re-written to justify the Chinese presence in a country they have no historical or politcal right to govern.

The basis of that government is military rule.

The Free Tibet Campaign stands for the Tibetans right to de-cide their own future, an end to the Chinese occupation and for the Tibetans' fundamental human rights to be respected. We reject all forms of violence in support of our aims.

To promote our campaign locally Bromley Central Library was approached with a view to advertising our recent Walk from Bromley to the Wilberforce Oak. Despite the very clear humanitarian message of our campaign the London Borough of Bromley refused to allow any literature to be displayed because we are deemed to be a “political party”. When basic, fundamental human rights are perceived as pure politics I wonder just how far we have come. Your comments reflect what all decent people feel and think. It's a pity that our council will find your sentiments so totally incomprehensible.

What other conclusions can we draw? Are there other issues that they wish to conceal from the residents of Bromley?

E Wood

Co-ordinator Bromley Group

Free Tibet Campaign

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