SFT[Saturday, December 04, 2004 09:45]
New York City, December 3 - Yesterday, members of Students for a Free Tibet and the U.S. Tibet Committee entered the Chinese Consulate’s visa office in New York City at approximately 10:30 a.m. and demanded the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. Five members, including two Tibetans and three supporters, pretending to be visa applicants, passed through the security guards and entered the visa office. Once inside, they submitted a letter appealing for his release, then took off their jackets to reveal T-shirts bearing the image of Tenzin Delek and started chanting slogans. They also acted out a dramatic scene of a Tibetan being executed by hanging while explaining to the crowd about Tenzin Delek's case. After refusing to leave, the police were called in and the protesters left peacefully.
Outside the Consulate, a group of Tibetans and supporters braved the chilly winds shouting slogans and marching around the building to send home the message that the world will not be a silent witness to the Chinese government’s ruthless destruction of Tibetan lives. Chinese officials were extremely irritated and took photos of the group.
Mysterious posters of Tenzin Delek's face were found to be pasted to the outside of the building. Frustrated consulate officials and security guards found it impossible to remove these posters.
For more information, please contact Lhadon Tethong at (917) 418 4181 or Freya Putt at (646) 240 5828
Email: campaigns@studentsforafreetibet.org
Website: www.studentsforafreetibet.org