Public Meeting at Majnu ka Tilla, Delhi
The Organizing Committee of the Tibetan People’s Movement held a second public meeting at Tibetan Refugee Camp in Majnu-ka-tilla, Delhi, on July 29th 2007. Over 200 residents of Majnu-ka-tilla attended the meeting. Four heads of the Organizing Committee addressed the public, highlighting the significance of the upcoming 4th August event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics offers a unique opportunity for Tibetans to draw attention to the Tibetan cause on a completely new platform. Choeying, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet, made the concept of Team Tibet clear to the audience. Choeying said, "the goal of Team Tibet is to highlight Tibetans’ lack of freedom as a nation, which is symbolized by their inability to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Team Tibet is a global movement challenging the Chinese government to engage in meaningful efforts to resolve the issue of Tibet".
The spokespersons declared that every one attending the 4th August event, including the football players and the marathon runners, will wear a black armband to support and show solidarity with the 14 hunger strikers who are currently on their 24th day without food.
A T-shirt with a message, "Bring Tibet to the 2008 Games" and "I Stand for Tibet" was launched at the gathering. The T-shirt became an instant hit and over 400 T-shirts were sold within a few hours. Donations were also given.
The Chinese government will use the Olympics and the global attention that Beijing will get in 2008 to legitimize its claim over Tibet. At the same time, Tibetans are also presented with a unique platform to divert the media spotlight that the Beijing Olympics will get towards the Tibet issue.
The Olympics have been used in the past as a stage to make political statements. For example, in 1968 in New Mexico, two black Americans made history when they staged a silent protest against racial discrimination. Thus in the same manner, we want to Bring Tibet to the 2008 Games in any form and any manner.
Later the footage of April 25th 2007 Mt. Everest base camp action was shown to the crowd of enthusiastic Tibetans. The footage is about one Tibetan and four Americans who protested against China bringing their Olympic Torch to Mt. Everest in Tibet.
A documentary film, "The Forbidden Team" on the Tibetan National Football Team was also shown to the public. The film reveals the difficulties the Tibetan National Football Team face and how they overcome obstacles to play their first international friendly match with Greenland in Denmark. The crowd watching the movie were so emotionally charged that they erupted out of joy and cheered and screamed with delight when the Tibetan Team scored their first goal.
Even though, the Tibetan National Team lost their first international game, the players and Tibetans as a whole left the stadium victorious - victorious of having represented Tibet at the international level despite stern warnings and hindrance from the Chinese Government.
The gathering at the Tibetan refugee camp in Majnu-ka-tilla flagged off its Delhi campaign on a very positive note. The sense of joy and appreciation from the masses for Team Tibet reflects their enthusiasm and support for the Olympics campaign.