More than ever, I am grateful for your support.

Thanks to you, the International Campaign for Tibet is one of the few places that helps Tibetans tell their stories of persecution to the world. They desperately need our voice in order to make theirs heard. Together, we bear witness to the injustice they face each day.

“…the nuns were arrested on the spot, many got severely beaten up and stains of blood were seen on the street, with nuns’ robes and shoes scattered everywhere. The nuns were seen being taken away in trucks. People were too scared to pick up the nuns’ robes for fear of being detained themselves.” - Eyewitness to peaceful protests in Kardze, Tibet, on May 14, 2008

The ability to communicate is critically important in the struggle for rights.

With increased communication comes increased activism—something ICT has known since our founding. We are stronger when we can communicate freely.

It’s very important to share those truths, too, because the Chinese crackdown is only growing worse for the people of Tibet.

By early April, many monks across Tibet were suffering “political re-education” for their peaceful protests in March. They were forced to stand in front of a video camera set up in their monasteries and told to repeat the following eight points:

• I oppose the Dalai clique
• I will not keep the Dalai’s photo in my house
• My thinking is not influenced by the Dalai clique
• I will not follow splittism
• The conspiracy to split nationalities cannot succeed
• I love the Communist Party
• I will follow the Party no matter what
• I recognize the Party’s great kindness 

Those who refused were threatened with imprisonment.

The repressions go far beyond the monasteries and nunneries. A Tibetan source in Lhasa told a contact:

“At the schools and in the offices people have to write stories about March 14th and they have to speak ill of His Holiness the Dalai Lama...My child already had to write such stories several times.”

Under these incredibly repressive circumstances, who will speak truth to power? Tibetans can only dare to whisper the truth, fearful of the very real dangers they risk. 

But you and I can shout the truth. We can—and must—continue to shout it together for the world to hear.

Your generous contribution today will help ICT continue to amplify and spread the truth about life in Tibet today...to governments, human rights activists and to ordinary Chinese citizens. 

I’ll close with one more eyewitness account, from a man who was arrested during the protests in March. Armed soldiers broke down the door to his family’s home, ransacked the property, and beat members of his family.

“I was arrested and they took me with them, tied my thumbs behind my back very tightly. At first I thought that they were going to kill me, they hit my head a lot. They took me to prison, for four days they didn’t ask me anything, they just threw us here.

“One day a policeman told me 'Kneel down here!' I had my thumbs tied behind my back. He sat down on a chair in front of me, put his foot on my head and kicked my forehead with his foot, pushed my head back and slapped my face over and over again. It was really terrible. I can’t believe that we are in the 21st century.”

Simply for sharing his story with ICT, this man risked a return to prison. And yet he told his tale because the world needs to know what’s going on.

Your support helps the International Campaign for Tibet get the word out. Thank you for your contribution. We couldn’t be as effective without you.

Sincerely,

John Ackerly

President

P.S. I am especially grateful for your support during these difficult financial times. I know all of us are feeling the effects of our economy, including ICT. I want you to know that even a small gift at this time will help ICT continue to get the word out for our Tibetan friends. Thank you for whatever you can give.