IBIZA MUESTRA BANDERA
IBIZA SHOWS THE FLAG
IBIZA ZEIGT FAHNE

The Olympic Games are coming closer. The silence that has descended on the Tibetan cause since the first wave of protests against the Chinese Government were struck down brutally in March and foreign media representatives were expelled from the country is significant: China has converted Tibet into a police state. The oppression of the ethnic minority and any dissenters by police and army takes place behind closed doors. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Western governments keep silent. Financial and economic interests clearly count more than human rights Ð not of course a new phenomenon on our planet.

Nevertheless, it must be firmly stated that the actions of the Chinese in Tibet and the reactions of Western governments are disgraceful. Without collusion, how could the Chinese authorities isolate Tibet so completely and prohibit any freedom of opinion and expression?

It is scandalous that all this is taking place under the banner of the Olympic Games, and it is hard to believe that the Olympic fire, once considered the symbol of freedom, is allowed to burn over the whole shameful situation. If there were such an Olympic discipline as Òviolation of human rightsÓ, the Chinese would have won the gold medal long ago. While Tibet is muffled in silence as in an impenetrable blanket, the Chinese Government is carrying out a systematic purge in total secrecy Ð for there are of course no witnesses. Who knows how many monks or civil rights activists have been murdered during this time?

We do not want to look on any longer in silence, seeing human rights and press freedoms being trampled underfoot. That is why we plan to launch various acts of solidarity under the motto ÒIbiza shows the flagÓ, starting at the same time as the Olympic Games. On June XXXX at 6 p.m. (18:00 hours) we would like to have an exchange with you about the organization and exact procedure for these events. The meeting point is ECO in Sant Joan. And we count on your support!

There may be other major crises in our world, but one thing is clear: what the Chinese have been doing since the Dalai Lama had to flee in 1959 could very well be called a slow genocide. And we fail to exercise our own freedom of speech and opinion if we keep on tolerating the intrigues of the Chinese and the dictates of multinational economic interests.

To show your views, show the flag! Hang out flags! Take the opportunity of the Olympic Games (when foreign journalists and visitors are present in great numbers on the island) to remind the world that human rights are being trampled. Come to our brainstorming session. It is not about politics or religion: every human being with a heart and a brain should get involved.

If you need any further information about the facts, just Google TIBET and you will find many web pages. We plan to cooperate with the Spanish organization CAT (Centro de Ayuda para Tibet (www.casadeltibetcn.org) .

See you all at ECO in Sant Joan on Thursday, July 17, at 19:00 hours!