Media Release
Friends of Tibet, New Zealand, Nelson Branch

Friends Of Tibet New Zealand are joining an international movement to boycott Chinese made goods to mark international human rights day. The movement to boycott Chinese made goods is being promoted by Tibetan groups in the United States and Canada who are frustrated by the lack of progress on the issue of Tibet. "We support the boycott of Chinese goods" said Nelson Friends of Tibet Chairperson Bob Bickerton, "hopefully this will send a message to Chinese authorities that there is widespread support for Tibetans around the world".

"Right now many thousands of Tibetans are held and tortured in prisons as political prisoners", he added. "On December 5th a prominent Tibetan lama from Lithang, Tulku Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche and Lobsang Dhondup were sentenced to death by a Chinese court. Both prisoners were gagged during proceedings so that they couldn't respond to charges".

"International boycott was a major factor in the fight to end apartheid in South Africa", said Bickerton, "It hoped that if we can gain widespread support for a boycott against China, that the Chinese government will be encouraged to negotiate with Tibetan authorities to peacefully resolve the Chinese occupation of their land".