International Campaign for Tibet Europe: Annual Reports: 2001

2001 Annual Report

Message from the Director

As ICT Europe enters its third year, 2001 proved on reflection a period of growth, investment and consolidation, setting into place mechanisms that will allow us to further develop our influence on the European sub-continent. The positive response to our work this past year from political institutions, non-governmental organizations and the public at large has been a great source of encouragement. We are ever closer to our objectives of challenging the injustice taking place in Tibet and influencing democratic governments to take action.

Following September 11, the international community put enormous effort into combating global terrorism. In this changing political atmosphere, China abusively intensified its control in Tibet under the pretext of fighting terrorism. The horrendous circle of violence in the Middle East and other parts of the world is a daily reminder of the need for a global political culture based on non-violence and dialogue. Today H.H. the Dalai Lama’s leadership is the embodiment of those ideals for resolving human conflicts. It is encouraging to note an increasing awareness among politicians of the important role non-violence plays in the fight against terror. Accordingly, the Tibetan struggle, a worldwide symbol of non-violence, deserves significant support and recognition.

The European Union is working towards gradual and steady strengthening, enlarging by 10 prospective new member countries from Eastern Europe. This upcoming growth already heavily influences the priorities and organization of the EU and presents its own set of opportunities and challenges. Within this new political environment, ICT Europe faces the challenge of generating strong Tibet policy in the EU. The historic visit of H.H. the Dalai Lama at the European Parliament last October was an enormous boost. Not only the visit, but also the months of preparation and organization consistently highlighted the Tibetan issue within the European Parliament. There is still much work to do, but these initial steps are building blocks to take the European commitment for Tibet to new heights.

Our role remains vital in opposing one of the gravest human rights violations in the world today. Members of ICT Europe are at the forefront of the movement, helping to bring freedom and democracy to Tibet. This commitment enables us to be one of the most effective forces generating active support for Tibet in Europe. Our work involves a large network of friends and we want to humbly thank everyone who worked with and supported us in 2001. We look forward to working together with all of you in the upcoming years, helping the Tibetan people in their struggle for human rights and self-determination.

Tsering Jampa's Signature
Tsering Jampa
Director

Government Outreach

One of ICT Europe’s primary activities is fostering the development of a unified European Union policy on Tibet, advancing human rights and freedoms for the Tibetan people. In 2001, ICT-E continued to put pressure on the EU for a more robust strategy on China, while facilitating a continuous influx of information on Tibet. ICTE actively monitored EU-China human rights dialogue, contributing concrete recommendations. In October, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the European Parliament, meeting with the EU Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten. ICT-E supported preparations for this unprecedented assembly, paving new avenues for Tibet within the EU. ICT-E’s legislative efforts focused on the appointment of a EU Special Representative for Tibet. At the request of the Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for European Affairs, Mr. Kelsang Gyaltsen, ICT-E prepared a comprehensive research paper on the existing mechanisms within the EU for the appointment of Special Representatives. National European Governments have often cited EU-China dialogue as a justification for not addressing Tibetan human rights in bi-lateral talks with China. In 2001, ICT-E continued to raise the issue with individual government representatives, emphasizing that EU human rights dialogue with China should not foreclose other European bilateral or multilateral initiatives on human rights in China and Tibet.

Parliamentarian Initiative
As one of the main democratic institutions of the European Union, the Parliament has consistently taken up urgent questions and adopted resolutions on Tibet. ICT-Europe’s Director, Tsering Jampa frequently briefed the Tibet Inter Group of the European Parliament members on the current situation in Tibet. These meetings generated greater awareness and support for the Tibet issue within the European Parliament. In January 2001, the Tibet Bureau in Geneva and ICT-E jointly organized a two-day parliamentarian conference in Bern to discuss EU support for a resolution on China at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights. The conference resulted in an important resolution urging the EU to co-sponsor the US-sponsored resolution at the Commission. The representatives from the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights and the Swiss Foreign Ministry also addressed the conference. In April 2001, ICT-Europe assisted the preparation for Tibet Inter Group’s visit to Dharamsala, India, the seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile. There the delegation extended an unprecedented invitation for His Holiness to address the European Parliament. In October 2001, ICTE also helped organize the historic visit to the European Parliament, where H.H. the Dalai Lama delivered a powerful speech. Before the visit, ICT Europe presented a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontijn, urging the European Parliament to actively support for the appointment of a European Special Representative for Tibet.

European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine introduces the Dalai Lama prior to his address, October 2001

United Nations
2001 was an eventful year for our work at the UN. In January, ICT-Europe joined a Europewide campaign of Tibet Support Groups pressuring the EU to co-sponsor the US sponsored resolution on China. While China ultimately blocked action on resolution by a procedural move, the Tibetan UN team’s work at the Commission provided invaluable awareness on the continued human rights violations in Tibet. In March and April, ICT-E worked intensively at the 57th UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva. Tsering Jampa, ICT Europe’s director, spent four weeks at the Commission as a member of the Tibetan UN Team. The highlight of the year was our success against China’s attempt to block ICT’s accreditation application to the UN racism conference in Durban, South Africa. It was the first time Tibetan organizations (ICT and Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy) gained accreditation to a UN forum. At the conference, ICT released a major report, Jampa: The Story of Racism in Tibet. The final NGO Draft Declaration included several statements relating to Tibet’s status as an occupied country and the need for negotiation between China and the Tibetan Government in Exile.

Campaigns

Religious Freedom
Protecting and defending religious freedom in Tibet continues to be one of ICT-Europe’s major priorities. In 2001, ICT exposed the massive crackdown at Larung Gar, in eastern Tibet, documenting and publicizing the expulsion of thousands of monks and nuns and the destruction of their meditation huts. Using digital photography, ICT-E was able to quickly provide compelling images of these crackdowns to the media, governments and other human rights groups. ICT-E sent appeals to the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Religion and Belief, the President of the European Union and individual European governments calling for immediate intervention of the destruction.

Political Prisoners
In 2001, ICT-Europe promoted awareness and action on Tibetan political prisoners, running intensive campaigns on the Panchen Lama and Ngawang Choephel. Building on the previous years success, ICT-E continued to screen the film Tibet Stolen Child and distribute thousands of Pan-European Panchen Lama Kits, calling for the immediate release of Gedhun Choeki Nyima. The campaign to free the Panchen Lama continues to be a priority in the coming year. In 2001, ICT-E launched a special appeal in the Netherlands calling for medical parole for Ngawang Choephel.

Environmental campaigns
During 2001, ICT-Europe joined an international coalition to raise the Tibetan people’s concerns for economic development projects in their country, highlighting the importance of the Tibetan Government in Exile’s development guidelines for Tibet. This strategy includes pressuring British Petroleum to divest from PetroChina, the company constructing a gas pipeline across northern Tibet that could have a negative impact on the Tibetan people and environment. In 2001, Beijing announced the construction of railway from Golmud to Lhasa. The rail-line’s projected economic benefits for Tibetans will not outweigh the immense harmful impact on the political, social and cultural life of Tibetan people in the years to come. The campaign to highlight the railway project continues to be a priority for ICT-E.

Chinese Theme Park
In 2001, a now two year old network of local action groups and environmental NGOs, including Tibetan and Uighur communities, organized campaigns against the development of a Chinese Theme park modelled after the ‘Splendid China’ project in Florida. The park, dubbed ‘Sweet Lake China,’ was a joint venture between the municipality of Zoetermeer, Netherlands, and the Chinese Government, aiming to positively depict the state of affairs in Tibet. As part of the campaign, Tsering Jampa, ICT-Europe’s director, participated in a televised debate on the proposed project. In April 2001, after exposure to the protests, the city planning commission advised against the development of the theme park, leading to its eventual cancellation.

European 10 March Freedom March, 2001
ICT-Europe and Save Tibet Austria jointly organized the fifth European ‘10 March Freedom March for Tibet’ in Vienna, Austria. Over five thousand Tibet supporters from across Europe participated in the peace-rally, graced by two of ICT’s distinguished International Advisors, Mr. Harry Wu and Ms. Mairead Maguire.

2008 Olympic Games
ICT Europe joined a range of international Tibet support groups campaigning against Beijing’s candidacy for the 2008 Olympic games. In December, Tsering Jampa, ICT-E’s Director joined a team of International Tibet Support Network Steering Committee members and met with members of the International Olympic Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. In light of Beijing’s ultimately successful bid, ICT-E will work to ensure that they uphold declarations to improve human rights standards and respect indigenous peoples.

Membership

During 2001, ICT Europe enjoyed greater economical success than ever. By the end of the year, we made considerable progress towards realizing growth above 15,000 active members. Our members have been extremely active in joining our Urgent Campaigns. In addition, we initiated a successful Telemarketing program to reinstate lapsed members as well as new donors.

Publications

In 2001, ICT Europe published three issues of the Dutch language newsletter, Tibet Journaal. The Journaal continued the high standard of news and campaign information that our members came to know from its launch one year ago. Circulation increased from 7,000 in 2000 to over 20,000 in 2001, reflecting our increasing membership and further interest in our work. While gaining more support and expanding campaign capacity, ICT Europe continued to increase our range of media contacts, targeting environmental and financial correspondents, in addition to political and foreign press.

Website

In 2001 ICT undertook a major overhaul of its website, www.savetibet.org, bringing it up to and beyond current Internet standards. Launched in November, the redesigned site enables the advancement of our campaign goals and provides more resources and information to the public. In the coming year, more multi-language pages and functions will be available for the European community.

Coalition Building

In June, the Steering Committee of the International Tibet Support Network traveled to Dharamsala, India, meeting with officials of the Tibetan Government in Exile. ITSN works to improve the campaign effectiveness of the global Tibet Movement. ICT Europe’s Director, Tsering Jampa, an elected member of the Network’s Steering Committee, is responsible for overseeing UN related campaigns. ICT-Europe continued to strengthen its relationship with other major human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, International Federation of Human Rights and Reporters Without Boarders. In coalition with these groups, ICT-E worked to achieve maximum impact in the European Union, by participating actively in the monthly ‘Human Rights Contact Group Meetings’ in Brussels. ICT-E also organized a lecture tour with International Relations Departments of major universities throughout the Netherlands covering a wide range of topics on Tibet.

ICT Germany

In November 2001, the ICT board opted to explore the possibilities of expanding ICTEurope to Germany. ICT-E conducted initial research on the technical feasibility of a German office and, working with Dr. Jan Andersson, of the ICT-E board, laid the groundwork for establishing ‘ICT Germany,’ in Berlin. Our aim is to launch ICT Germany, by fall 2002.

Financial Report

In 2001, while ICT US continued funding a part of our Membership program, ICT-Europe was able to contribute a significant part of our own expenditure. ICT-US continued to support ICT-E with € 214.720, half of the prior years’ € 432,453. Over the course of the year we raised € 500,430 and spent € 456.195. With other income and interest there was a surplus of € 57,210. The majority of our revenue continues to come from our membership program, which has exhibited steady income growth through the introduction of our Telemarketing program. 63% of was spent on programs, 6% on administrative expenses and 31% on fundraising, slightly above the 25% allowable by law as a foundation in the Netherlands. Click here to view ICT's 2001 Financial Statements.

2001 Income and Expenses