Dear members,

*Please join us in helping alert our elected officials to the growing
crisis in Ngaba* where police opened fire on a crowd of Tibetans on
Saturday. At least two people were shot and a woman has reportedly died
from her injuries. Please use your voice to help deter more attacks against
Tibetans in Ngaba and across Tibet.

*SFT staff and interns are joining Tibetans and supporters in placing calls
to elected representatives today *to urge our government to pressure the
Chinese government to end its attacks. We will also be calling the US
Embassy in Beijing to request its immediate help. We need China to know the
world is watching its action in Ngaba.

We've prepared a short 10-step guide on how you can participate in the
call-in, including talking points, updated info sheets, and all the
information you'll need to phone your representatives.

Thank you for taking the time to call your political representatives to
alert them to the growing crisis in Tibet. Every call helps to build global
pressure to stop China's violent attacks and supports the Tibetan people's
cries for freedom.

Thank you,

TenDolkar
*
TAKE ACTION: Call-in for Tibet*

*10 Simple Steps:*

*1) Find your representative's contact
information*:<http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?list=type&type=43>
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?action=myreps_form.
You will have 1 Member of Congress and 2 Senators. It is a good idea to
call all 3 offices.

*2) Find out if your government has made a statement(s) on the crisis in
Ngaba*:
http://www.savetibet.org/resource-center/maps-data-fact-sheets/government-statements-tibet-immolations-and-crisis-kirti-monastery

*3) Call your elected representatives' office to update them on Saturday's
events in Ngaba.*

*4) Ask the person who answers if you can speak with the staff member
responsible for foreign affairs.* If this person is unavailable, ask to
speak with a legislative/parliamentary aid.

*5) Introduce yourself and why you are calling* (ie. My name is Tenzin and
I am a Tibetan-American. I'm calling you today because I am very concerned
about what is happening in Tibet). NOTE: If you're passed through to an
answering machine, make sure to request a call-back and leave your full
name and phone number.

*6) Relay an update on the urgent situation in Ngaba (suggested talking
points below):*

   - Tibetan sources reported that on Saturday, January 14th, a Tibetan in
   Ngaba County in eastern Tibet (Chinese call Ngaba "Aba") lit himself on
   fire. In response Chinese officials violently beat him.
   - Tibetans nearby became greatly alarmed and a peaceful protest broke
   out.
   - Chinese police reportedly beat back the crowd with chains and iron
   rods.
   - A number of sources reported that the police then opened fire on the
   crowd, hitting at least two people.
   - A Tibetan woman has reportedly died and many more have been seriously
   injured in the attack.
   - Tensions in the area remain high. This is the 16th incident of
   self-immolation since March 2011 in Tibet, 11 have been in Ngaba. In each
   incident, the individual has called for freedom for Tibet and the return of
   the Dalai Lama.
   - Protests have also taken place other other Tibetans towns in the past
   two day (Golok and Sertha) as Tibetan across Tibet demand freedom and for
   the Dalai Lama to return and until China acknowledges Tibetan grievances,
   the situation will remain desperate.
   - People's lives are at stake and the world must intervene, please urge
   our government to take action now to save Tibetan lives.

NOTE: Please also add: I'm encouraged by the U.S. State Department's recent
expression of concern about the situation in Tibet but further action is
needed by the US government.

*7) Ask your representative to take action by writing letters:*

   1. to the Foreign Ministry/State Department pressing them to make a
   public statement calling on China to cease the crackdown
   2. to Chinese ambassador in your country, making a direct appeal for
   restraint in Ngaba and to respect the Tibetan peoples' right to peaceful
   protest.
   3. issue a public statement of concern from their office and/or join the
   Tibetan community in their district on March 10th for Tibetan Uprising Day
   4. sign the Stand Up for Tibet pledge:
   http://standupfortibet.org/enough/dk-speakup-petition-1/

*8) Thank the staff person for his/her time and make sure to get his/her
full name and contact information* (email and fax number) so you can send
follow-up materials and be prepared to follow-up by phone if necessary.

*9) Follow-up by faxing and/or emailing an information sheet* on the
growing crisis in eastern Tibet to your representatives office.

   - Updated report on January 14 self-immolation (prepared by ICT):
   http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6575280/PackageforMP/Escalation%20in%20Ngaba%20following%20self-immolation%3A%20Two%20Tibetans%20shot%20%28UPDATED%20Jan.%2016%20%26%20Jan.%2017%29.pdf
   - Urgent appeal by Kirti Rinpoche of Kirti Monastery:
   http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6575280/PackageforMP/Kirti%20Rinpoche%20letter%20to%20EU%20Representative.pdf
   - Self-immolation fact sheet (prepared by ICT):
   http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6575280/PackageforMP/Self-Immolation%20Fact%20Sheet.docx
   - US government statements:
   http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6575280/PackageforMP/US%20Government%20Statements.docx

*10) Make a couple of notes on your call and any other areas of feedback
needed*. Email grassroots@stud... to update us about the
details of your calls.
*
Further Call-in Actions you can take:*
*1) Call our Embassy in China to express your concern about the situation
in Ngaba *and to request the Embassy staff:
a) contact the Chinese authorities urgently to ascertain the current
situation in Ngaba, including details of casualties and detainees, and to
obtain assurances that medical treatment has been provided to all who need
it;
b) urge them to request permission to visit Ngaba;
c) press the Chinese government to respect the right of Tibetans to
peaceful protest.

For the US Embassy in Beijing call: (86-10) 8531-3000
When you call ask to be with someone in the 'political section'. Leave a
message with the operator if he/she does not transfer you to a person or
voicemail.

*2) Call the State Department/Foreign Ministry*

*3) Call the Chinese government offices in Ngaba to alert them to the fact
that the world is watching the situation in Ngaba with great concern*. You
can also copy your correspondence with your congressional representatives
to the Chinese embassy nearest you.

Where to find contact information for officials in Ngaba and Beijing:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=1235

How to find the Chinese Embassy in your country:
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/

*Helpful Reminders:*
Members of Congress (MOC) do listen to their constituents and will vote
and/or take action because of their constituents (ie. YOU!) input. Many
simply are inactive on Tibet because they detected no interest from their
constituents.

The most important part of communicating with your MOC or his/her office is
preparation. If you practice what you're going to say a couple of times
before making your call, you will likely be more confident and relaxed
during the call.

Be brief and specific. Avoid going into long historical explanations of the
Tibet struggle and stress the urgency of the situation in Tibet now, and
make sure to clearly ask what it is you want your MOC to do.

You are likely to speak with a staff member in your MOC's office.
Politeness is key to successful communication with staff. When staff
members receive multiple calls about the same issue, they will pay
attention to the kinds of people who are making the calls.  If we're
polite, we will help form positive opinions about Tibet. You may be
speaking with these staff members in the future and you want to start
building a positive relationship with them now.

Thank your MOC's staff member for his/her time and express thanks for the
US Congress' longstanding support of and advocacy for Tibet.

*Helpful Links & Resources:
*
Updated press statement from ICT about Ngaba:
http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/escalation-ngaba-following-self-immolation-two-tibetans-shot

Self-immolation fact sheet:
http://www.savetibet.org/resource-center/maps-data-fact-sheets/self-immolation-fact-sheet

Stand Up For Tibet:
http://standupfortibet.org/

BBC piece with video footage showing Chinese troops in Ngaba and
checkpoints around Kirti (April):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13171572

Rare Footage of Tibetan Nun's Self-immolation Smuggled Out of Tibet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeXfQLZ9Id4&list=UUnZR63m3ArJhRbPjbkRy8jQ&index=5&feature=plpp_video

Map of Self-Immolation Locations in Tibet:
http://standupfortibet.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Tibet-Map_Immolations.png

Background information on events in Ngaba:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2314

Timeline of China's crackdown in Ngaba (March 16-May 8)
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2324
Highlights: Phuntsok Jarustang self-immolated on March 16th

--
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Tenzin Dolkar
USA Grassroots Director
Students for a Free Tibet International Headquarters
tdolkar@stud...
T: + 212.358.0071
M: + 917.664.5530
www.studentsforafreetibet.org
www.facebook.com/studentsforafreetibet
www.twitter.com/SFTHQ
blog.studentsforafreetibet.org
www.youtube.com/SFTtv
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