Welcome to SA Friends of Tibet. We are committed to raising awareness of the Tibetan situation in South Africa and to supporting the Dalai Lama in his calls for international pressure on the People's Republic of China to engage in meaningful dialogue with his representatives to resolve the situation in Tibet.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Ubuntu-Tibet Freedom Day Event!

Contact us below if you would like more information or if you have skills you would like to offer.

Statement from His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

"I believe that a form of cultural genocide has taken placein Tibet.Tibetans have been reduced to an insignificant minority in their own land,distinctive Tibetan cultural heritage is fading away.

It is common knowledge that Tibetan monasteries, have beenseverely reduced in both in number and population. In reality, there is noreligious freedom in Tibet. Nor is there any real autonomy in Tibet, eventhough these basic freedoms are guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.

I believe the demonstrations and protests taking place in Tibet are aspontaneous outburst of public resentment built up by years of repression indefiance of authorities that are oblivious to the sentiments of the localpopulace. They mistakenly believe that further repressive measures are the wayto achieve their declared aim of long-term unity and stability.

On our part, we remain committed to taking the Middle Way approachand pursuing a process of dialogue in order to find a mutually beneficialsolution to the Tibetan issue.

With these points in mind, I also seek the internationalcommunity's support for our efforts to resolve Tibet's problems throughdialogue, and I urge them to call upon the Chinese leadership to exercise theutmost restraint in dealing with the current disturbed situation and to treatthose who are being arrested properly and fairly."

Dalai Lama
Dharamsala
March 18, 2008

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a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not
just for his or her own self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind"