In a demonstration of support for Chinese-occupied Tibet, activists unfurled a banner condemning Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator” on the roof of San Francisco’s Moscone Center just before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The group responsible, Students for a Free Tibet, asserted that three of its members orchestrated the event.
The banner, boldly stating “Dictator Xi Jinping, Your Time is Up! Free Tibet”, was displayed briefly over the entrance to Moscone North around noon on (10 Nov) Friday. Witnesses, including a Moscone Center employee, reported the activists shouting “Free Tibet” for about a minute before voluntarily retracting the banner.
The action was taken to draw attention to the Chinese government’s repression of Tibetans and to demand an end to China’s occupation of Tibet.
Xi Jinping as “Dictator”
Law enforcement confirmed that no activists were detained, with an officer stating, “It was there for two minutes, as soon as we saw it, they rolled it up.” Tenzin Namgyal, a 17-year-old Tibetan-American activist involved in the protest, expressed the group’s desire for President Biden to address concerns about the Tibetan issue, citing attacks on language, religion, and culture under President Xi’s rule.
The APEC summit is set to commence on 12th Nov and features leaders such as Xi and President Biden. Activists, addressing issues like climate change, trade policy, and the Israel-Hamas conflict, plan multiple protests during the summit, anticipated to draw a significant crowd to San Francisco.
Free Tibet Advocates
Students for a Free Tibet advocate for the independence of Tibet from China, emphasizing Tibet’s historical status as an independent country. China, however, maintains that Tibet is an integral part of its territory.
Tibetans have been resisting Chinese occupation for centuries. In 1959, the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, fled Tibet after the Chinese army invaded the country. Since then, Tibetans have been fighting for their independence. However, the Chinese government has brutally suppressed Tibetan dissent.
In recent years, the Chinese government has cracked down on Tibetan culture and religion. The government has also imposed restrictions on travel and communication in Tibet. The Tibetan activists’ action is a reminder that the Chinese government’s repression of Tibetans is a global issue that deserves the attention of the international community.