by Araceli Esparza
Editorial Director
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), an international organization already established at college campuses such as Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and UCLA, is in the process of becoming an official club at the University of La Verne.
Adding to the current 300 active chapters around the world, SFT’s ULV chapter will be open to those who are interested in the issues of the Asian nation of Tibet.
“When I was little, I would hear my dad talking about Tibet,” said freshman Anna Maria Roy, co-founder of the organization. “Over time I became more interested [in the situation in Tibet]. I realized that people are doing something to help.”
Roy and freshman Kristine Werthwein, also a co-founder of SFT, have therefore aspired to “educate young people to the realities of Tibet and translate awareness into action” by establishing a local SFT chapter. They hope to make the ULV community aware of the injustices and struggles of the Tibetan people.
The nation of Tibet is located at the center of Asia. Until the late 1940s, Tibet was recognized as an independent country left undisturbed by the remainder of the world. When communist Chinese forces entered the nation in 1949, conflict arose among the groups; and since then, the communists have refused to vacate the territory.
For the most part, Tibetans have attempted to resolve the conflicts through peaceful and non-violent means. These tactics, however, have resulted in the deaths of numerous Tibetans. Those who have chosen to revolt against the communists in any manner have often been abused or punished.
Many individuals — inclusive of children — have been subject to human rights abuses such as forced abortions, sterilization, branding, rape and torture. They have been imprisoned for practicing their religion, displaying a Tibetan flag or protesting the communists’ actions.
Roy said the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s leader, has not been able to return to the communist-infested nation. In fact, China has not agreed to meet with him until recently; the Dalai Lama believes that, once his nation is freed, Tibet will again be the area of peace it was in the past.
The goal of SFT is to “foster dialogue and understanding within our global community,” said Roy.
“We want to focus on education. It’s important to know what’s going on in the world and become informed so that effective action can be taken,” she said. “We are all going to learn together about Tibetan culture and China’s occupation of Tibet.
“Youth has power to evolve change, and we can do that here.”
Roy said, though she was interested in beginning an SFT chapter at her high school, she preferred not to do so because the student population was not as mature as a college student body.
Among the goals of the University chapter are hopes to attend the SFT national conference and the Tibetan Freedom Concert next year.
In addition, founders of the organization hope to organize a rendition of the international concert at a more local site such as ULV. The purpose of a more personal version of the international concert is to raise awareness and funds of and for Tibet.
SFT also intends on sponsoring lectures and discussions on the up-to-date matters of Tibet; Roy hopes to spend a day watching films about Tibetan life, and perhaps plans on making a trip to the nation.
She wants to utilize different mediums to communicate information about Tibet with others. Such ideas include working closely with members of both the LMU and UCLA chapters.
The situation in Tibet can change within our own issues of human rights, women’s rights and cultural, political and religious freedom everywhere. Roy stated that, if the cause of Tibet is lost, the hope for nonviolence and issues of oppression may be lost as well.
“The struggles for Tibet are symbolic for every human rights struggle. Please be involved … we need to work together,” she said.
The prospective SFT chapter at the University will hold its next meeting in the Brandt Hall Lounge on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
