Dhondup Wangchen
Dhondup Wangchen, a former Tibetan political prisoner and well known activist, is on a speaking tour of 15 countries to raise awareness about China’s ongoing human rights violations in Tibet and to urge the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Dhondup publicised life under Chinese rule in the runup to the 2008 Beijing Olympics with his documentary Leaving Fear Behind, a compilation from 40 hours of raw footage of interviews and film of 108 Tibetans from different parts of Tibet. The film was released worldwide by the Zurich-based company Filming for Tibet, with Dhondup Wangchen’s cousin, Gyaljong Tsetrin. This precipitated Dhondup’s arrest by the Chinese authorities and subsequent six year prison sentence where he was subjected to torture, forced labour, systematic discrimination and denied health services or family visits. On his release he escaped to the United States and was reunited with his family in December 2017.
Now in the lead up to 2022 Beijing Olympic, Dhondup is once again campaigning. He started his speaking tour in Paris, France, where he screened Leaving Fear Behind, shared his experiences while making the film, and the suffering sustained during his time in prison. While in Paris he participated in a protest rally against the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games organised by Tibetan organisations in France.
Dhondup Wangchen in Paris
Photo: tibet.net
Visiting European Union countries from November 17 to 23, he met journalists, politicians and individuals, narrating his personal experience of the suffering of Chinese prisoners and of the suffering of Tibetan people living under Chinese rule inside Tibet in the aftermath of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He said he hopes that his narrative and emotional experience will bring Tibet to the forefront of the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games debate. He met the National Olympic Committee (IOC) and handed over a letter stating his demand that 2022 Beijing Olympics not to be held in China.
“I am touring European countries to shine the spotlight on China’s continued human rights abuses, particularly in Tibet. In the runup to the 2008 Beijing Games, China promised that its human rights record would improve. Back then, I believed in the International Olympic Committee and trusted them to live up to their promises,” said Dhondup Wangchen.
Saying that for making the 25 minute Leaving Fear Behind, China tortured him and gave him a six year prison sentence; “China does not deserve the honour of hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics and the IOC should withdraw all athletes,” he said, adding, “As the 2022 Games approach, I want to share with you my personal Olympic oath. I promise to strive for the fundamental rights of all people. I do this for the honour of my own people and all oppressed persons, in respect for the fundamental principles of Olympic Tradition, and to strive to make the world a better place”.
He concluded by saying, “In 2008, China broke every promise it made to uphold Olympic ideals. As a result, blood was shed. Let history not repeat itself. At great risk, I escaped from Tibet in 2017. China tried to silence me then, but they cannot now”.
Over the next three months, Dhondup Wangchen will be visiting other countries, screening his film, sharing his experience as China’s prisoner and urging the National Olympic Committee, government officials and the international media to support his campaign.
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