Woman of Courage

By Contact Staff / March 13, 2013;

Tsering Woeser
(photo: tibet.net)

On March 8^th, the United States Department of State presented its annual Woman of Courage Award to Tibetan writer, poet, and activist Tsering Woeser, who, under house arrest in Beijing, was not permitted to leave China to receive her award. She dedicated the award to the 100+ self-immolators in Tibet.

Secretary of State John Kerry presented the award to Woeser and nine other women, and spoke of his admiration and respect for Woeser’s bravery in the face of Chinese oppression and threats. In addition to her reporting and essays on Tibet since 2005, she has been documenting each self-immolator on her blog with pictures and information, as a resource for the rest of the world.

“You have guns, I have a pen”

Woeser has married a Chinese Tibetology scholar and continues to release forbidden information to the neticizens of the world. Woeser has fearlessly stood against threats of violence and imprisonment from Chinese forces, once stating: “You have guns, I have a pen.”

Woeser refuses to back down for the sake of the self-immolators. “[They] are the reason why I will not give up, and why I will not compromise.” In her interview with Radio Free Asia, she specified that the award should go to them. Woeser also told Radio Free Asia that she was “honored” by the award and that she thinks “it is an expression of concern for Tibet.”

Woeser writes in Mandarin, and English translations of her work can be found on High Peaks Pure Earth’s website. She is the author of the book Notes on Tibet and the blogs Maroon Map and The Woeser Blog. She received the Prince Claus Award in 2011 but was refused a passport then as well.

Critical Reaction from China

Chinese spokespeople have vehemently chided the United States for awarding Woeser, who they claim is a separatist and is “twisting facts about Tibet,” thereby “sabotaging Chinese national security.”

“For America to award a prize to such a person is no different from publicly supporting her words intended to separate China,” said spokeswoman Hua Chunying. This form of “interference” in Chinese internal affairs was discouraged by China as the US Department of State announced its decision.

For the next 20 days, Woeser will have a police guard inside her home, and will be escorted by police at all times.