In an open letter to Coca-Cola signed on behalf of a network of more than 150 groups, and published in full below, activists cite a statement made by Jampa Phuntsog, governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, to justify their position.
In his statement, Phuntsog confirmed that he expected Tibetans to protest, and warned: ‘We will without doubt deal with these persons severely. We will not be merciful.'
The letter also points to ‘a direct, tangible link between the ongoing repression in Tibet and the coming of the Olympic Flame'. It goes on to highlight a leaked IOC memo, which it says makes it clear that the IOC is fully aware that deaths may occur along the route of the Torch Relay, in which case officials are advised to respond simply by expressing ‘deepest sympathies or condolences'.
Matt Whitticase, spokesman for the Free Tibet Campaign in London, commented: ‘Either the IOC and Olympics sponsors want to avert bloodshed or they don't. It is in their power to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. If they insist the Olympic Torch goes through Tibet, they will only have themselves to blame when it ends up drenched in Tibetan blood and their offices become the focus of a summer of protest.'
Here is the letter in full:
Dear Mr Isdell,
Thank you for your letter of April 2. I am replying on behalf of the 153 Member organizations of the International Tibet Support Movement.
Whilst your statement of concern with regard to the situation in Tibet is welcome, we feel that such concern must now be backed up with strong and immediate action on the part of Coca-Cola in order to avoid being publicly complicit in the humanitarian disaster that is likely to unfold in Tibet when the torch passes through in May (Everest) and June. To our dismay, the International Olympic Committee has so far failed to act to prevent China taking the torch through Tibet, so it is now urgent that you use your influence as a key Olympic Sponsor to avert disaster.
Please understand that there is a direct, tangible link between the ongoing repression in Tibet and the coming of the Olympic Flame, as Chinese authorities clear a path for the Torch Relay, employing the harshest of means. China's parading of the torch through Tibet is extremely likely to provoke protests by Tibetans whose feelings have been inflamed by recent violent crackdowns by the Chinese authorities on Tibetan protesters. The torch relay is routed through the towns of Xining and Lanzhou, both of which are close to the very areas which have seen protests and crackdowns recently such as at Rebkong and where Tibetans are most likely to protest again. Tibetans also deeply resent the way in which China is mis-using the torch for nationalistic self-promotion.
Jampa Phuntsog, the governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), has admitted that China expects protests from Tibetans. In a press conference on 9 April he said: "I don't doubt they will create trouble during the torch relay in Tibet". Ominously, the governor went on to say "We will without doubt deal with these persons severely...we will not be merciful."
The Chinese authorities have shown they will use violent and lethal force to put down such protests. The international media widely reported Chinese paramilitary forces firing into crowds of peacefully protesting Tibetans and killing more than 10 Tibetans in Kardze town on 3 April.
Overall, the authorities have now confirmed that at least 4,000 Tibetans have been detained. Tibet supporters understand that well over 100 have died.
On 19 April, Nepalese officials reported that soldiers and police have been authorized to shoot to stop any protests that might occur on the Nepali side of Mt. Everest when the torch ascent occurs. If Nepalese soldiers are licensed to use deadly force on people protesting China's Olympic Torch, Chinese soldiers will presumably have received orders at least as extreme. Meanwhile, a leaked memo from the International Olympic Committee makes it clear that the IOC knows that deaths may occur because of protests along the torch route within China (including Tibet), but advises officials to respond simply by expressing "deepest sympathies or condolences".
This failure by the IOC to act to prevent deaths, but merely to express condolences, is unacceptable.
Your letter of April 2 states that Coca-Cola is "the longest-standing sponsor of the Olympic Movement". The undersigned groups are in no doubt, therefore, that Coca-Cola has huge influence upon the IOC and can use such influence to persuade the IOC to have Tibet removed from the Torch Relay.
We call upon Coca-Cola to use its influence to force the IOC to rescind its permission for the Olympic Torch to pass through Tibet. Failure to do so, provoking inevitable Tibetan protests and a violent crackdown by the Chinese authorities, will establish direct linkage between the Olympic Torch and further bloodshed in Tibet. In such circumstances the IOC and the Olympic Torch Relay sponsors would have Tibetan blood on their hands. Such a scenario would do untold harm to Coca-Cola's brand and reputation and would lead to global protests outside Coca-Cola's offices by exiled Tibetans and Tibet supporters.
We believe, therefore, that for both ethical and commercial reasons, Coca-Cola must bring its undoubted influence to bear upon the IOC to remove Tibet from the Torch Relay and, in so doing, prevent a further humanitarian disaster in Tibet.
We further hope you will agree to an urgent meeting with you, in order to convey to you personally the concerns of our member organizations and make a direct appeal that you act.
We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Alison Reynolds
Executive Director
on behalf of members of the International Tibet Support Network
