Wen was now convinced that the Chinese intelligence was reading her email. Back in Dharamsala, India, she had helped to start an organization called Raise Tibetan Flags Campaign. “We’re trying to promote awareness and dialogue about what’s going on in Tibet by raising Tibetan flags worldwide. I’d been in contact with people in Dharamsala about the campaign. It’s just become a part of the dialogue. After I received this email from Google, I seriously considered going back for the first time. I seriously feared for my safety.

It was such a foreign feeling because I grew up in Minnesota, where I could say whatever I want, read whatever I want, and write whatever I want without thinking anything of it. And all of a sudden this freedom was taken away and I was always looking over my shoulder. If it’s something you grew up with, you don’t think, ‘Oh, I’m so lucky because I can write whatever I want today’, or, ‘I’m so lucky because I can log onto whatever website I want today’. This isn’t just about Tibet. This is about a sixth of the world that don’t even know what they’re missing because state propaganda is just that good.”

At 11:40 that same night the police raided Wen’s hotel. “They pounded and yelled at every single door until they got to mine. They looked around the room and warned me, ‘If you do anything suspicious, there’ll be consequences’. After they left, I was shaking.”

Wen decided to return to Chengdu, and the next morning she bought a bus ticket bound to leave the next day. “I was chain-smoking by this point. The combination of the email, the hotel raid, and the tense atmosphere was emotionally draining. I honestly don’t know how people live in that kind of fear.”

What Wen didn’t know at the time was that her Tibetan colleagues in India had just received a very strange email from her that she had never sent. She was also the only one who had the password to her account.

—————————————————–
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2008, 1:29 AM

Subject: We got some foreigners in the mainland of PRC that was interested in the plan of RTFC.

the list contains details of 6 foreigners and 2 chinese.
—————————————————–

Wen decided to walk up to the local monastery to calm her mind. “It’s quite a steep climb and I went all the way to the rooftop. From there you get a panoramic view of Kardze. These regions are really beautiful. You can see the valley, the distant grasslands, and the snow-capped mountains in the background that surround the town. So I took pictures, but I couldn’t help myself–I took a few zoomed-in shots of the military base. I didn’t know that I was playing with fire.”

A plain-clothed Chinese man was holding up his cell phone unusually high in her direction. Wen didn’t think anything of it, but as she was walking down, the police officer who had come to her room and threatened her the night before, stopped her and told her to follow him to the police station. “I thought, this is it. I can’t believe I took those pictures.”

One of Wen’s less sensitive photos from the roof of Kardze Monastery

At the station, two plain-clothed police filmed her with hand-held camcorders, getting close in to her face. “It was very intimidating. I kept asking them ‘What’s wrong. What’s going on?’ All they would say was ‘Wait and see.’ I kept thinking, wait and see for what?” After a while, they drove Wen to her hotel where they confiscated her phone and her passports, including her American passport. I found myself saying, ‘I’m an American citizen. I have a right to call the US Embassy.’ I knew they weren’t going to let me call, but I said it anyway.”

Ten plain clothed Public Security Bureau officers were now in Wen’s hotel room. “The first thing they did was look through the photos on my camera. Of course, they found the shots of the military camp. They started whispering to each other. I said, ‘I’m sorry. I take pictures of everything. Look at the photos of the mountains and the valleys and the houses.’ But I knew I was in a lot of trouble.”

read the full story here:

Rebecca Novick: Arrested in Tibet: A Young American’s Journey of Fear.

Please be sure to check out our PROJECTS page, where you can read about the full-length documentary film we are producing about Non-Violence and the Tibetan Uprising.

Also we are still completely self funded.. so any DONATION helps out tremendously. What’s 20 bucks?

There is so much to share.. I really hope you will take some time to read some of our Blog. And send us a note too!

Tom Sepe

We’ve had another epic couple of days. We have been so blessed.

Here’s some news:

1) Yesterday we interviewed Mr. Urgen Tenzin, the Executive Director
of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights And Democracy http://www.tchrd.org/

2) Today we filmed students singing and playing music at TIPA -- the Tibetan Institute for Performing
Arts…

3) AND the big news is that we had an exclusive interview with Sondhum Rinpoche, the head of the Tibetan Governement in Exile! http://www.tibet.com/

The breaking news is that the Chinese Govt. as agreed to meet with the
Tibetan Parliament!

I’ve posted a bunch of photos on my flickr page:

On a more personal note -- I shaved my head in solidarity:

Tom Sepe

Things are going incredibly well. We are getting some great interviews! We just interviewed Dr. John Powers -- checkout his book “History as Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People’s Republic of China”

We also interviewed Mary Gendler, who has been doing non-violent training here in India with the Tibetans for over 15 years! She was also close with the King family and involved with the March on Selma.

A few nights ago we did an audio-only interview with 6 ex-political prisoners -- Tibetan Monks that had all been tortured and imprisoned by the Chinese Government. They did not want their faces to be shown for fear that the Chinese Governement will persecute their families back in occupied Tibet.

In addition we have been befriended by a wonderful couple here -- Ronny and Rebecca Novick. Rebecca works for KPFK radio in Los Angeles, and Ronny does video documentary work. They have a fantastic website: http://thetibetconnection.org

Together with Ronny and Rebecca we are going to create a website “tibetin49seconds.org” where we will have a youtube video contest for people to submit their 49 second videos on the subject of Tibet. Stay tuned on that one…

I’m excited to start the editing process. We are starting to review some of our tapes while here…. its been such a whirlwind!

We are planning a couple of screenings here this week, one at KhanaNirvana Cafe, to share some of the footage from San Francisco -- I think the Tibetans will get a kick out of seeing the thousands of protesters in SF as well as hearing the inspirational words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. (see video below)

Anyhow that’s the update… We are still planning more interviews and some trips to some monasteries… stay tuned!

Tom
here’s is a video of Desmond Tutu speaking on April 8th in SF. By SazzyV (My footage is in the process of being transcoded!)

Hello Friends!

(For further updates, I’ve set up a mailing list. Please visit this page: sepeblog.com/free-tibet/ to sign up.)

Just a quick update to let you know that I have arrived safely and without hassle in McLeod Gange, the small town above Dharamsala, India this morning!

WOW.

Hard to believe that a couple weeks ago I was asking for assitance, and now the help of my community has sent me to the heart of the Tibetan exile community. Its thrilling and unbelieveable!

Andrea and I just had a fantastic brainstorming lunch and are developing and clarifying our vision for the project.

Before leaving I was able to get some great footage of the Olympic Torch Protests in SF, as well as the Tibetan Fredom Torch Candle light Vigil where Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Richard Gere as well as many other incredible people spoke… not to mention the GG bridge action and the March To Tibet event in SF at 1015 Folsom. I’ve also already done about 10 interviews before I even got here! Its amazing how this is all unfolding! Big shoutout to Heather Hill for assisting with filming and for Caylee Sitz for rockstar support.

I’ve posted a couple things on my youtube page:

Laurel Sutherlin Speaks @ 1015

Karsh Kale Interview with Wasfia Nazreen

So again I send my thanks! YOU are all making this possible and I encourage all of you to find out more about the Tibetan’s situation, to spread the word, and to take actions of solidarity so that this non-violent movement for freedom can suceed. For the sake of the Tibetan’s and for the sake of all people who care about peace and justice.

Namaste!

Tom

Dharamshala, India

Tashi Delek!
Greetings beloveds!

On April 5th, the students here, (some born here, some in exile) lead the entire community in an all night prayer and candle light vigil. They were joined by their teachers, family, and many of the monastic community. It was a beautiful and touching event. They filled the streets wrapping around the blocks several times. I was deeply moved by such a genuine call for non-violence, peace, and freedom. Many of them have family that are currently living in Chinese occupied Tibet. Many of their family are currently imprisoned, missing or dead.

After the march, they moved into the temple, filled its hall, and sang the Tibetan national anthem.

The words to the (illegal to be sung in Chinese occupied Tibet), anthem are these;

Tibetan National Anthem

Let the radiant light shine of Buddha’s wish-fulfilling gem teachings,
the treasure mine of all hopes for happiness and benefit
in both worldly life and liberation.
O Protectors who hold the jewel of the teachings and all beings,
nourishing them greatly,
may the sum of your virtuous deeds grow full.
Firmly enduring in a diamond-hard state, guard all directions with
Compassion and love.
Above our heads may divinely appointed rule abide
endowed with a hundred benefits and let the power increase
of four fold auspiciousness,
May a new golden age of happiness and bliss spread
throughout the three provinces of Tibet
and the glory expand of religious-secular rule.
By the spread of Buddha’s teachings in the ten directions,
may everyone throughout the world
enjoy the glories of happiness and peace.
In the battle against dark negative forces
may the auspicious sunshine of the teachings and beings of
Tibet and the brilliance of a myriad radiant prosperitys
be ever triumphant.

I am really excited about the events going on in San Francisco. Right now, many of you are heading out to rally in around freedom for Tibet, and Tibetans. Its all very exciting, tragic, and beautiful to see the world uniting for basic humanity. I hope this video gives inspiration to you, as you have given inspiration to the community here.

In peaceful solidarity,

Andrea Vecchione

Dear Friends,

I writing to you to ask for your assistance. I am going to Dharamsala to collaborate with Andrea Vecchione, on a video documentary of recent events involving the Tibetan struggle for independence. Our goal is to document current events as they unfold by connecting with first-person accounts. Andrea is already there laying the groundwork. I am hoping to leave as soon as possible. I am standing up in solidarity with the people of Tibet against the cultural genocide enacted by the Chinese Government.

I have received partial funding to travel to India, however I am in need of funds for equipment and expenses. Therefore I am calling out to my community, to raise about $2000 for a prosumer HDDV camera, extra batteries, etc as well as part of my plane ticket.

Any Donation will assist in this endeavor. Every bit counts and will add up in the end. What’s 20 bucks?

Please, if you are able to assist me, the cause of the Tibetan people, and the struggle for truth and peace worldwide, know that my work is in service to this. Contributions can be sent to me via PayPal: thomas@tomsepe.com or by check and snailmail:
Thomas Sepe
430 Ashland St
Ashland, Or 97520

Thank you for your time and attention

Namaste,

Tom Sepe