- Background
- Tibet Support Groups (TSGs)
- TSGs Conferences
- World Parliamentarians’ Conventions on Tibet (WPCT)
- Current Activities and Campaigns of TSGs
- Important Links
- TSG Desk at the DIIR
- CTA’s Appeal to TSGs
During the last over five decades in exile, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the Tibetan people under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have been carrying out a non-violent movement to regain their lost freedom and dignity. Since the Tibetan freedom struggle is based on truth, justice and non-violence, Tibetan people’s work and dedication catalysed many people in the international community, from all walks of life, to take an active interest in Tibet. As a result, over the past two decades the Tibet support movement or the Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) have been formed amongst the international community. These support groups, formed voluntarily and working in close cooperation with the Tibetan people but independent of CTA, have helped in creating increased awareness about the situation in Tibet and generating an impressive level of world-wide support for Tibet.
Today the support for Tibet has reached a critical stage. The ever-expanding Tibet movement has brought more countries under its influence. In the first Tibet Support Group Meeting in Dharamsala in 1990, there were delegates from 25 countries. There were delegates from 56 countries at the Second Tibet Support Group Meeting held in Bonn, Germany in 1996. Since then the number of Tibet supporters internationally has increased manifold. And there is a welcome injection of young blood with the founding of the movement of Students for a Free Tibet in the United States in 1994. This has been witnessed during the Third Tibet Support Group Meeting in Berlin, Germany in May 2000 with nearly 300 Tibet supporters from all over the world participating in the conference. There were delegates from 47 countries including 12 Chinese during the fourth International Tibet Support Group Conference held in Prague, Czech Republic in October 2003. And the fifth International Tibet Support Group Conference brought the maximum number of delegates of 306 from 52 different countries including 13 Chinese. The growing number of support clearly shows the widespread support of the Tibet movement worldwide.
The Tibet Support Group movement has become so strategically effective that no government can ignore it much longer. A measure of its effectiveness can be gauged by the reaction of the Beijing government to every Tibet Support Group meeting. Beijing made a concerted effort but without success to prevent the five important and historic meetings of Tibet Support Groups since 1990.
In the official Chinese propaganda, Tibet supporters are routinely referred to and labelled as “hostile western forces” and the Tibet movement as whole is labelled as “splittist movement” backed by “Western imperialist forces.” However, the reality is that the supporters of Tibet are far from hostile to Beijing. The members of Tibet Support Groups belong to a wide diversity of countries, cultural background and ideological denominations. As a matter of fact, Tibet today also enjoys support from a substantial number of Chinese who contribute meaningfully in supporting the cause of Tibet. The ideology that unites supporters of Tibet is a common belief that freedom, justice and human dignity are the birthright of every human being. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “it is natural for human beings to feel a sense of compassion and solidarity if they see their fellow human beings suffer.” The members of Tibet Support Group are the people who have taken upon themselves the universal responsibility of ensuring that the world becomes a better place to live in.
The interaction of the Tibetan people with the international Tibet supporters over the years has reinforced their Buddhist belief in the spirit of non-violence and forgiveness, even towards China. It has rejuvenated the sense of optimism for the future of Tibet and the world at large. Just as truth and justice must triumph at the end, Tibetan people believe that Tibet will regain its lost freedom sooner rather than later. When such a time comes, Tibetans will remember the consistent and committed contribution of Tibet supporters to the cause of Tibet. Tibetans, too will, under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, dedicate their lives and actions to the cause of peace, justice and freedom for all in this world.
Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) are non-governmental organizations formed voluntarily by individuals to support the Tibetan people’s freedom movement through various non-violent action means. TSGs raise awareness of the Tibet issue in regional, national & international levels and engage in concrete actions to mobilise support for the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Tibetan people. Towards this end, TSGs work independent of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamshala, India, but in due recognition and awareness of its policies and initiatives for the resolution of the Tibet issue through a peaceful negotiation.
Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamsala
- Tibetan Youth Congress
- Tibetan Women’s Association
- Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet (former Tibetan Political Prisoners’ Association)
- Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy
- National Democratic Party of Tibet
Tibet Support Groups (TSGs)
1. International Campaign for Tibet, USA
2. Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina (ACT NC), USA
3. Students for a Free Tibet, USA
4. Arizona Friends of Tibet, USA
5. Bay Area Friends of Tibet, USA
6. Boston Tibet Network, USA
7. Tibet Committee of Fairbanks, USA
8. Boycott ‘Made in China’ Campaign, USA
9. Colorado Friends of Tibet, USA
10. Committee of 100 for Tibet, USA
11. International Tibet Independence Movement, USA
12. Los Angeles Friends of Tibet, USA
14. San Diego Friends of Tibet, USA
15. Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet, USA
16. Sierra Friends of Tibet, USA
20. West Virginia Friends of Tibet, USA
21. Western Colorado Friends of Tibet, USA
22. World Tibet Day and Interfaith Call for Tibet, USA
23. Monadnock Friends of Tibet, USA
24. Dharma Bums, USA
25. Seattle Friends of Tibet, USA
26. Canada Tibet Committee National Office, Canada
27. Canada Tibet Committee- Ottawa, Canada
28. Canada Tibet Committee, Toronto, Canada
29. Canada Tibet Committee-Calgary, Canada
30. Canada Tibet Committee-Victoria, Canada
31. Canada Tibet Committee-Montreal, Canada
32. Canada Tibet Committee-Vancouver, Canada
33. Canada Students for a Free Tibet, Canada
34. Amigos De La Cultura Tibetana, Argentina
35. Fundacion Pro Tibet, Argentina
36. Comite Brasileiro DE Apoio Ao Tibet, Brazil
37. Centro De Cultura Tibetana, Brazil
38. Pro Tibetana Culture Group, Chile
39. Amigos De Tibet, Chile
40. Grupo De Apoyo A Tibet, Chile
41. Corporacion Cultural Tibetana, Chile
42. Tibet Independiente, Chile
43. Associacion Cultural Tibetano-Costarricense, Costa Rica
44. Salvadorian Friends of Tibet, El Salvador
45. Amigos del Tibet, Guatemala
47. Pensando En Tibet, Mexico City
48. Pensando En Tibet, Mexico North
49. Pensando En Tibet, Morelia
50. Tibet Support Group, Guadalajara
51. Tibet Support Group, Paraguay
52. Asociacion Cultural Peruano Tibetana. Peru
53. Tibet Patria Libre, Uruguay
55. Aide à l’Enfance Tibétaine, France
56. Alliance Tibet Chine, France
57. Amitiés Franco-Tibétaine, France
58. Amitiés Françaises Chushi Gangdruk (AFAT), France
59. Assistance médicale Toit du Monde, France
60. Association Tharjay, France
61. Coord. action Parrainage Prisonnonniers, France
63. Don et Action pour le Tibet, France
64. Etudiants pour un Tibet Libre, France
65. France Himalaya Tiers Monde, France
67. Kun Phen Ling, Terre du Cœur, France
68. La Communauté Tibétaine en France
69. Montagne du Bonheur, France
70. Pour Toi Du Monde, France
71. Réseau Int’l des femmes pour le Tibet, France
72. Rokpa France
73. Tibet Libre, France
74. Tibet Village Projet, France
76. Aide au Tibet, France
77. Aides aux Réfugiés tibétains (A.R.T.), France
78. Aide aux réfugiés tibétains d’Asie (ARTA), France
79. Aide et espoir pour le monde Tibetain, France
80. Alternative Tibétaine, France
81. Assistance Medicale France Tibet, France
82. Ass. Paloise pr l’Art & la Culture du Tibet, France
83. Autodétermination Tibet, France
84. Auvergne Mainpat Tibet, France
85. Briançon05_urgence Tibet, France
86. Chagpori France
87. Collectif Bretagne-Tibet, France
88. Collectif Tibet-Dunkerque, France
89. Corse Tibet, France
91. CSPT Hérault – c/o Christiane Anderegg, France
93. Culture tibétaine, France
94. Destination Rangzen, France
95. Dolma – Enfants du Tibet, France
96. Drôme Ardèche-Tibet, France
97. Eco-Tibet France
98. Espoir pour le Tibet (Tashi Dé Kyi Ling), France
99. Fondation Alexandra David-Neel, France
100. France Tibet Siège Social, France
101. France Tibet – Nord/Pas-de-Calais
102. Grandir au Tibet, France
103. Jamtse Thundrel association, France
104. Kalou Rimpotché d’Aide à l’Enfance, France
105. Khosateng, France
107. Liberté au Tibet (ex France-Tibet Alsace), France
109. Lions des neiges Mont Blanc, France
110. Maison des Himalayas, France
111. Mouvement d’Action pour le Tibet, France
112. Matchik Labodreun, France
113. Niaymdu dro (ex Rhône Tibet), France
114. Nos Amis de l’Himalaya, France
117. Passeport Tibétain, France
118. Provence Himalaya, France
120. Rencontres Tibétaines, France
121. Solhimal Strasbourg, France
122. Solhimal Bourges, France
123. Solidarité – Aube – Tibet, France
124. Solidarité Tibet, Maison des Associations, France
125. SOS Tibet Nienpo, France
126. Soutien à l’éducation tibétaine, France
127. Tashi Delek Bordeaux, France
128. Tendrel Action Tibet, France
129. Tibet 59/62, France
130. Tibet Chevaux du Vent, France
132. Tibet, les enfants de l’espoir, France
134. Tibet Résistances, France
135. Tibetoile, France
136. Tibet Vallée de la Drôme, France
137. Tibet Vent de Liberté, France
138. Tibet zone de paix, France
139. Trokpo association, France
140. Tsowa, France
142. Yeti, France
143. Assoc. Songtsen Gampo-Causa Tibetena, Portugal
144. Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete – Portugal
145. Songtsen Tibet Support Group, Portugal
146. Casa del Tibet, Spain: casadeltibetbcn.org
147. Comite de Apoyo al Tibet, Spain
148. Friends of Tibet – Spain
149. Phagma Drolma, Spain
150. International Campaign for Tibet Europe, The Netherlands
151. International Campaign for Tibet Europe, Brussels, Belgium
152. Les Amis de Tsechokling, Belgium
153. Les Amis du Tibet asbl, Belgium
155. Tibetan Development Fund, Belgium
156. United Nations for a Free Tibet, Belgium
157. Vrienden van Tibet, Belgium
158. Les Amis du Tibet, Luxembourg
159. TSG Free Tibet & You, Holland
161. Students for a Free Tibet, UK
163. International Tibet Network, UK
164. Through an Exile Lens, UK
165. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights; Tibet Desk, Poland
166. Tibetan Programme(The Other Space Foundation), Poland
167. Students for a Free Tibet, Poland
168. Polish Movement for Free Tibet, Poland
169. Lithuanian Tibet Culture Foundation, Lithuania
170. Zida Cels, Latvia
171. Union Latvija Tibetai, Latvia
172. The Tibet Support Committee: Denmark
173. Association for a Free Tibet(Foreningen Frit Tibet): Denmark
174. The Norwegian Tibet Committee/Den Norske Tibet Komite, Norway
175. Tibet Comittée of North Norway(TINN), Norway
176. Friends of Tibet, Finland
177. Swedish Tibet Committee, Sweden
178. Students for a Free Tibet-Sweden
179. EcoTibet Ireland
180. Tibet Support Group, Ireland
181. Tibet Support Group Biokustannus Oy, Finland
182. Scotland Tibetan Association
183. Friends of Tibet, Iceland
184. Save Tibet, Austria
185. Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship, Croatia
186. TSG Split Croatia
187. Lungta TSG, Czech Republic
188. Potala Fund, Czech Republic
189. TSG Prague (Charitable Society of Tolerance), Czech Republic
190. Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V. Germany
191. International Campaign for Tibet, Germany
192. Tibet & Buddhism, Germany
193. Tibet Initiative Munchen e.V Germany
194. Tibet Initiative Kempten e.V Germany
195. Tibetishes Zentrum Hamburg, Germany
196. International Society for Human Rights(Munich Chapter Association), Germany
198. Tibet Support Assoc. Sambhala Tibet Center Hungary
199. CISL-Campagna di Solidarieta’com il Popole Tibetano
200. Associazione Italia-Tibet, Italy
201. Association of Towns, Provinces, Regions for Tibet, Italy
202. Piedmont Regional Council, Italy
204. Amici del Tibet(Friends of Tibet) Italy
205. Tibet Culture Centre, Italy
206. Tibet-Unterstutzung Liechtenstein (TUL), Liechtenstein
207. TSG Romania
208. Predseda zdruzenia SPT(Tibet Friend Association), Slovakia
209. Dobrodelno društvo Tibet, Slovenia
210. Tibet Support Group, Slovenia
211. TibetFreunde, Switzerland
212. Tibet House Switzerland Foundaton
213. La Porte du Tibet, Switzerland
214. Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association, Switzerland
215. Associazione Ticino-Tibet, Switzerland
216. Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetan Suisse, Switzerland
217. Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, Switzerland
218. Kulturzentrum Songtsen House
219. Australian Tibet Council, Australia
220. Australian Tibetan Society, Australia
221. Tibetan Friendship Group, Australia
222. Tibet Support Group, South Australia
223. Freedom 4 Tibet, Australia
224. Tibetan Action Group of Western Australia
225. Friends of Tibet (NZ), New Zealand
226. Wollongong Dharma Collective, Australia
227. Roof of the World Foundation, Australia
228. Tibetan Women’s Association and Friends Australia(TWAFA), Australia
229. We love Free Tibet (WLFT), Japan
230. Students for a Free Tibet, Japan
231. Amnesty International, Japan (Tibet Chapter), Japan
232. Tibet Mondai Wo Kangaeru Kai, Japan
233. Japan Committee of 100 for Tibet, Japan
234. tibetcolo, Japan
235. Tibet Support Group Korea
236. Tibet House Korea
237. TSG Mongolia
238. Friend of Tibet, Philippines
239. Friends of Tibet, Taipei
240. Han Chinese & Tibetan Friendship, Taiwan
241. Tibet Society of South Africa (TSSA), Durban, South Africa
242. Tibet Support Group – (TSG-KENYA), Nirobi, Kenya
243. TSG Kalmykia, Russia
244. TSG Tuva, Russian
245. TSG St. Petersburg, Russian
246. Society Friends of Tibet, Russia
247. TSG Moscow, Russia
248. TSG Coordinator in Minsk, Belarus, Russia
249. Save Tibet Foundation, Russia
250. Save Tibet, Russia
252. Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet, India
253. Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India
2554. Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India
255. Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom Movement/Council for Free Tibet, India
256. National Campaign for Tibetan Support, India
257. Anter Rashtrya Bharat Tibbat Sehyog Samiti, India
258. Indian Solidarity Committee on Democracy, Freedom & Human Right, India
259. Indo Tibetan Friendship Association, India
260. Indian Women’s Forum for Free Tibet, India
261. People’s Democratic Movement, India
262. Himalaya Parivar, India
263. Youth Liberation Front for Tibet, India
264. Raise Tibetan Flag Campaign, India
265. Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People, Israel
266. Tibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh
267. Friends of Tibet, Sri Lanka
Tibetan Associations
1. Tibetan Association of Northern California, US
2. Tibetan Association of Southern California, US
3. Tibetan Association of Colorado, US
4. Tibet Association of Connecticut, US
5. Capital Area Tibetan Association, US
6. Tibetan Association of Chicago, US
7. Tibet Association of Idaho, US
8. Boston Tibetan Association, US
9. Tibetan Association of Ohio & Michigan, US
10. Montana Tibetan Cultural Association, US
11. Tibetan Association of Albuquerque, US
12. Tibetan Association of Santa Fe, US
13. Tibetan Association of Ithaca, US
14. Tibetan Community of New York & New Jersey, US
15. Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association-Portland, US
16. Tibetan Association of Austin, US
17. Utah Tibetan Association, US
18. Tibetan Association of Charlottesville, US
19. Tibetan Association of Vermont, US
20. Tibetan Association of Washington, US
21. Tibetan Association of Philadelphia, US
22. Wisconsin Tibetan Association, US
23. Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, US
24. Tibetan Association of North Carolina, US
25. Indiana Tibetan Association, US
26. Tibetan Community of Alberta, Canada
27. Tibetan Cultural Society of British Columbia, Canada
28. Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, Canada
29. Tibetan Cultural Association of Quebec, Canada
30. Tibetan Community in Switzerland & Liechtenstein, Switzerland
31. Tibetan Community in Germany
32. Tibetan Community in Italy
33. Tibetan Community in Austria
34. Tibetan Community in Britain
35. Tibetan Community, Denmark
36. Tibetan Community in Norway
37. Tibetan Community of Sweden
38. Tibetan Community in Poland
39. Tibetan Community in Ireland
40. Tibetan Community in Iceland
41. ACT Tibetan Community INC, Australia
42. Tibetan Community of Victoria, Australia
43. NSW Tibetan Community Inc, Australia
44. Tasmanian Tibetan Community, Australia
45. Queensland Tibetan Community, Australia
46. WA Tibetan Community, Australia
47. South Australia Tibetan Community, Australia
48. New Zealand Tibetan Community, New Zealand
49. Tibetan Community in France
50. Tibetan Community in Belgium
51. Tibetan Community in Netherlands
52. Tibetan Community Barcelona, Spain
53. Tibetan Association of Belarus, Russia
54. Tibetan Association of Kalmykia, Russia
55. Tibetan Community of Buryatia, Russia
56. Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association, Taiwan
57. Tibetan Community Japan(TCJ), Japan
The main functions of the TSG Desk at the Department of Information and International Relations of Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamshala, North India, are to:
- Inform TSGs about the policies and initiatives of the CTA;
- Inform TSGs about Tibet and the Tibetan communities in exile;
- Interact with members of TSGs, and coordinate their programme during their visit to Dharamshala;
- Act as an observer to the ITSN Steering Committee;
- Facilitate international conferences of TSGs;
- Keep records of campaigns and activities of TSGs, and present annual reports on the state of the worldwide Tibet movement.
Contact Address:
Liaison Officer for TSGs
TSG Desk
DIIR, Central Tibetan Administration
Dharamsala – 176215
H.P., India
Tel: +91-1892-222457, 222510
Fax: +91-1892-224957
E-mail: tsgdesk[at]tibet.net
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