Solidarity with Ukraine

By Wangpo Tethong, Executive Director, International Campaign for Tibet-Europe

6000 kilometers away from the actual scene, one person is currently sitting in front of the TV, watching the events in Europe with thoughts spinning in his head.

Will the U.S. led coalition have the strength to stand firm against Putin’s invasion and the violation of international law? The man in Beijing will watch closely and wait for the first European country to pull out of the alliance, which has demonstrated astonishing unity in recent weeks.

Xi Jinping hopes to get some answers to his questions. Has now the moment come to satisfy his lust for Taiwan? Can he tighten the screw in Hong Kong one more time? How long will it be before he can act unhindered in East Turkestan again? Will the illegal occupation of Tibet soon be forgotten? He will already be rubbing his hands and wanting to present the world with a fait accompli with the eradication of Tibetan identity – which is nothing more than another word for cultural genocide. When will his nightmarish vision of a Chinese empire will become real?

The liberal and democratic values have led to incredible prosperity in Europe over the last seven decades. But also to a weakening of the will to fight for freedom. For the first time since World War II, the European countries, conditioned in short term and selfish statesmanship, are faced with the fundamental question of what they are willing to sacrifice for a secure future. For now, we are talking about higher energy prices. But this may change soon.

In the face of the revolt of the autocrats in Moscow and Beijing, we democrats need to unite.

Together with all freedom-loving people all over the world, I am in my thoughts with the soldiers and their families, with the women, men and children in Ukraine.

Wangpo Tethong* was born in Switzerland. He is the owner and managing director of Tethong Kommunikation. A former party secretary of the Green Party Canton of Zurich, Wangpo was spokesperson of Greenpeace Switzerland and also worked as a senior consultant for a Swiss consultancy company. He is also known as a Swiss–Tibetan activist, writer and member of the 15th Tibetan Parliament in Exile. Wangpo Tethong joined the International Campaign for Tibet-Europe in 2021.

Further information:

International Campaign for Tibet-Europe: www.savetibet.nl

International Campaign for Tibet, Washington: www.savetibet.org

International Campaign for Tibet, Berlin: www.savetibet.de

International Campaign for Tibet, Brussels: www.savetibet.eu