“Leaving Fear Behind”

On the 14^th November 2009, TEU in cooperation with the Other Space Foundation organized a meeting with Gialjong Tsetrin, former political prisoner in Tibet and a cousin of imprisoned Tibetan film-maker Dhondup Wangchen.

Gialjong Tsetrin, who comes from a poor farming family in the Eastern Tibet, has been fighting for human rights and freedom for Tibet since his early youth.

He was sentenced to imprisonment between 1992-1998 for involvement in distributing leaflets and posters revealing facts about human rights violation in China. During that time he spent two years held in custody in Gutsa and Trisma Detention Centres. After being released in 1998, he faced charges of separatism and was later detained for 43 days. Gialjong Tsetrin escaped from Tibet in 2002. He was granted political asylum and currently lives in Switzerland.

Tsetrin remained human-right activist and often speaks out in support of the Tibetan struggle and freedom abuses in China. He is the founder of ‘Filming For Tibet' which produced his cousin's film, a 25-minute documentary capturing the sentiment within Tibet about China's rule, the relevance and symbolism of the Olympic Games, and the return of the Dalai Lama.

"Armed with w $300 video camera, and with virtually no experience, the filmmakers set out on motorcycle, traveling to the remote corners of eastern Tibet and across the Tibetan plateau. From the beginning, their goal was to bring Tibetan voices to the Beijing Games. More than 100 interviews were taped from October 2007 to March 2008. Heartfelt feeling were recorded from Tibetans of all backgrounds: farmers, businessmen, students, nomads and monks, young and old. The authenticity of their responses speaks simply and eloquently of lives characterized by oppression and discrimination."

 " The footage was smuggled out of Tibet under extraordinary circumstances. The filmmakers were detained soon after sending their tapes out, and remain in detention today."

                                                                                                                                                                        www.leavingfearbehind.com

The film was shown during the meeting, followed by a discussion with students.