China Bars Tibetan Activist from Receiving US Women's Day Award

China is stopping Tibetan rights activist Tsering Woeser from collecting an award from the US State Department. Woeser and nine others were supposed to collect their International Women's Day awards today. But without a passport and policeman guarding her door, she is left to communicate through Skype. [Tsering Woeser, Tibetan Writer and Activist]: "But it's not just a passport issue. They think that this prize is related to the situation at the moment in Tibet, they are even more nervous about this prize, so they're monitoring me even more strictly than when I won prizes in the past." The US State Department nominated her for her literary works that spoke out for Tibetans. First lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry were supposed present it late on Friday. [Tsering Woeser, Tibetan Writer and Activist]: "It is a great honor. But of course I myself know that this prize is not just showing attention to me, but it's more a sign of attention to the current situation in Tibet and the many things that are happening on the Tibetan plateau." But this attention was too much for the Chinese regime. Tibet is a sore subject with the nation's leaders, and at a press conference today, Foreign Ministry criticized the US for recognizing Woeser's activism. The Chinese regime says it has liberated Tibet from being a backwards and impoverished region. Tibetans say the Chinese Communist Party has oppressed their people and attacked their culture, language and religion. Chinese leaders tightly control what goes on in Tibet, and prevents foreign observers or journalists from going there, even as more than 100 Tibetans have self-immolated to protest Chinese suppression. For more news and videos visit ☛ http://ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛   / ntdtelevision   Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C