Tibet groups plan further protests at InterContinental hotels

Tibet campaigners are planning demonstrations outside InterContinental hotels next week to protest against a deal to build a hotel in the territory's capital Lhasa.

The protests by Free Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) and the International Tibet Network, are timed to coincide with IHG's release of its interim third quarter results on 5 November.

In August activists campaigning against human rights abuses in Tibet set up camp outside the InterContinental London Westminster hotel.

They blocked the entrance to the five-star, 256-bedroom hotel with a double bed in protest against plans by InterContinental Hotels to build a luxury hotel in occupied Lhasa, Tibet.

The groups now plan further protests to highlight what it said was an attempt by the Chinese government to whitewash human rights abuses in Tibet.

Padma Dolma, campaigns and Europe director for Students for a Free Tibet, said: "InterContinental's plans to open a massive ‘luxury resort' in Lhasa are not just offensive to Tibetans but a reputational nightmare for investors.

"China's flagrant humans rights abuses in Tibet were highlighted by several countries during the UN's review of China last week, yet InterContinental's executives want to continue with business as usual in Lhasa. Occupation is no vacation and as long as Tibetans live in fear of arrest, imprisonment and death for simply expressing their desire for freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama, Lhasa is no place for a UK-based company to open a luxury hotel."

Tibet activists blockade InterContinental London Westminster hotel >>