Tibetan writer, a rare outspoken voice against Beijing's policies, sues Chinese government

The poet Woeser has long been a rarity — a Tibetan living in China who doesn't flinch from publicly criticizing the Chinese government. Now the activist is taking another unusual step. After being repeatedly denied a passport for three years, the Beijing resident has sued the government demanding to be given the document she needs to travel outside the country, hoping the fight will draw more attention to China's tight grip on Tibet and its people. Woeser's willingness to openly confront authorities makes her stand out. Most Tibetans are reluctant to do that, even more so than environmental and human rights activists. If they complain at all, they often do so in hushed tones and under the cloak of anonymity. Their reticence speaks volumes about the harshness of Beijing's repression in their Himalayan homeland — which... [read full story]