Source: Toronto Sun, July 31, 1995

By Peter Worthington

It's understandable why China would object to Tibetan human rights group attending a UN conference on women's issues, since its continuing rape of that sorry land predates even the UN's Commission of Refugees.

What's less understandable is why the UN would sanction a world conference on women's issues in Beijing this September. It's like staging a meeting of Islamic fundamentalist's in Belgrade, or a B'nai B'rith convention in Baghdad or a Miss Bikini festival in Saudi Arabia. In other words, it's asking for trouble and making a charade of what's intended as a noble cause.

Instead of demanding that the host country meet certain standards, the UN opted to become a collaborator in restricting free and legitimate expression. It has banned 11 groups from attending the Beijing conference and has supported the objections of China and Iran, neither of which pays much heed to women.

Rather than deny five Tibetan groups the right to attend the women's conference, the UN would gain more respect if it convened a special confenrence dedicated to some 47 years of Chinese cultural genocide and repression in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama, the world's gentlest, most unassailable symbol of peace and tranquility is a living rebuke to the civilized world which has abandoned Tibet for the sake of expediency.

Canada is one of those countries that says banning Tibetan human rights groups was done for political reasons. Of course, Canada could lead by example and refuse to participate or propose a counter confenrence where all can be heard.

Forwarded by WOESER JONGDONG