From: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization

Press Release

August 29, 1995

Tibetan Organizations and UNPO Deliver Statement on UN Rejection

As the Non-governmental Forum begins in Beijing, UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) will release a statement in Europe, China and United States protesting their exclusion from the UN conference on Women and the NGO forum. The statement will be read aloud at the Chinese Embassy in The Hague, on August 31 by UNPO Deputy General Secretary Tsering Jampa, of Tibet, who is one of the many who have been denied visas by the Chinese Government. It will also be released by UNPO's America's Coordination Office in Washington, DC as well as at the opening of the NGO Forum in Beijing.

The statement is jointly issued with Tibetan Women's Associations and the Tibetan Community in Europe, and strongly criticises the Chinese Government for using its own criteria for refusing admission, criteria wich are in direct violation to rules set down by the United Nations. Tibetan and other UNPO women have been refused visas and given no explanation by Chinese officials. It goes on to condemn the Chinese Government for its attempts to silence any criticism of its policies and pratices and points to the fact that China is violating the right of women to be able to fully partecipate - the theme on wich the conference is based upon. The United Nations Secretary General and his offices, the statement notes, has failed to safeguard the rights of all women to be represented at this conference. This failure has effectively silenced the concerns and aspirations of women from Chechenia, Ogoniland and, from the Batwa in Rwanda and from Kosova and many other women who are UNPO members.

The statement will end with a call for all governments and NGO's partecipating in the conference to protest at the exclusion of so many individuals and organizations whenever the opportunity arises. UNPO will also demand that this matter be reviewed by the highest UN authority.

Members of the press are invited to witness the reading of the statement by Ms Jampa in The Hague. Contact UNPO in The Hague for details. Ms Jampa will be available for comment as will Ms Julie Berriault, UNPO Executive Director of the UNPO Americas Office who is based in Washington.

For more information please contact Kathy Voyles, Media and Information Centre at UNPO, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Tel. +31 70 3603318 fax +31 70 3603346

E-mail: unponl@antenna.nl

In Washington contact Julie Berriault

Tel. +1 202 637 0475 fax +1 202 637 0475