< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #37 >
Newsletter on the campaigns of the Radical Party for the freedom of Tibet and the democracy on China.
"I truly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Since periods of great change such as the present one come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world".
His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, 1992
Issue #37, September 27th, 1996
Editors office: Massimo Lensi, Dorottya u. 3.III.em6 - 1051 Budapest (H)Tel. +36-1-266.34.86 - 266.09.35 Fax. +36-1-11.87.937
E-mail: M.Lensi@agora.stm.it WWW-URL http://www.agora.stm.it/pr - Telnet: Agora.stm.it
Distribution; Alberto Novi, rue Belliard 89, Rem 508, 1047 Brussels (B)Tel: +32-2-2304121 - Fax: +32-2-2303670
Published in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian, Croatian and Rumanian
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GREAT SUCCESS IN THE PARTICIPATION FOR THE FASTING DIALOGUE
FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PANCHEN LAMA AND WEI JINGSHENG:
MORE THAN 800 FASTERS.
In light of the literal explosion of the number of persons who have decided to participate in the fasting dialogue of Sept. 29th - Oct. 2nd, we have decided, contrary to what was written in fax no.36, to publish a special issue of "Tibet-China Fax." A non-violent initiative, of dialogue with our Ministers of Foreign Affairs so that they will work towards the assurance of the immediate release of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng.
The great success in the mobilization and ideas still has numerous days to increase force and participants. Let us not exclude that, if the preparations continue at the current pace, we will exceed one thousand fasters.
On the "second page" we publish the text of the second press release to be distributed to the media information organizations. Do not forget to keep us current on the news, TV, and radio reports, articles and interviews that will be published, so that you may inform us, before the next issue is published, of the actions you will organize in your cities.
Leaving the word to the numbers, the members of the Tibet support group, the Transnational Radical Party, ecological, cultural, anti-militarist, religious, and non-violent organizations who have decided to participate in the fasting, we cannot do other than repeat our wishes for the great, Ghandian "Oct. 2nd" for the non-violent political for the liberty of Tibet and democracy for China and invite you to "unleash" the fantasy and let as many as possible know of the reasons and objectives of our fast.
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OCTOBER 2ND:
NON VIOLENCE, DIALOGUE, LIBERTY FOR TIBET
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FASTING DIALOGUE FOR THE RELEASE OF PANCHEN LAMA AND WEI JINGSHENG
In these four days 492 people have decided to register for the fasting. The total number has now reached 849 persons from 28 nations. Among those who have joined the initiative: Michael BACHMANN, President of the "Committee of 100 for Tibet", Ernesto CACCAVALE, European deputy of Forza Italia, Italian parliamentarians F. Paolo LUCCHESE (CCD-CDU), Rino PISCITELLO (La Rete-Ulivo) e Vera SQUARCIALUPI (L'Ulivo), Guy LIEBERMAN dof Dewachen Tibetan Cultural Center (South Africa Africa), Dieter BECKER of Tibet Support Group of Liechtenstein, Olivier MORES of "Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg", Tseten ZOECHBAUER, President of "Save Tibet-Vienna", Jean-Paul RIBES, President of CSPT of Paris, Istvan BACSKULIN, mayor of Kanijza (Vojvodina).
* LIST OF THE PARTICIPANTS BY COUNTRY *
Albania ................. 5
Austria.................. 1
Azerbajan................ 7
Belgium ................. 124
Byelorus................. 3
Bulgaria ................ 154
Cambodia ................ 1
Canada .................. 38
Croatia ................. 20
Czech Republic .......... 8
France .................. 57
Germany ................. 2
Kossov................... 1
Hungary ................. 52
Italy ................... 248
Liechtenstein............. 2
Luxembourg............... 1
Poland .................. 40
Rumania ................. 5
Russia ................. 25
Slovenia ................ 1
South Africa............. 1
Spain ................... 4
Switzerland ............. 3
Ukraine ................. 9
United Kingdom .......... 1
United States ........... 34
Vojvodina................ 2
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Total 849
For obvious reasons of space we cannot publish the entire list of fasters. the list is nonetheless available from the Transnational Radical Party in the on the telematic system Agora' (Telnet: agora.system.it). It can also be obtained from the party office in Brussels.
* Remember that the fasting begins at noon on September 29th, ending at that same hour on October 2nd.
* The objectives of the dialogue with the foreign ministers are:
- the liberty of Wei Jingsheng! First, so that the ambassadors in Peking of the 28 countries may meet with Wei Jingsheng in the prison of Tansghan, where he is kept, in order to also observe his health condition.
- for the liberty of the Panchen Lama! So that, as a first concrete act, the ambassadors of the People's Republic of China will receive from the Ministers of the 28 countries a request to the government in Peking for the return of Gedhun Choekyi Nyma to his monastery of Tashi Lumpo in Tibet.
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WEI NOBEL FOR THE 1997 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE:
409 CANDIDATURE PROPOSALS
In this last 4 days and another 31 signatures of parliamentarians and university professors have been obtained: Per FISCHER, University of Mayence (Germany), the instructors of philosophy at the "State Nutrition University" of Kiev (Ukraine) Anatoliy KILUNOV, Mykola KOVTUN and Valeriy BALTIN, Italian Parliamentarians, Rosa RUSSO JERVOLINO, President of Commission of Constitutional Affairs (Partito Popolare), Francesco STAGNO D'ALCONTRES (Partito Popolare), Sergio TRAVAGLIA (Forza Italia), Nicola BONO (Alleanza Nazionale), Antonio RIZZO (Alleanza Nazionale), Hans WIDMANN (Gruppo Misto), Antonio MARZANO (Forza Italia), Cornelio VELTRI (Sinistra Democratica L'Ulivo), Sergio SOAVE (Sinistra Democratica), Ettore BUCCIERO (Alleanza Nazionale), Carlo FONGARO (Lega Nord), F. Paolo LUCCHESE (CCD-CDU), Rino PISCITELLO (La Rete-Ulivo), Cimmino TANCREDI (CDU), the euro-deputies Dietrich ELCHLEPP (PSE) and Pervenche BERES (PSE) and the deputies Lavrie FERGUSON (Australia, Labourite), Fons BORGIGNON (Belgian VU), Richar
d FOURNAUX, town mayor of Dinant (Belgian PSC), Eli Avileo DIAZ ALVAREZ (El Salvador Partito Democratico), John ENGLISH (Canada, Liberal Party), Milda REMEIKYTE (Lithuania, National Party), Zita SLICYTE (Lithuania, independent), Jan Willem VAN WANINE (Holland, D66), Guikje ROETHOF (Holland, D66), Alan SHATTER (Ireland, Fine Gael), Jean ZIEGLER (Switzerland, Socialist Party). The total number of supporters has reached 409 (274 parliamentarians, 134 professors, and 1 member of government: Maritza (Bulgaria), 24 september.
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LIBERTY FOR THE PANCHEN LAMA
On the 26th of September the postcards sent to President Zimen of China for the release of the Panchen Lama reached 6,265 cards sent from 42 countries.
* TIBET/CHINA TELEX *
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EP AMENDMENT ON TIBET
On the 25th of September the Commission of Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament approved an important amendment on the projected balance of 197, deposited by deputies DUPUIS and DELL'ALBA (ARE) and sustained by the reporter McMILLAN-SCOT (PPE) in favor of Tibetan refugees despite the opposition of socialist deputies conducted by the honorable SAKELLARIOU, who is already a reporter on Tibet.
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OCT.2ND TELEX
* In Perugia (Italy) a press conference was held on Sept. 26th organized by the committee "UMBRIA FOR TIBET". Participants included Luisa TODINI (Euro-deputy of Forza Italia), Paolo RAFFAELLI (Italian deputy of PDS) and Sonam CIANCUB GHESHE of the Samantha Badra Institute of Rome.
* In Spalato (Croatia), on Sept. 26th, an assembly of the local TSG was held in preparation for the dialogue. Numerous journalists were present, as well as Tereza GANZA ARAS of the Croatian Sabor.
* In Turin (Italy) the councilmember Carmelo PALMA sent a letter to his colleagues asking that the observe the initiative.
* In Rome, Brussels, and Moscow manifestations are scheduled for Wednesday Oct. 2nd. In Budapest and Zagreb, press conferences with the fasters are scheduled for Monday September 30th. In other cities candlelight vigils will be held, and street tables with information, and cardboard (the fasters will use them to make themselves into "sandwiches") upon which the objectives of the fasting are written.
* Declaration of Michael Bachmann, president of the "Committee of 100 for Tibet" of his participation in the fasting.
" While Wei Jingsheng is the symbol of freedom, liberty, and peace for the people of China, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima represents the aspirations of the Tibetans for a free and prosperous Tibet. Their isolated detention is a clear violation of the universal Declaration of Human Rights and exhibits a absence of faith in the support of the people. We urgently ask that the people's Republic of China modify its politics and release both prisoners. An initiative such as this one would signify the beginning of a genuine dialogue and peaceful change towards greater harmony with China and in Tibet where liberty and happiness, prosperity and influence are not limited to few but enjoyed by all."
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PRESS RELEASE "OCTOBER 2ND"
* Slobodna Dalmacija (Croatia), September 25th. "Transnational Radical Party - Fasting for Tibet." Unabridged publishing of the press release of Sept. 24th.
*Maritza (Bulgaria), September 24th. "A Transnational Radical fasts for two days for the Panchen Lama." On the fasting of Kostantin Adzharov, leader of the Republican Christian party and member of the TRP.
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SECOND PAGE
Text of a press release we recommend be integrated with declarations and notices on the actions planned for the fasting dialogue and that we urge to be sent at the earliest to the media sources.
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SEPT. 29TH OCT. 2ND:
FASTING DIALOGUE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE PANCHEN LAMA AND WEI JINGSHENG.
OVER 800 PEOPLE FROM 28 COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE.
THE OTHER INITIATIVES.
(Brussels), Sept. 27th, 1996. At two days from the beginning of the fasting dialogue with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs there are more than 800 people from 28 countries who will participate in this non-violent initiative for the liberation of the Panchen Lama, second authority of Tibetan Buddhism, and Wei Jingsheng, the Chinese political dissident. More than 500 members of the Tibet Support Group and other political, cultural, and religious organizations ask the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 26 different nations to do all they can do within their power to work for the immediate release of the world's youngest political prisoner, Gedhun Choecky Nyima, who is recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama and the release of Wei Jingsheng of the Chinese dissident movement "Wall of Democracy."
The Transnational Radical Party has promoted a postcard campaign directed at Chinese President Zemin for the release of the Panchen Lama. To date, over 6,000 postcards have been sent from 42 countries.
The collection of supporters of the candidacy of Wei Jingsheng for the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize has reached over 400 names. Among these are Rosa RUSSO JERVOLINO, President of the Commission of Constitutional Affairs of the Italian Parliament, Jean ZIEGLER, writer and member of the Swiss National Council, Richard FOURNOUX, Belgian Deputy, Eli Avileo DIAZ ALVAREZ, Deputy of the Salvadoran Democratic Party, and Alan SHATTER, Irish Deputy of Fine Gael.
Manifestations before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and press conferences are scheduled in for the days of fasting in New York, Moscow, Rome, Paris, Brussels, Budapest, Zagreb, and other cities.
In the next report we will provide the complete list of participants in the fasting and the list of cities where these specific actions will be initiated.
