< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #44 >

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

Number 44 November 19th, 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

__________________________________

APPOINTMENT IN GENEVA IN 110 DAYS.

THE NEXT STOP IS THE WALK AROUND IN 21 DAYS

This past week, in Brussels, a reunion of many European TSG, of the Transnational Radical Party and Tibetan Community took place. The reunion, which was convoked by the 1996 European Coordination Committee in the presence of the Dalai Lama in Paris and Geneva, defined the major points of its work, both political and organizational, in light of the coming March 9th and 10th appointment in Geneva. Beginning with the resolution of the Second International TSG Conference in Bonn, a broad and important debate was developed with the intent of analyzing and choosing a political strategy of action for the liberty of Tibet in 1997, and not only in the prospective of the Manifestation of Geneva on March 9th and 10th.

The conclusions of this reunion will be distributed in the coming days across a special information outlet: "Geneva 1997."

For the moment we may only announce that the appointment for all of us is in 110 days in Geneva on March 9th and 10th, 1997, for a great "Two days' for the liberty of Tibet.

The next important deadline for the preparation of the nonviolent political event of the Satyagraha of 1998 for the liberty of Tibet is much closer, in only 21 days. As of today only 8 cities will host a walk Around for the liberty of the Panchen Lama and of Wei Jingsheng. It is the deadline of an event that is already upon us but that in the coming days must be extended to other cities. It is an appointment that must allow us to reinforce our dialogue with the Ministers of foreign affairs and those responsible in the European Union so that they will work towards the liberation of these two political prisoners in China and begin, in a concrete sense, a different politics with China.

On this specific argument it is important to note the resolution approved by the European Parliament on Thursday, Nov. 14th, on the "political" sentencing of Chinese dissident Wang Dan to 11 years in jail, a resolution we publish in full on the "Second Page."

Good Work.

________________

DECEMBER 9-10th:

WALK AROUND FOR THE LIBERTY OF THE PANCHEN LAMA AND WEI JINGSHENG

At 21 days from the beginning of the "24 Hour Walk Around" for the liberation of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng there are only 8 cities in which militants of the Tibet Support Groups, the TRP, and the organizations for democracy in China have organized a nonviolent initiative for increased dialogue with their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs. In the next issue of Tibet/China Fax we will begin to publish press releases that are to be distributed to the media of information. It is thus important to receive at the soonest possible time any news from cities where the decision to organize a walk Around is being made in order to add it to our list which will be distributed to the international media.

* The cities of the Walk Around are (as of Nov. 19th): Brussels (Belgium), Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille (France), Rome, Turin (Italy), Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria).

______________________________________

PARTICIPATION FORM FOR THE WALK AROUND

(image of the Panchen Lama) (image of Wei)

( ) I support the Dec. 9th and 10th Walk Around for the liberation of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, and for the freedom of Wei Jingsheng, the Chinese dissident.

( ) I intend to work on the preparation committee of the initiative in

............................. (country).

( ) I intend to participate in the Walk Around that will take place in

.............................. (country).

* The hour I prefer to walk is:

- from.......to....... on Dec. 9th

- from.......to....... on Dec. 10th

First and last name:.......................................

Complete Address:..........................................

...........................................................

...........................................................

Country:...................................................

Telephone:.................................................

Fax:.......................................................

E-Mail:....................................................

Profession:................................................

Organization:..............................................

Note:......................................................

...........................................................

...........................................................

...........................................................

* please send this completed form (please print information) to one of the following addresses:

- by mail: Transnational Radical Party, Rue Belliard 97-113, Rem 508, 1047 Brussels (Belgium)

- by fax: +32-2-230.36.70 - 284.91.98 / 97

- by E-Mail: pr.bruxelles@agora.stm.it

* you may also declare your participation and that of other people by telephone at +32-2-230.41.21

_____________________________________________

WEI JINGSHENG FOR THE 1997 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

THE NOBEL LAUREATE ADOLFO PEREZ ESQUIVEL SUPPORTS WEI'S CANDIDACY.

In recent days an additional 37 Parliamentarians, University Professors, and Nobel laureates have signed the proposal of candidacy, bringing the total to 621 nominations (413 Parliamentarians, 204 University Professors, two members of government and two Nobel laureates).

* Nobel Peace Laureate

Adolfo PEREZ ESQUIVEL (Argentina)

* Parliamentarians

Elio VELTRI (Italy, PDS), Bela GLATTFEDLER (Hungary, Fidesz-MPP), Eva SUSNAKOVA (Slovakia, DU), Roman KOVAC (Slovakia, DU), Aliz ALDA (Hungary, SZDSZ), Sandor PUHA (SZDSZ), Miklos HASZNOS (FKGP).

* University Professors (Law, Political Sciences, Philosophy and History)

Julio LOZANO LAZARO (University of Salamanca), Christine SMITH (Ball State University), Michael GOLDSTONE (University of California), Paul R. KATZ (University of Taiwan), Mark S. KISELICA (University of New Jersey), Nancy MACLEAN (Northwestern University), Melissa A. MACAULEY (Northwestern University), Harold J. PERKIN (Northwestern University), Paul PEDERSEN (University of Alabama), Mark C. Elliott (University of California), Glenda RILEY (Ball State University), Lawrence H. GERSTEIN (Ball State University), Roger HUTCHINSON (Ball State University), Michael J. WHITE (Ball State University), Sharon BOWMAN (Ball State University), Chalmer THOMPSON (University of Indiana), Tullio SCOVAZZI (University of Milan), Davide Tullio TREVES (University of Milan), Gian Paolo MASSETTO (University of Milan), Paola Di Blasio (University of Milan), Giorgio FLORIDIA (University of Milan), Alessandro GHISALBERTI (University of Milan), Massimo DE LEONARDIS (University of Milan), Paolo ARMAROLI (University of Genoa MP), Laura B

OVONE (University of Milan), Konstantin HRANOV (University of VARNA), Vasselin VELIKOV (University of Varna), Ilian ILIEV (University of Varna).

MARCH 9TH - 10TH/ A FLAG FOR TIBET. ANOTHER 14 SUPPORTERS AMONG THE MAYORS OF EUROPE.

In recent days another 14 mayors have announced their support of the "Flag for Tibet 1997" campaign, among them 7 reconfirmations and 7 new supporters. The total number has now risen to 82 cities that will see the Tibetan flag fly on their community flagstaff on March 9th and 10th 1997. From Australia, Stewart JOHNSON, President of the "Australia Tibet Council," has informed us that the campaign will be promoted in numerous Australian cities with the possibility of great success.

Situation by country as of November 19th

Confirm.96 Supp. 97 Tot

---------------------------------------------

Belgium 17 4 21

Spain 4 - 4

France 25 4 29

Hungary 4 - 4

Italy 17 - 19

Luxembourg 4 - 4

Netherlands 1 - 1

---------------------------------------------

Total 66 2 68

New adhesions:

Belgium (4): Mathieu GROSCH, Mayor of LA CALMINE (c); Jean LIEFOOGHE, Mayor of MESEN (s); Ovide MONIN, Mayor of YVOIR (s); Louis TIMMERMANS, Mayor of FLORENNES (c); France (4): Louis BOMBRUN, Mayor of ST-VILLIER-SUR-RHONE (s); Jean-Paul KELLER, Mayor of MONTMAUR-EN-DIOIS (s); Claude MARTEEL, Mayor of BRAY-DUNES (s); Leon PANIER, Mayor of GRAVELINES (s); Italy (4): Renzo BALDONI, Mayor of PENNABILLI (c); Emilio BONIFAZI, Mayor of FOLLONICA (c); Fabio FURIOLI, Mayor of MALCESINE (s); Antonio SALVATI, Mayor of SAN GIOVANNI INCARICO (c); Spain (1): Jordi COLOMER I BATET, Mayor of CAMPDEVANOL (c); Hungary (1): Zsolt PAVA, Mayor of PECS (c).

(c): confirmation

(s): new support

__________________________

ROME/LI PENG/MANIFESTATION

The Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng was the "guest" of the Global FAO Conference (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) that took place this week in the Italian capital. The Chinese premier was later received by President of the Italian Republic Luigi SCALFARO. The Transnational Radical Party together with exponents of the Tibetan Buddhist center in Rome, the "Samantabadhra" and Pomaia (Pisa) organized, on November 16th, manifestations for dialogue inviting President Scalfaro to remind the Chinese premier of the tens of thousands of political prisoners such as 1996 Sacharov Prize recipient Wei Jingsheng, Wang Dan and the XI Panchen Lama, Gedhun Cheokyi Nyima. Tibetan flags were raised in front of the palace where the FAO conference took place in order to renew the denouncement of the occupation of the "roof of the world."

Numerous militants of the TRP participated in the manifestations, along with Sun Li Ming of the federation for democracy in China and the Lama of the Buddhist center of Pomaia. The manifestations were recorded by numerous Italian news agencies.

____________________________________

TIBET/PROPOSAL INITIATIVE FROM INDIA

On November 28th Chinese President Zemin will travel to India for an official visit. Shankar SHARAN, of the Indian association "For Tibet," considers it timely to schedule encounters with the Indian ambassadors in a great number of capital cities of the world on November 27th. The intention is to ask of the Indian government the insertion in its agenda of meetings with the Chinese President for the respect for human rights and the banning of nuclear testing in Tibet. For more information on "For Tibet" e-mail: tpprc@fnf.tibetnet.ernet.in

_____________________________________________

WEI/INTERNATIONAL TIBET INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

Thanks to the commitment of Larry GERSTEIN of "Int'l Tibet Independence Movement" many professors of American and Taiwanese Universities have signed the appeal for the candidature of Wei Jingsheng as Nobel Peace Prize.

________________________________________

TIBET/CHINA/TRP DELEGATION TO SAN MARINO

A TRP delegation has recently met some MPs of The Republic of San Marino to discuss the situation . Ms. Antonella MULARONI (APD), Mr. DArio MANCAROLI (MDL), Ms. Francesca MICHELOTTI (PPD), Mr.Alberto CECCHETTI (PS) and Edda CECCOLI (DC) have expressed their interest for the TRP's international political campaigns and have promised to present a parliamentary resolution in San Marino, on Tibet.

________________________________________

WEI/ORDER OF THE DAY IN MACERATA (ITALY)

Mr. Federico VALORI, City Counselor of Macerata, has proposed an item in his City Council Agenda to support the candidature of Wei Jingsheng for Nobel Peace Prize.

_____________________________________

CHINA/ INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL TO ZHFU

The President of the federation for democracy in China. Michel To Zhfu, was interviewed on November 13th on Radical Radio ( Italian radio station emitting political information). Of the interview, which was done by Paolo Pietrosanti, we report the following excerpt:

" What I would like to say is that soon the government will have before itself a great opportunity. When Deng Xiao Ping dies in the coming months, whoever rises to power will be able to take advantage of a great historical opportunity. If Jiang Zemin should rise to power, a man who was never directly involved with the massacre of Tienanmen Square, he will have the possibility of taking two small but very important steps. The first of these I would like to suggest is that of revoking all condemnation of the dissidents of Tienanmen. This small step, and gesture, would allow the Chinese people to instantly understand that the government is moderated and prepared to think progressively. Any change in the political system could have great meaning. The second step would be seriously consider the possibility of making a small gesture towards Hong Kong, consenting the members of the actual Parliament to bring the current mandate to an end after 1997. Even this would be a clear signal to the people of Hong Kong and t

he people of Taiwan, who would see a progressive attitude that is moderate and open to change. If, however, the government does not do anything concerning these things, you can bet that it will exist as if it were seated at the mouth of a volcano, and the population will always be tense and any spark may incite popular revolt. I would ask of the Chinese authorities to seriously consider the opportunity to take steps that will bring about a change in the political system and that will prepare China for the next century."

(Conf.Rad. #11556)

* "Hunger Strike for Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng" on Human Rights Info. Agency "Express-Chronicle" (Russia, Oct. 16). Subj: fasting dialogue. (conf rad #11510).

* "Wei Jingsheng Awarded Sakharov Prize" on Human Rights Info. Agency "Express-Chronicle" (Russia, Oct. 31). (conf rad #11511).

* "Les tribulations du dissident Wang Xizhe" by FRancis DERON, Le Monde (France, Nov. 2). Subj: struggle for democracy in China lead by Chinese dissident WANG Xizhe. (conf tibet #1570).

* "What the Kroatian Ambassador in China shouldn't know about the Panchen Lama" on Globus (Kroatia, Nov. 4). Subj: vice-Minister on Foreign affairs Frane KERIC's answer to the TRP request of intervention for the release of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng. "Radicals' requests can menace good relationship between Kroatia and China". (conf rad #11494)

* "Everyone is our brother. Chinese are even more. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political guide of Tibetans" by Robert BAJRUSI and Sasa PAPARELLA, in Slobodna DAlmacija (Kroatia, Nov. 5). Subj: Interview with the Dalai Lama (foreign affairs and defense to China and education, religion and trade). (conf tibet #1573).

* "China. Dissidence" in Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland, Nov. 7). Subj: release for health problems of Chinese dissident CHEN Ziming after 13 years

* "Everyone is our brother. Chinese are even more. The Dalai Lama puts obstacles" in Slobodna Dalmacija (Kroatia, Nov. 7), Subj: Chinese Ambassador reply to the Dalai Lama's interview. (conf tibet #1578)

* "Beijing Frees Dissident with Cancer" (AP) in International Herald Tribune (Nov. 7). Subj: CHEN Ziming release. (conf tibet #157)

* "Sir Leon Brittan conduit un délélgation d'industriales intérésses à agir sur la marché chinois - ampleur de prerspectives" in Agence Europe (Nov.7 ). (conf tibet #1576).

* "MM. Colajanni et Colom I Naval on évoqué à Pekin la question du Tibet (où ils ont pu se rendre) in "Agence Europe" (Nov. 7). (conf tibet #1576).

* "Beijing. The Death Penalty for a friend of Deng's" in Il Corriere della sera (Italy, Nov. 10). Subj: Zhou Beifang sentenced to death penalty, execution suspended.

* "A view from Hong Kong: China must change" by Alan Friedman and Jonathan Change. in IHT (Nov. 11). Subj: leader of the movement for democracy in Hong Kong Martin Lee denounces the risk of "draconian and repressive laws when HK will become China in 1997. (conf rad #11573)

* "China announces trade penalty as reply to similar US move" in IHT. (conf rad #11538)

* "Revolution and Democracy" by Wei Jingsheng, published by il manifesto-libri (Nov. 1996). Subj: Italian translations of the two self-defense interventions for his trial in the Tribunal of the People in China.

* Demonstrations in Rome during Li Peng presence at FAO Conference.

- "FAO: Tibetan flags for Li Peng in Rome" ADNKronos, Nov. 14. (conf rad#11561)

- "FAO: Radicals demonstrate even w/out police authorization" ADNKronos, Nov. 15. (conf rad #11572)

- "Today Radicals demonstration for Tibet" in Il Messaggero, Nov. 16. (conf rad #11573)

- "Li Peng received by the President, Radicals for the Dalai Lama" in Il corriere della sera, Nov. 17. (conf rad #11582)

in parenthesis # of texts in conference radical party in Agorà BBS (telnet: agora.stm.it)

Under the initiative of Olivier DUPUIS, Nöel MAMERE and Gianfranco DELL'ALBA (European Radical Alliance) and other MEPs the European Parliament has adopted, with a large majority, a resolution that condemns the leader of the Tien an men student movement WANG Dan political trial.

Resolution on the detention of Mr Wang Dan and the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China

Strasbourg, November 14, 1996

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights violations in China,

- having regard to the December 1995 Council statement that the basic goals of EU-China relations are, inter alia, the promotion of democratic structures based on the rule of law and respect for human rights,

- having regard to the EU Presidency's statement of 5 November 1996 on the sentence imposed in China on Mr Wang Dan,

A. having regard to the recent court case involving Mr Wang Dan, the 27-year-old Chinese dissident and member of the pro-democracy movement, who, after spending three and a half years in detention following his arrest, was condemned to an eleven-year prison sentence,

B. whereas Mr Wang Dan was charged with 'attempting to overthrow the government' on account of the publication in the international press of articles written by him, and of contacts with various foreign universities,

C. whereas Wang Dan's trial was not conducted under the internationally recognized minimum conditions guaranteeing a fair trial and the international observers who went to Beijing to attend the trial were not allowed to do so,

D. whereas, as the Council stated, Mr Wang Dan has been sentenced for activities which, in a democratic society, would be regarded as the exercise of his inalienable right to express himself freely,

E. very concerned by the situation and health of other political prisoners such as Liu Xiaobo, a literary critic accused of criticizing the Chinese authorities, and Wei Jingsheng, who was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in October 1996,

F. whereas the reform of the judicial and legal system announced on several occasions by the Government of the People's Republic of China has still not been put into effect,

G. whereas a consolidation of economic reforms must go hand in hand with the development of democracy,

1. Deplores the sentence passed on Mr Wang Dan and calls for him to be released immediately and for all political and judicial harassment of him to be brought to an end,

2. Calls for all judicial and procedural guarantees to be applied at the appeal;

3. Calls on the European Union and the Member States to instruct their local representatives to monitor the progress of the appeal;

4. Condemns the attitude of the Chinese authorities, who severely curtail the exercise of basic human rights such as, in particular, freedom of expression and association, and voices its conviction that freedom of expression is one of the sources from which a genuine democracy draws its strength; stresses in this connection the importance of a free press;

5. Calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to give medical teams and international humanitarian organizations regular and confidential access to detainees in Chinese prisons and in the 'laogai';

6. Emphasises its desire to pursue an open, candid dialogue with the Government of the People's Republic of China with a view to ensuring that genuine progress is made with regard to respect for human rights;

7. Calls on Commissioner Brittan to do his utmost, during his visit to China, to ensure that Parliament's recommendations are acted upon;

8. Calls on the Council and Commission to determine the EU's strategy towards China, ensuring that there is a consistent balance between economic relations and the assessment of respect for human rights in that country, inter alia by including a human rights clause in trade agreements between the European Union and China;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Government of the People's Republic of China.