< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #47 >

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".

Tenzin GYATSO, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, 1992

Number 47 January 6, 1997

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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LESS THAN 60 DAYS BEFORE THE

MANIFESTATION IN GENEVA ON MARCH 10TH.

LESS THAN 20 DAYS REMAIN BEFORE THE CONSIGNMENT OF THE SIGNATURES FOR WEI'S CANDIDACY FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR 1997 - THE STATE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

The campaign collecting support for Wei Jingsheng's candidacy for the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize is about to conclude. As you know, all of the original signatures must be consigned to the Nobel Committee by January 30th, 1997. There remain only a few days to achieve our objective of 1,000 signatures. With this formal act, the second part of our campaign, that which will bring us to the end of October and the consignment of the Nobel Prize, will be launched. Many Italian communities have already declared motions supporting Wei. This is an action that can be repeated in other municipalities where the mayor has already agreed to raise the Tibetan flag this coming March 9-10.

It is not our habit to disguise or hide delusions or defeats, and we sincerely have the duty to reveal a state of affairs that we hope will be contradicted by facts in the coming days. The various campaigns, from that of the "Flag for Tibet" to the preparations for the manifestations on March 9th and 10th in Geneva, have not taken off as was anticipated. It seems that the great results we achieved in 1996 have softened mobilization and appeased all of us. It is our conviction that the campaign for liberty in Tibet and for democracy in China must not depend upon the victories and results we have so far obtained. We already experienced a similar tension among the various groups involved in the campaigns in January of last year. It may have been the novelty, or the discovery that with unity we could strengthen our rights as citizens who seek democracy and liberty everywhere in the world. Today, however, we sense a retreat that would leave the battlefield in the hands of inevitable defeat. We do not mean to gene

ralize, as there have been mobilization and the use of free time to help the movement grow in certain parts of Europe, and also in order to provide the necessary strength for the launching of the global Satyagraha for the liberty of Tibet in ten months time.

Dear friends, this is the first edition of "Tibet-China Fax" of 1997. We take this opportunity to wish you a good year, and to remind you that 1997 must find us prepared to confront the various political deadlines together, beginning with the manifestation "Geneva 1997": the manifestation will not be a closure but a moment for an organizational relaunching of our political campaigns so that the movement may arrive, in 1998, prepared for the global Satyagraha and the liberty of Tibet.

For these reasons, and in particular for the reinforcement of the mobilization for March 9th and 10th, a second European Seminar has been convoked in Strausburg on January 16th and 17th. This will be an occasion to confront problems and assume responsibilities. Or even to choose new paths, and make different decisions from those that have brought us to this point...

Good work and a good year to you all!

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A FLAG FOR TIBET 1997:

2,867 ADHESIONS UNTIL THE OBJECTIVE OF 3,000 IS REACHED.

In the last three weeks only 16 cities have announced or reconfirmed their 1996 support for the "Flag for Tibet 1997" campaign. The scarcity is obviously due in part to the holiday season, but we must recuperate in the coming days by obtaining hundreds of new adhesions to the campaign. We must create occasions to find the right path so that the mayors of cities support the campaign and raise the Tibetan flag on the community flagpole on March 9th and 10th. Remember that the proposal to raise the flag has already been sent to 20,000 mayors. The task at hand now is to relaunch the campaign by contacting their offices via telephone, via fax, and in person...The information regarding this campaign is available to any person who requests it from the seat of the TRP in Brussels.

* Situation by nation as of Jan. 6th

Conf.96 Ades.97 Total

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Belgium 19 12 31

Croatia - 1 1

France 31 15 46

Italy 24 1 25

Luxemburg 4 - 4

Holland 1 - 1

Czech Republic 2 - 1

Spain 6 7 13

Slovenia - 2 2

Hungary 4 4 8

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Totals 91 42 133

* Adhesions from Dec. 11th through Jan. 6th (16)

From Slovenia: Cvetka ZALOKAR-ORAZEM, mayor of DOMZALE (a); from Croatia: Luka HODAK, mayor of SABORSKO (a); from Belgium: Hugo CASAER, mayor of BEERSEL (c); from France: Victor MELLAN, mayor of LES PENNES MIRABEU (c); Jean-Claude DALLEMAGNE, mayor of CHALLEX (a); Rolland BONIN, mayor of CLAVEYSON (a); Bernard URBANIAK, mayor of MAZINGERBE (a); Georges BESCHER, mayor of LA TERRASSE (a); Arnaud MANDEMENT, mayor of CASTRES (c); Paul PICHAUD, mayor of ST-PHILBERT-DE-BOUAINE (c); from Spain: Conxita CAMPOY MARTI, mayor of MALGRAT DE MAR (a); Joan DURAN I BATET, mayor of MEDIONA (a); Magi PALLARES MORGADES, mayor of SANT JAUME DELS DOMENYS (a); Narcis JUNQUERA I FUSELLAS, mayor of AMER (a); from the

Czech Republic: Jan NADVORNIK, mayor of PRAGA 15 (a); Jiri HULKA, mayor of HORNI PLANA (c).

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WEI JINGSHENG FOR THE 1997 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

THE LAST DAYS FOR THE COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES.

Another 95 University professors and parliamentarians have signed the proposal of candidacy, bringing the total to 758 signatures ( 528 parliamentarians, 226 university professors, two members of government, and two Nobel laureates). Whoever can collect more signatures is urged to send them immediately via fax to the seat of the RP in Brussels. We remind you that the signatures must be presented to the Nobel Committee by January 31st.

* Parlamentarians

From the European parliament: Anne ANDRE-LEONARD (ELDR), Roberta ANGELILLI (NI), Spalato BELLERE' (NI), Ralf BEREND (PPE), Johannes BLOKLAND (EDN), Marco CELLAI (NI), Gipo FARASSINO (ELDR), Friedrich FRISCHENSCHLAGER (ELDR), Charles GOERENS (ELDR), Alfred GOMOLKA (PPE), Renzo IMBENI (PSE), Georg JARZEMBOLSKI (PPE), Ole KRARUP (EDN), Giorgio LA MALFA (ELDR), Luigi MORETTI (ELDR), Annemie NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK (ELDR), Jean-Thomas NORDMAN (ELDR), Antoinette SPAAK (ELDR), Bernard TAPIE (ARE), Salvatore TATARELLA (NI), Christiane TAUBIRA-DELANON (ARE), Antonello TRIZZA (NI), Winifred EWING (ARE), Ulla SANDBAECK (EDN).

From the parliament of the United Kingdom thanks to the work of Patrik NASH and the "The Tibet Society of the United Kingdom": Lord BUXTON of ALSA (House of Lords), Cynog DAFIS (House of Commons, Plaid Cymru), Baroness Brenda DEAN of THORNTON-LE-FYLDE (House of Lords), Bill ETHERINGTON (House of Commons, Labour Party), John EVANS (House of Commons, Labour Party), Maria FYFE (House of Commons, Labour Party), Norman Anthony GODMAN (House of Commons, Labour Party), Llin GOLDING (House of Commons, Labour Party), Nick HARVEY (House of Commons, Liberal Democrat), Lynne JONES (House of Commons, Labour Party), Martin JONES (House of Commons, Labour Party) William Martin SMYTH (House of Commons), Michael CONNARTY (Labour Party).

From the Albanese parliament: Vasil MELO (Front of the Nation), Hysen SELFO, Sali REXHEPI (PD), Gjon NIKAJ, Iliaz VRIONI, Dritan OSMANI, Luka MUCO, Shpetim MEZINI, Vangjel TOLE, Gezim Zelfo, Gazip RAMADHI, Hysen ARKAXHIU, Adhurim MUSARAI, Vasil NDREKO, Agim ZUGA, Fadil ÇEPELE, Mirko HAXHISHANO, Ali KAZAZI, Sali BUSHATI, Menduh MUSHANI.

From the French parliament: Pierre MICAUX (UDF), Jean-Marie ROUX (RPR), Brigitte de PREMONT (RPR), Joëlle DUSSEAU (PRS), Francis SAINT-ELLIER (UDF), Bernand SERROU (Francia, RPR), Julien DRAY (PS), Alfred FOY.

The following national deputies have also signed: Kerstin MÜLLER (Germany, Greens), Winfried NACHTEL (Germany, Greens), Eva BIAUDET (Finland, Swedish People's Party ), Vaclav BENDA (Czech Republic).

* University Professors of Law, Political Science, Philosophy, and History: Edward M. WISE (Univ. of Detroit), Mykola MOKLIAK (Univ. of Kiev), Volodymyr IGNATOV (Univ. of Kiev), Grygoriy PEREPELYTSIA (Univ. of Kiev), Guido MELIS (Univ. of Siena), Carlo VALLAURI (Univ. of Siena), Wil VERWEY (Univ. of Groningen), Oleksander KOLOS (Univ. of Vinnytsia, Ukraine), Liudmyla GROMOVA (Univ. of Vinnytsia), Ivan DANYLENKO (Univ. of Vinnytsia), Anatoliy DAVYDIUK (Univ. of Vinnytsia), Zofia SOKOLEWICZ (Univ. of Warsaw), Andrew BROOK (Univ. of Ottawa), Anatoliy RUCHKA (Univ. of Kiev), Vitaliy TABACHKOVSKY (Univ. of Kiev), Valeriy BARKOV (Univ. of Kiev), Vasyliy BARANOVSKY (Univ. of Kiev), Valeriy ANANIIN (Univ. of Kiev), Petro YAROTSKY (Univ. of Kiev), Anatoliy KOLODNY (Univ. of Kiev), Vitaliy LIAKH (Univ. of Kiev), Borys LOBOVYK (Univ. of Kiev), Juriy RYMARENKO (Univ. of Kiev), Mykhailo STEPIKO (Univ. of Kiev), Giuseppe ZACCARIA (Univ. of Padua), Pavlo POGOSOV (Univ. of Donetsk), Sergiy KHARCHENKO (Univ. of Donetsk), Vo

lodymyr IGNATOV (Univ. of Kiev), Grygoriy PEREPELYTSIA (Univ. of Kiev), Mykola KISELIOV (Univ. of Kiev), Borys POPOV (Univ. of Kiev), Fernando MANTOVANI (Univ. of Florence).

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FREEDOM FOR NGAWANG CHOEPHEL

Ngawang CHOEPHEL, the Tibetan musicologist who had returned to Tibet to film a documentary on the traditional dance and music of his people, was accused of spying for the United States and condemned to 18 years of prison. "The International Campaign for Tibet" invites the sending of letters and telegrams denouncing the imprisonment of Choephel and inviting a resolution condemning China at the next reunion of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights to the U.S. Secretary of State. Mail all such correspondence to: Secretary Warren Christopher - Department of State - 2201 C Street NW - Washington D.C. 20502 (USA).

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BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF "GENEVA 1997"

The current bank account for the European Committee for "Geneva 1997" has been opened, and to which the funds destined for the organization of the Liberty for Tibet" manifestation in Geneva on March 9th and 10th. We invite those of you who have decided to contribute to the fund to deposit the established donation to amount to: "Gèneve 1997" - N. 310-1075921-83 Banca BBL (Banque Bruxelles Lambert) Agenzia del Parlamento Europeo - Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Bruxelles.

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ITALY/MOTION FOR WEI AND OTHER INITIATIVES

The community council of Campobasso has approved a motion sustaining the candidacy of Wei Jingsheng for the Nobel peace Prize for 1997. The initiative was promoted by Donato DE RENZIS received the unanimous vote of support from the council. Thanks also goes to Green counselor Pasquale CAVALIERE, who deposited a request for an order of the day with the Regional Council of Piedmont. Analogous initiatives are foreseen in Savona and Trento as well. The "Umbria for Tibet" committee, together with members of the academic world, professionals, and business leaders has presented to the Mayor of Perugia an appeal for honorary citizenship for the Dalai Lama.

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TSG MARSEILLE

The TSG of Marseille has changed its name. The aggressive "Comité de Sauvegarde du Peuple Tibétain et de sa Culture" is now "Tibet-Liberté-Solidarité".

< PRESS RELEASE WALK AROUND >

* France

- Footage of the WA in Marseille on the regional news: M6 (Tv)

- Report on the WA in Marseille: France 3 Méditerranée (Tv)

- "Prefecture/A 24 hour March": Le Provençal (daily)

- Report on the WA in Marseille: Radio Nostalgie (local radio)

- Report on the WA in Marseille: Europe 2 (radio)

- "Free ad Equal" (on the manifestations in Saint-Tropez): Le Méridional

(daily)

* Belgium

- "Manifestation for Tibet": La Lanterne (daily)

* Bulgaria

- "A 24 Walk Around begins at the parliament": Noshten Trud (daily)

- "WA Parliament": 24 ore (daily)

- "WA at Parliament": Demokratsia (daily)

- "Young albanese reinforces the WA around Parliament": Noshten Trud

(daily)

- "An appeal for the liberation of the Panchen Lama": Novinar (daily)

- "Ex-deputy fasts for Tibet": Notizie di Plovdiv (daily)

- "Ex-deputy will fast for Tibet": Vesti (regional periodical)

- "Bulgarians fast for Lama": Maritsa (daily)

* Italy

- "Tibet: Radicals and Leghisti manifest before the Farnesina": Ansa

(news agency)

- Report on the WA in Roma: Talk Radio

* Croatia

- "Zagreb for the liberation of the Panchen Lama": Vecernji list

(daily)

* Hungary

- "They manifested for 24 hours": Magyar Nemzet (daily)

- "For Tibet": Nepszava (daily)

- "Manifestation for Tibet": Kurir (daily)

- Report on the WA in Budapest: Star Radio (radio)

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SECOND PAGE

The following speech concerning his proposal on Satyagraha by Prof. SAMDHONG Rimpoche appeared in "The Pioneer." We invite the readers of this newsletter to submit their ideas on the Satyagraha for the liberty of Tibet and its related preparatory campaigns. Time and space permitting, we will try to make room for all those who are interested in this difficult political project for the liberation of occupied Tibet by publishing their reflections in this newsletter.

NB: the articles should be sent to the PR office in Brussels and should not, for reasons of space, exceed 40 lines in length.

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PROFESSOR SAMDHONG PROPOSES A PROGRAM

FOR THE LAUNCHING OF THE TIBETAN SATYAGRAHA (from World Tibet Network News, Sunday Dec 1st, 1996)

[ The author is the director of the Institute for Tibetan Studies in Saranath, Varanasi, and President of the Assembly of Deputies of the Tibetan people in Dharamsala, India]

THE PIONEER, Nov. 28th, 1996

As a principle and as a system, democracy is not new to the Tibetan people. Our evident opening towards democracy was not inducted by the Chinese occupation of Tibet nor by our reciprocal relations with the outside world. Since his infancy, and long before his rise to temporal power, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama has had the unquestionable desire to democratize Tibet.

Unfortunately, he took the reins of the nation only after more than half its territory was occupied by China. Despite this, for nine long years he did his best to introduce democratic reforms, but every time he did so the Chinese communist dictators systematically frustrated his actions. It was only from exile that he was to have the freedom to realize his vision.

There was only one exception to this characteristic transformation of a leader and his people. In our case, the consequential renunciation of the power of the leader who promoted democratization was not accepted. During his 37 years in exile, His Holiness has gradually educated and persuaded his people to adopt a democratic way of life and to translate this ideal into practice so that true democracy may be achieved.

The Tibetan model of democracy is radically different in principle from Western democracies: it is based upon principles of equality among all its living beings on the basis of their unlimited potential for development. This equality can be instituted in daily life not through competition but through collaboration.

Competition leads inevitably to certain forms of confrontation: love and equality cannot be achieved through competition, and the same goes for politics and economy, where brotherhood and collaboration should prevail.

After acquiring the knowledge of this phenomena in human nature, many years ago the Buddha suggested a democracy free of competition.

A form of democracy without parties could thus be an alternative in which every person has the liberty to relate to the various questions according to his or her wisdom, without the impositions of any conditions on behalf of groups or ideologies. The decentralization of the decision and application process would render every individual responsible for and master of his or her own actions. The individual would have to think globally and act locally. From our point of view, totalitarian is when few people live off the nurture of others; on the other hand the principle of "live and let live" is a false democracy. In the model of democracy we wish to adopt every person would live for the others.

The future of Tibet must be modelled and constructed on authentic work and supported by all Tibetans. Although there are no definite plans, I want to expound three points for serious consideration:

1. In today's world interdependence has reached a point where the future of each nation cannot be considered in isolation. The future of Tibet is bound to influence the future of the entire planet, and the geopolitical future of its immediate neighbors in particular: China and India, the course of both nations being inseparable from that of Tibet. For diverse reasons these two nations, which are the most populated on earth, have always competed against one another as adversaries. Thus, the status of Tibet as a cushion state between India and China will be a unique factor in peace, stability, and security in Asia. Geographically, with Tibet being the "roof of the world" from which the major rivers of Asia flow, it will constitute a decisive factor in the ecological balance of the world. Scientists have confirmed that the Tibetan plateau will always play a determinant role in climate changes on the planet.

2. Regarding the future of Tibet, in my opinion it is urgent to save it immediately from total annihilation. Tibet has become the proof of the efficacy of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Action must be taken so that Tibet's future will be inseparable from that of the rest of the world. The future of Tibet should be seen within this integral perspective. The political status of Tibet, in terms of its sovereignty and autonomy, separation and association, has been debated for decades, while the real situation in Tibet has progressively deteriorated. Thus, our principal concern is to save this nation and its unique culture from complete destruction. This will be possible only if the continual transfer of Chinese civilians and relocation of the population by the Chinese authorities ceases immediately. The violation of the language, culture, religion, and land of the Tibetan people must end.

The question of Tibet's future cannot be discussed without considering the above problems. We must concentrate on how to reach these objectives.

It is time for the Tibetan people to develop a plan for a complete cut-off. I propose a movement of Satyagraha to this end. The idea and its application are explained elsewhere. The persons who have been informed already know that His Holiness has already promoted a referendum among the Tibetan diaspora to decide what will be the future course of action, and all of us await its results.

It seems for now that only two options remain for us:

1. Appeal for negotiations with those who are unwilling to negotiate;

2. Initiate a peaceful non-violent resistance.

Negotiations have been attempted for more than 14 years, but have brought us nowhere.There is no sign of desire on behalf of the Chinese to open a dialogue, despite the compromising approach of His Holiness, who accepted the work schedule established by Deng Xiaoping for the negotiations. We must take reality into account and formulate new strategies. We do not have a future unless we are prepared to sacrifice ourselves to regain the dignity and security of our people in Tibet. Posterity would never forgive us. Thus, any plan of action must be well-organized, and established with timely deadlines. Time is running out, and does not turn itself back. We must run more swiftly to keep apace with time, otherwise our objective will become a mirage.

China has failed to provide the functions of a civilized state, and subsequently:

1. Protection of the people;

2. Promotion of social, economic, and cultural well-being;

3. Representation of its interests.

As a result, China completely lacks moral, political, and legal authority to govern Tibet. We do not need proof of its politics of forced occupation: the progressive destruction of the Tibetan people and the politics of reckless exploitation of Tibetan natural resources that places the ecological balance of the world in danger are proof enough.

The situation requires supreme sacrifices. Mahatma Ghandi, the great promoter of the Stayagraha, once instructed his people to "Do and die."

Our situation requires us to modify his phrase to "Do or die," thus creating a definite attempt for voluntary collaboration, full coordination, and, naturally, the determination of the Satyagraha. Our objectives must be clear to each of us, as well as the means of achieving them.

Our struggle must be obstinately persuasive. We do not have to renounce our principal obligations, but neither must we allow our devotion to peace and non-violence be seen as a sign of weakness. Nothing is more powerful that spiritual or moral determination, as martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi, and Nelson Mandela have taught us, to name a few.

We are fortunate to have His Holiness the Dalai Lama as our guide. His vision of direction and his obligation to democracy and non-violence has been clear and coherent. Despite the long frustration, he has infused in the Tibetan exiles the faith that they will one day return to Tibet. We must not leader our leader and our dedication to truth and non-violence fail. When Ghandi advised to "Do and die" there was no other choice, just as there is no other choice other than the "Do or die" that I propose to our people.

The voyage of return to our homeland must begin here and now. Only in this way can we say "next year at Lhasa."