_________________ WTN-L World Tibet Network News _________________
Published by: The Canada Tibet Committee
Editorial Board: Brian Given, Conrad Richter, Nima Dorjee,
Tseten Samdup, Thubten (Sam) Samdup
WTN Editors: wtn-editors@tibet.ca
______________________________________________________________________
Issue ID: 00/06/06 Compiled by Thubten (Sam) Samdup
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Tuesday, June 06, 2000
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Contents:
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1. THE DALAI LAMA'S MESSAGE ON TIANANMEN SQUARE ANNIVERSARY
2. Tien Anmen : message du Dalai Lama
3. PAVAROTTI & FRIENDS pro Cambogia e Tibet
4. Tibetan Women set Targets at Beijing Plus 5 Review
5. TIBETAN FREEDOM MARCHERS AT THE BEACH
en route to Los Angeles from San Diego
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1. THE DALAI LAMA'S MESSAGE ON TIANANMEN SQUARE ANNIVERSARY
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June 3, 2000
Dharamsala
MESSAGE
As human rights activists and the Chinese who work for the promotion of
fundamental freedoms and human rights in China commemorate the 11th
anniversary of the crackdown on the Chiinese students protest on the
Tiananmen Square in Beijing, I would like to add my support for their
efforts and to honour the memory of those who were killed in the 1989
massacre.
I have always believed that as China becomes more integrated into the
global economy, it will have to change not only to meet the changing
aspirations of the Chinese people but also to meet the demands of a
dynamic economy which requires an open and transparent political system.
My main message to my Chinese brothers and sisters is not to lose
hope.On my part, I am working not for Tibet's separation from China but
towards a solution where Tibet's separate and distinct identity can
co-exist and develop within the framework of an open and tolerant China.
This I think will also accord with the wishes and aspirations of those
Chinese students who so bravely gave up their lives on June 4, 1989.
The Dalai Lama
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2. Tien Anmen : message du Dalai Lama
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Message du Dalaï Lama à l'occasion de la commémoration du onzième
anniversaire de la répression de la place Tian Anmen, à Pékin
Le 3 juin 2000
DHARAMSALA
A l'heure où les défenseurs des droits de l'homme et ceux des Chinois
qui travaillent à promouvoir les libertés fondamentales et les droits de
l'homme en Chine, commémorent le onzième anniversaire de la répression
de la manifestation des étudiants chinois sur la place Tienanmen à
Pékin, j'aimerais joindre mon soutien à leurs efforts et honorer avec
eux la mémoire de ceux qui sont morts lors du massacre de 1989.
J'ai toujours pensé qu'en Chine, du fait que celle-ci s'est intégrée
plus largement à l'économie mondiale, un changement devra se produire,
si elle veut non seulement faire face aux aspirations du peuple chinois,
mais aussi répondre à son attente d'une économie dynamique, changement
qui nécessite un système politique ouvert et transparent.
Le message que j'adresse aujourd'hui à mes frères et soeurs chinois est,
principalement, de ne pas perdre espoir. En ce qui me concerne, je
continue de travailler non pas à faire que le Tibet se sépare de la
Chine mais à la recherche d'une solution dans laquelle l'identité
séparée et distincte du Tibet puisse co-exister et se développer à
l'intérieur d'une structure représentative d'une Chine ouverte et
tolérante. Ceci, je pense, s'accorde pleinement avec les désirs et les
aspirations de ces étudiants chinois qui donnèrent si courageusement
leur vie le 4 juin 1989.
Le Dalaï-Lama
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3. PAVAROTTI & FRIENDS pro Cambogia e Tibet
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Tibet Bureau - Geneva
6 June, 2000
www.lucianopavarotti.it
WELCOME
It is a great honour for me to be here tonight singing in the presence
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has kindly accepted to be our guest.
I believe that the message of peace that reaches us every day from His
action should be an example to all of us.
In the same way, I hope that the music you are going to hear tonight
will transmit the 'notes' of serenity that you and we both will be
sending out to all the children who will benefit from our help.
Pavarotti & Friends 2000 is looking towards the Orient, giving its
support to projects for the Tibetan and Cambodian population. Although
we are at the threshold of the New Millennium, world peace remains,
sadly, an utopia, but the hope for a better future lies, I believe, in
our future generations. If we can show the children the right way to
find an internal peace, then we will achieve the end of all conflicts
and harmony in our daily lives. Each step in the construction of our
wellbeing must be accompanied, I believe, by acts of solidarity. Because
if we have everything but not peace, everything we have is worthless. In
the name of all my friends and the Tibetan and Cambodian children, I'd
like to give you my warmest thanks.
-Luciano Pavarotti
**********
I am very happy to be taking part in the Pavarotti & Friends Concert. I
would like to take this opportunity to give all of you a message of
peace.
Peace is a recognised value throughout the world; it is able to overtake
any obstacle to create a better future for all of us to be part of. I
would like to thank Maestro Pavarotti and all the artists of this event
that are contributing to the happiness of the Cambodian and Tibetan
children.
- H. H. the Dalai Lama
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TIBET
In 1949 the People's Republic of China invaded Tibet and in 1959 it put
an end to the Tibetan national insurrection in Lhasa. After these events
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the members of his government and roughly
80,000 Tibetans fled the country, seeking political asylum in India, in
Nepal and Buthan. In India, the Tibetan government in exile found a seat
in Dharamasala and, since then one of its duties has been to preserve
and develop the Tibetan traditional culture. The Dalai Lama has turned
to the United Nations on a number of occasions, which in its turn, has
approved three resolutions regarding Tibet, in 1959, 1961 and 1965, in
which it expressed its serious concern about the human rights violations
taking place. The UN called for "an end to all practices which deprive
the Tibetan people of its fundamental human rights and its freedom,
including its right to self-determination."
"Dalai Lama" means "Ocean of Wisdom" and its was a title attributed by
the Mongols sovereigns. The Dalai Lama are the manifestation of the
bodhisattva of the Chenrezig Compassion, enlightened beings who have
postponed their Nirvana and have chose to be reborn to serve humanity.
In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and he has
always preached a policy of non-violence. In 1987 he also proposed
5-point Peace Agreement to resolve the situation in Tibet pacifically.
- end -
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4. Tibetan Women set Targets at Beijing Plus 5 Review
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Special to WTN
New York, June 6, 2000: Tibetan women are participating in both
non-governmental and official events currently underway at the United
Nations in New York in order to monitor compliance with the Beijing
Platform for Action (PFA). The PFA is the declaration adopted by at the
UN's 4th World Conference on Women held in China in 1995. At the time,
it was hailed as a framework for the promotion of women's equality into
the next century.
Representatives of the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) based in
Dharmsala, India are in New York to build on networks and campaigns
established during the Beijing process. Specifically, they will
advocate around the issues of women living in situations of armed
conflict as well as the situation of refugee women. On June 9, in
collaboration with the Commission on Refugees and Women, the TWA will
host a roundtable discussion on the problems faced by Tibetan women
living in exile, focussing on the impacts of longterm refugee life. As
part of the Women in Armed Conflict caucus, TWA delegates hope to
present a statement to the UN Security Council and other UN bodies.
Tsering Tsomo, TWA representative to the conference, was given special
mention at the NGO Working Session. She was included on a "Roll of
Honour" which named women activists from all countries who have been
consistently active in their pursuit of rights and equality for women.
"It is so important to have our presence felt in the corridors of the
United Nations", Tsomo said later. "We must use this platform to talk
about what is happening inside Tibet and eventually we will be heard".
At the conference, the TWA will launch and distribute its report on the
situation of Tibetan women since the Platform for Action was adopted
five years ago in Beijing, At that time Tibetan women in exile and
their supporters beat formidable odds to raise issues of concern for
their sisters living under Chinese occupation. The story of the Tibetan
women's struggle for a voice in Beijing became one of the biggest news
events at the conference and brought unprecidented news coverage to the
Tibetan issue. Moreover, much of the PFA language around armed conflict
resulted from the hard work of the Tibetan women's delegation in the
3-year preparatory process which preceded the Beijing conference.
The Tibetan Women's Association is the largest NGO of Tibetan women with
branches across India and in several countries around the world.
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5. TIBETAN FREEDOM MARCHERS AT THE BEACH
en route to Los Angeles from San Diego
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Thursday, June 8
Main Beach, Laguna (south end) 2:45pm-3:30pm
Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk in his 70s who spent 33 years in a Chinese
prison for a nonviolent protest, is leading a group of 12 walkers from
San Diego to Santa Monica, where they will join with another group
walking from San Francisco for a walking protest & rally at the Chinese
Consulate in L.A. on Saturday, June 24. Southern group began their
journey on Memorial Day in downtown San Diego.
Strong visuals are a key feature of this event. Palden Gyatso smuggled a
number of torture instruments out of Drapchi Prison in Lhasa when he was
released in 1992. He will be displaying several of these before him on a
Chinese flag while speaking briefly about his role in the Independence
Walk. Brief statements by 3 other participants.
A large number of Tibet supporters, some in traditional dress, will join
the core walkers as they make their way through Laguna, carrying Tibetan
flags and signs bearing pictures of political prisoners. Day walkers
will meet core group at Brooks Street (and PCH) at 2pm.
Core group includes: Pema Lhundup, General Secretary of the Tibetan
Youth Congress (17,000 members, largest Tibetan NGO in India). OC walker
Ava Park (Orange County Friends of Tibet). Phillip Wu of the Formosan
Association for Human Rights (Taiwan). Julie Crow, Director of the
International Tibetan Independence Movement, the Walk's primary sponsor.
Over 170 other organizations are co-sponsoring this event. Interviews
with the principals can be done briefly in Heisler Park after the press
event or offsite by prior arrangement. Additional large marches on June
10 & 11, Newport and Huntington Beach. Primary OC press event will be
Laguna Beach.
Media Contacts: Jamie Hunter (949)689-9578
Tenzing Chonden (213)798-3856
THREE DAYS FOR TIBET!!!
Walk With Us for Tibetan Independence! SAVE LIVES!!! WALK FOR TIBET!!!
-Laguna Beach- Thursday, June 8
Meet the walkers at Brooks Street and PCH at 1:45 pm for a walk to City
Hall, Main Beach, and Heisler Park. Shuttle Back.
-Newport Beach- Saturday, June 10
Meet the walkers at Newport Beach Library at Avocado and PCH (1 block
inland) at 1:00 pm. Walk to Newport City Hall via Balboa Peninsula.
-Huntington Beach- Sunday, June 11
Meet at 11:00 am at Newport Beach City Hall for walk to Huntington
Pier. Bring a sack lunch. We will shuttle you back to Newport starting
point.
Call Orange County Friends of Tibet at (949)726-8828 for information.
information also at www.octibet.org
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