Newsletter of the Transnational Radical Party for the Freedom of Tibet

#12, February 27th 1996

Editor: Massimo Lensi, Dorottya u. 3.IIIem 6. - 1051 Budapest (H) - tel:+36.1.266.34.86, 266.09.35 - fax: +36.1.118.79.37 - e-mail: M.Lensi@agora.stm.it - www-Url: http//:www.agora.stm.it/pr - Telnet: Agora.stm.it

Distribution: Alberto Novi, 89, rue Belliard -Rem 508, 1047 Brussels (B). tel: +32.2.230.4121, or fax: +32.2.230.3670.

11 DAYS UNTIL THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN BRUSSELS AND WASHINGTON

We close this issue of "Freedom for Tibet" with the report that more than 350 European mayors have already joined the "A flag for Tibet" campaign. To be precise, we are at "minus 140" mayors from reaching the final objective of 500 participants.

These last few days have been marked also by numerous institutional activities in support of the Tibetan people's struggle: from the adhesion of the Republic of Kalmuckia of the Russian Federation, to the presentation of a motion to the Budapest City Council, and the questions of two deputies at the Foreign Ministry of the Italian Government about the "Emergency Relief Center in Tibet".

At only 11 days before the demonstrations in Brussels and in Washington, the European Organizational Committee is asking you to confirm, if appropriate, the National Committees participation to the European demonstration. We need these informations, as well as those regarding the adhesions of parties, agencies and associations to the Brussels Platform, in order to send press releases to the European mass-media.

All is left now is to hope for 11 days of intense activity so that on March 10, at 11:00 am, we may show up by the thousands in front of the Chinese Embassy of Brussels, the starting point of the European march for Tibet's freedom.

ITALY/PARLIAMENT: QUESTIONS TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER

Reformer MPs Lorenzo Strik Lievers and Paolo Vigevano, members of the Radical Party, presented questions to the Italian Foreign Minister concerning the news that the Italian Government has offered to the Chinese Government an "Emergency Relief Center" in Tibet which would cost over ITL 3,8 billion (around US$ 2,5 million). In their questions, the two deputies ask if "The Tibetan Government in exile has been informed of such project and if, in general, the Government does not consider appropriate that, for the future, the Tibetan Government in exile, which is the only legitimate representative of the Tibetan people and of its economic and civil interest, be informed of any economic and cooperative step by Italy in Tibet".

HUNGARY/BUDAPEST CITY COUNCIL: MOTION

The City Council Group of Fidesz-Mpp (Young Democrats League - Hungarian Civic Party) has presented to the City Council of Budapest, a proposal of a motion in which asks the Mayor and the other 23 mayors of the districts of the city of Budapest to adhere to the campaign "A Flag for Tibet". In the text of the motion, they also "ask that the Hungarian Government support the attempts to peacefully resolve the Tibetan question as proposed by the Dalai Lama and to demand the freedom of the XI Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choeky Nyima, and his family".

RUSSIAN FEDERATION/A FLAG FOR TIBET: ADHESION OF KALMUCKIA

The President of the Republic of Kalmuckia, Kirsan Ilumjinov, and the Government of the Republic, have formally decided to adhere to the "A Flag for Tibet" campaign and to display the Tibetan flag on the Government Building on the upcoming March 10.

[qui l'aggiornamento sui sindaci. e' solo una elenco ripetitivo: sostituire automaticamente "sindaco di" con "Mayor of", e tradurre poi i nomi georgrafici laddove differiscano]

APPEAL TO BOUTROS-GHALI

Up to date, 249 adhesion from 17 parliaments in Europe have been collected under the appeal for the Secretary General of the United Nations to receive the Dalai Lama as soon as possible. The objective is to reach 1,000 signatures by April 30. It is important to remind you that signatures can be collected also among citizens and personalities in your own city, as it has recently been done by the Duesseldorf "Tibet Initiative Deutschland" local group. The appropriate form for the adhesion, with the appeal translated in numerous languages, can be requested at the editor's office or at the nearest RP office. (Please ask that the forms be filled in print).

TIBET TELEX

SWITZERLAND: TIBETAN COMMUNITY

There are now 450 members of the Tibetan community in Switzerland who will participate to the demonstration in Brussels. Furthermore, the TCS is preparing for the demonstrators thousands of banners bearing the writing "Free Tibet". Moreover, they are informing us that the Vaduz newspaper "Liechtensteinische Volksblatt" has offered two pages for informations about campaigns on the freedom for Tibet. To book for Brussels: Chokchampa Phuntsok, tel. 055-721002. To purchase the Tibetan flag: Tashi Ngorkhangsar: tel. 055-313659.

ADHESIONS TO THE PLATFORM

- Italy/PSdA: the Sardinian Action Party with a letter of its secretary, Mr Lorenzo Palermo, the Sardinian Action Party has adhered to the Brussels' Platform. On March 10 the Sardinian movement will display the Tibetan flag in all its branches all over the island.

- European Parliament: three more members of the European Parliament have undersigned the Platform of Brussels, bringing to 35 the total number of adhesions of the Strasbourg-based Parliament.

- Russia/Duma: from the Russian Duma, MP Bajir Jamsujev have adhered.

- Italy/Buddhist Centers: Karma Chukei, of the Italy-Tibet Association, is informing us of the adhesion of the "Lama Tzong Khapa" Institute, Pomaia (Tuscany), and the one from the Vajrama Buddhist Center "Karme Cio Ling", Brescia (Lombardy).

- Martine Payfa, Mayor of Watermael-Boitsfort (Belgium), has adhered.

SWITZERLAND: CENTER FOR TIBETAN STUDIES

The "Centre des Hautes Etudes Tibétanes" of Le Mont-Pélerin in Switzerland has delegated the monks Yangdak Tenzin, Jampa Norbu and Lama Phurbu to represent this important institute to the demonstration in Brussels.

CZECH REPUBLIC: A BUS TO BRUSSELS

A significant delegation from Prague will participate to the demonstration in Brussels. Olga Cechurova of the Chezch Committee informs us that a bus with 45 people has already been filled. For further information: Chezch Committee for March 10, tel./fax +42-1-2361445, e-mail o.cechu@agora.stm.it

BELGIUM: A FLAG AT THE WINDOW

The president of the ASBL "Sobukai de Wallonie", Richard Gillet, has adhered to the campaign and will display the Tibetan flag in the branches of the association of Liege and Tilleur.

MAYORS: PHOTOS OF THE RAISING OF THE FLAG

Lobsang Gangshontsang of the "Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association" is urging us to request that the mayors who adhered to "A flag for Tibet" campaign send a photograph of the hoisting up of the Tibetan flag on March 10. The request has already been included in the returning-thanks letter that is sent from Brussels with the flag.

SCOTLAND: ADHESION OF ABERDEEN

Thanks to the effort of the "Tibet Support Group Grampian", the municipality of the Scottish city of Aberdeen will display the Tibetan flag on the upcoming March 10. Contact: David Lindsey, e-mail d.c.lindsey@abdn.ac.uk

ITALY: ARTISTS FOR TIBET

Some well-known Italian artists are giving informations on the current campaigns for the freedom for Tibet during their shows. Urged by Maria Teresa Nediani, theatrical actor Giorgio Albertazzi and singer Eugenio Bennato have presented to their public the objectives of the demonstration in Brussels, and that of the initiative "A Flag for Tibet".

AUSTRIA/INTERNET: TIBET WEB BY THE GREENS

The Green Group in the Austrian Parliament opened on its server a WEB page on the initiatives for Tibet. Site: http://www.70.or.at/gruene/tibet.htm

PRESS REVIEW/FEMMES D'AUJOURD'HUI

Belgian magazine "Femmes d'aujourd'hui", published on February 22 an interview by Guy Leroy with Namgyal Phala, President of the Swiss section of the "Tibetan Women Association". Besides announcing the Brussels demonstration, in that interview Namgyal Phala underscored the important role Tibetan women had in 1959 Lhasa insurrection.

PRESS REVIEW/EL MUNDO

The Spanish daily paper continues to publish articles in anticipation of the upcoming March 10. On February 22 it published a long interview by Ana Alonso Montes with Wangchen Rinpoche, founder of the Barcelona "House of Tibet", where the first results of the "Freedom for Tibet" campaign in Spain are being analyzed. Wangchen answered also numerous questions on the still unresolved issue of the XI Panchen Lama.

SECOND PAGE

On page 2 we are publishing the text of the second press release prepared by the European Committee for the Brussels demonstration. The press release can be sent to the mass media of your city, replacing the address of the European Committee with that of the National Committee.

DEMONSTRATION FOR MARCH 10 IN EUROPE

In addition to organizing the participation of the delegations to the European Demonstration of Brussels, some National Committees are also preparing some public initiatives in their cities. Following is a list of the demonstrations in Europe, coordinated with the European Committee, for the upcoming March 10.

* Moscow - Russia (March 10): demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy at 4, Druzhby str. (at 2pm).

* Budapest - Hungary (March 10): demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Benczur str. (at 4pm) and concert for Tibet in Almassy square (beginning 6.30pm).

* Vienna - Austria (March 10): demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Stephensplatz.

* Kiev - Ukraine (March 10): demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy.

MEETINGS

- Kiev (Ukraine). Saturday March 2: first Ukrainian seminary for the freedom of Tibet: initiatives and Parliamentary activities in support of the struggle of the Tibetan people.

- Budapest (Hungary). Monday March 4 (at 11am): press conference introducing the significance March 10. Mr Chope Paljor Tsering, represantitive of HH the Dalai Lama in Budapest, and other representatives of the Committee will participate.

- Moscow (Russia). Monday, March 4 (at 8.30pm): program Radio Echo Mosckvy on the intitiatives for March 10 with Navang Rabgyal, representative of the Dalai Lama in Moscow, and Olga Antonova of Radical Party.

- Brussels (Belgium). Monday March 4 (at half past noon): press conference introducing the demonstration of March 10, with Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, James Moorhouse (MEP), Henri Simons (city of Brussels), Olivier Dupuis and Thomas Nagant of the European Coordination. Address: Hotel Eurovillage, Boulevard Charlemagne 80, B-1040 Brussels.

- Brussels (Belgium). Tuesday March 5 (at 8pm): conference of Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, President of the Tibetan Parliament in exile. "Satyagraha: the Tibetan method of nonviolent struggle".

- Moscow (Russia). Tuesday March 5: press conference introducing March 10 significance and initiatives.

- Prague (Czech Republic). Thursday March 7. Concert for the freedom of Tibet with numerous Czech musical groups: Jiri Stivin, Oldrich Janota, Vladimir Merta, Zuzana Navarova. Address: Club Belmondo.

- Austria. From March 1 to 17: Austrian tour "Joy of Tibet" of the group T.I.P.A. (Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, from Dharamsala). Dates and cities the Tibetan group will be in are: Feb.29 at 3pm, press conference of presentation in Vienna; Mar.1 at 7.30pm, preview and celebration of "Losar", Vienna, Kursalon Stadtpark (Mayor Michael Haeupl will attend); Mar.2 at 8pm, Vienna, Kurhalle Oberlaa; Mar.5 at 7.30pm, Zwettl, Stadtsaal; Mar.6 at 7.30pm, Bad Ischl, Kurhaus, Mar.7, 7.30pm, Neukirchen, Kurhaus; Mar.8 at 8pm Salzburg, Stadtkino (Francesca and Karl Habsburg will attend); Mar.9 at 8pm, Linz, Landeskulturzentrum Ursulinenhof; Mar.10 at 7.30pm, St.Poelten; Mar.11 at 7.30pm, Graz, Opera (Mayor Alfred Sting will attend); Mar.13 at 7.30pm, Leoben, Kongresszentrum, Sparkassensaal; Mar.15 at 8pm, Klagenfurt, OeGB-Haus Festsaal (Heinrich Harrer and the Mayor L. Guggenberger will attend); Mar.16 at 8pm, St. Johann in Tirol, Hauptschule Aula; Mar.17 at 7.30pm, Telfs, Rathaushalle (Mayor Helmut Kopp will att

end).

For further informations: "Save Tibet" Austria, tel. +43-1-5228192, fax 43-1-5228190.

ACCOMMODATIONS IN BRUSSELS

Some groups of demonstrators asked us to provide a list of hotels where to stay while in town. The prices are in Belgian francs.

- Auberge St Michel: Grand'Place 15 (tel. 32-2-5110956). Single room: BEF 1900-3500; double: BEF 2200-4000

- Duke of Windsor: Rue Capouillet 4 (tel. 32-2-5391819). Single room: BEF 1250; double: BEF 1850

- Residence Osborne: Rue Bosquet 67 (tel. 32-2-5379251). Single room: BEF 900-1800; double: BEF 1100-2200

- Lloyd George: 1050 Av. Lloyd George 12 (tel. 32-2-6483072). Single room: BEF 1090-2400; double: BEF 1450-2800

- Derby: 1040 Av. de Tervueren 24 (tel 32-2-7330819). Single room: BEF 1250-1400; double: BEF 1600-1730

(second page)

FREEDOM FOR TIBET! EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN DEMONSTRATION OF MARCH 10 IN BRUSSELS AND WASHINGTON.

ADHESIONS FROM PARTIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS. PARTICIPATIONS FROM ALL OVER EUROPE.

35 MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT UNDERSIGNED THE POLITICAL PLATFORM.

Brussels, February 23, 1996. On the coming March 10, thousands of citizens from all over Europe, will stage a nonviolent march through the streets of Brussels for the freedom of Tibet in order to urge the governments and the international institutions to begin negotiations without pre-conditions on the Tibetan issue between the legitimate Tibetan government of the Dalai Lama and Beijing.

The citywide march promoted by the Tibet Intergroup to the European Parliament, the Tibetan communities in Europe, the European support groups and the Transnational Radical Party, will begin at the Chinese Embassy and end in front of the European Parliament where speeches are scheduled by personalities of the European political world and by Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, president of the Tibetan Parliament in exile.

We have received the first adhesions to this initiative of organizations, political parties and cultural organizations from many European countries: the Basque Parliament has officially adhered and Azpiazu, its President, will march with the demonstrators on March 10. Among the adhesions received, we restate that from Italy are those of the ARCI and of WWF-Italy; from Hungary that of Fidesz (Young Democrats League); from Vojvodina, that of the VMDK (Vojvodina Hungarians League); from Austria, the "Liberales Forum" and the Greens; from Croatia, the Croatian Popular Party and the Fiume Democratic Alliance; from Ukraine, the Liberal Party. Up to date, there are already 35 Parliamentarians who have undersigned the political platform of the demonstration, members of the groups EPU, EDN, ESP, ERA, ELDR, EPP, Greens, and Independents.

Furthermore, many delegations of peoples not represented at the United Nations, have announced their presence in the streets of Brussels: East Turkestans, South Moluccans, Assyrians, West Papuasians, Abkazis, Circassians and Tartars of Crimea will march with their traditional costumes as a sign of solidarity with the struggle of the Tibetan people.

European Committee for the 10 of March