Tibet Support Group - Ireland

120 Upper Glenageary Road,

Glenageary, Co. Dublin,

Ireland

Tel.& Fax: +3531-285 1809,

Tel:+3531-285 3443

TO Alberto NOVI, Radical Party, Brussels

FAX 00322-230-3670

From Neil STEEDMAN

Date 29th March 1996

Alberto,

Here is our suggested wording for TSG-lreland's appeal to Irish MEPs for inclusion in your mailing to them The Irish MEPs are as follows

- European People's Party

Mary Banotti, John Cushnahan, Joe McCartin

- European Liberal, Democratic and Reformist Party

Pat Cox

- Union for Europe Group

Brian Crowley, Liam Hyland

- Green Group

Nuala Ahern Patricia McKenna

- Party of European Socialists

Bernie Malone

"Tibet Support Group-lreland urges you to support the international appeal to the Secretary General of the United Nations being organised by the Radical Party. This calls for Boutros Boutros Ghali to receive the Dalai Lama as soon as possible with a view to the early commencement of negotiations without preconditions ketween the Chinese and Tibetan authorities.

"Ireland has an international and moral responsibility to help resolve the issue of Tibet. Our country was one of two main sponsors (with Malaysia) of UN General Assembly Resolutions which called for the Chinese to respect Tibetans' human rights, including their right to self determination, and which were adopted bythe UN in 1959,1961 and 1965.

"In the past, the Irish people experienced what the Tibetans have been experiencing since 1949 - colonial occupation by a larger neighbour, oppression of their freedom and human rights, their culture, religion and language, enforced famine' partition of their country, plantation of immigrants, plundering of natural resources and environmental degradations, including extensive deforestation.

"Today, the Irish people wish to see the start of negotiations without preconditions leading to the expression of their right to self determination with the objective of achieving a peaceful island.

"The Tibetan people have the right under international law to self determination but remain under colonial oppression. Please act on behalf of the Irish people to help them attain what is righffully theirs."

- Neil Steedman, Chairman, Tibet Support Group-lreland.