< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #45 >

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 45 November 29th, 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

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THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT BEFORE THE WALK AROUND OF DEC. 9TH - 10TH.

BRUSSELS, PARIS, ROME, VIENNA, SOFIA, BUDAPEST, NEW YORK....

We have arrived at the eve of the second non-violent initiative and dialogue with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs: the "24 hour Walk Around" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the liberty of the XI Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng.

Dec. 10th will be the international day for Human Rights, and, unless we would like it to become an ritual of empty words of condemnation that will be forgotten quickly, we must work all the harder to make it noticed. Along with this, we should remember the responsibility of the "democratic" and wealthy Western nations when confronted with the violation of human rights. No more words or slogans, but facts that are concrete and visible from the democratic governments, those same governments who should be interfered with when they do not respect or protect these inviolable rights. And the request of liberty for the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingshen is a concrete fact.

The Walk Around is another step in the construction of a worldwide movement for a free Tibet. An important international happening that is connected by a double line to the other political events that will occur all month:

- the campaign "A Flag for Tibet" is directed at the mayors of the world so that they raise a Tibetan flag in their cities on March 9th and 10th.

Objective: 3,000 cities.

- the "Wei Jingsheng for 1997 Nobel Peace Prize" campaign. Objective: 2,000 signatures of Parliamentarians and University Professors to consign to the Nobel Committee by January 1997.

- the appeal by Parliamentarians for a meeting between the UN Secretary General and the Dalai Lama to initiate Sino-Tibetan negotiations. Objective: 2,000 Parliamentary signatures.

- the postcard campaign for the liberty of the Panchen Lama. All postcards are ailed to Chinese President Zemin. As of today, more than 8,000 postcards have been sent from all over the world.

- "Geneva 1997 - Liberty for Tibet": the citizen's march on March 9th and the candlelight vigil later that same night before the gates of the United Nations, as well as the demonstration on March 10th, the day when the UN Commission on Human Rights will begins its work.

The purpose of these political appointments is to open Sino-Tibetan negotiations, as requested for years by the Dalai Lama. It is an objective we can achieve through dialogue and non-violence and, if we bring to life a large Tibetan freedom movement, what Ghandi referred a "road to truth" when India was brought out of English colonialism, a global Satyagraha.

Good Work.

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DECEMBER 9-10th:

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

- Only few days before the start of the Walk Around. The following 10 days must be dedicated to the preparation, both technical and organizational, of the event: define the schedule of marchers, establish hours for press conferences, promptly notify the media in order to avoid that they "forget" to cover the event.

- In the last four days another four cities joined the event (New York, Sofia, Florence, Leone) in which the militants of the TSG and the TRP are organizing a Walk Around for their Ministers of Foreign Affairs or local Prefectures for the liberty of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng. The total now is 12 cities in 7 countries.

- Let us remember that the Walk Around begins at 1:00 pm on December 9th, and ends at the same hour on December 10th (International Human Rights Day).

- It is important to individuate proper logistical support for the marchers, such as tents and hot drinks. The wave of cold weather that has arrived in Europe will not be of help in this, and we must be attentive in organizing this aspect of the initiative by preparing for the coldest weather and, in some cities, even snow.

- We have published on the "Second Page" the text of a letter that will possibly be consigned before the conclusion of the Walk Around to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We suggest that it be underlined in all communications that the Walk Around is linked to the previous initiative, that of October 2nd (the three day fasting dialogue) as part of a continuous and pressing labor towards dialogue with the institutions so that they take responsibility for where human rights are violated in the world, in laces like Tibet and China. The letter, in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs is invited to participate in the conclusive press conference, should be consigned at least 24 hours before the end of the Walk Around.

- We ask that all of the groups that are organizing a Walk Around immediately send to us any and all press releases, clippings, interviews, and photographs that appear in the media in the days before, during, and following the event.

- We suggest convoking the press conference on December 10th at the conclusion of the Walk Around. For the journalists who are present a small dossier should be prepared containing all the necessary information: brief biographies of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng (remember to note that Wei was awarded the 1996 Sacharov Prize by the European parliament), the other cities participating in the Walk Around, the preceding Oct. 2nd initiative/fasting dialogue, and the next stop on our itinerary, the coming "Geneva 1997" manifestation.

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WALK AROUND IN NEW YORK

Organized by: Students for a Free Tibet, NY Tibetan Alliance, Tibetan Monastery, learning Alliance, Transnational Radical Party. The program anticipates modifications of the European initiative. For more information: tel. (212) 980-1031 fax. (212) 980-1072

E-mail: trans.rad.ny@agora.stm.it

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WALK AROUND IN SOFIA

Organized by: Bulgaria-Tibet, Transnational Radical Party. For more information contact: tel/fax 359-2-980.01.46

E-Mail rp.sofia@agora.stm.it

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WALK AROUND IN LEONE

Organized by: Lions des Neiges. For more information: tel. 04-72.00.03.36

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WALK AROUND IN FLORENCE

Organized by: Transnational Radical Party. For more information:

tel. 055-230.22.66 fax. 230.24.52

E-Mail: arpa.fi@agora.stm.it

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THE CITIES OF THE WALK AROUND:

Brussels (Belgium), New York (USA), Paris, Leone, Marseilles (France), Rome, Turin, Florence (Italy), Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), Sofia (Bulgaria).

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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 25 Parliamentarians, University Professors, and Nobel laureates have signed the proposal of candidacy, bringing the total to 637 nominations (431 Parliamentarians, 204 University Professors, two members of government and two Nobel laureates).

* Parliamentarians

From the British Parliament: Lord BRAINE of WHEATLEY (House of Lords), Lady FLATHER (House of Lords), Joyce GOULD (House of Lords), Harry GREENAWAY (House of Commons), Eric ILLSLEY (House of Commons), Kenneth Robert LIVINGSTONE (House of Commons), Lord MACKIE of BENSHIE (House of Lords), Alan MEALE (House of Commons), Lady MOUNTBATTEN of BURMA (house of Lords), Chris MULLIN (House of Commons), Lord RENTON (House of Lords),

Lord WEATHERILL (House of Lords), Lord WYATT of WEEFORD (House of Lords), Lord BELHAVEN and STENTON (House of Lords), E.G. AIKING VAN-WAGENINGEM (Holland, Senioren 2000), Gyorgy BALINT (Hungary, SZDSZ), Pal JUHASZ (Hungary, SZDSZ), Valdas PETRAUSKAS (Lithuania, Democratic Party), Shahzad Gul BACHA (Pakistan, Awami National Party), Geza JESZENSZKY (Hungary, MDNP, Minister of Foreign Affairs), Gabriella SELMECZI (Hungary, Fidesz-MPP).

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

Pal TOMCSANYI (University of Budapest), Janos MARTON (University of Budapest), Giulio BARSANTI (University of Florence), Joanna MARTEL-NIECKO (University of Warsaw).

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A FLAG FOR TIBET 1997

In this past week another 12 cities have confirmed or renewed their support of the "FLAG FOR TIBET 1997" campaign. Another 12 flags will fly on the community flagpoles on March 9th and 10th, 1997.

* Situation by country as of November 28th

Confirm.96 Supp. 97 Tot

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

Belgium 19 7 26

Spain 5 1 6

France 25 6 31

Hungary 4 - 4

Italy 21 - 21

Czech Republic 1 1 1

Luxembourg 4 - 4

Netherlands 1 - 1

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

Total 80 14 94

New adhesions from Nov.19-28:

From Belgium C. EERDEKENS, mayor of ANDENNE (a)' Bruno TELLIER, mayor of VRESSE-SUR-SEMOIS (c); Jacques VAN GOMPEL, mayor of CHARLEROI (c); Paul BREYNE, Burghmeister of IEPER (a); Louis GERMEYS, Mayor of NIEUWENKERKEN (a); from France Max FESCHET, Mayor of BOUSCHET (a); from Spain Pablo R. ISASI AGUIRRE, mayor of AMURRIO (c); Juan Vicente ERAUSKIN GARMENDIA, mayor of ORDIZIA (Spain, Basque); from the Czech Republic Martin DVORAK, mayor of HRADEC KRALOVE (c); from Italy Enrico FRANCESCHELLI, mayor of MANCIANO (c), Paolo MARCHIONI, mayor of BANVENO (c); Ivano MIGLIOLI, mayor of PAVULLO NEL FRIGNANO (c).

Belgium (4): ; France (4): ; Italy (4): ; Spain (2): ; Czech Republic (1).

(c): confirmation

(a): new support

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WEI FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1997/ ENGLAND

Thanks to the effort of Patrick Nash and the "Tibet Society of the United Kingdom" 14 British parliamentarians of the House of Lords and House of Commons have signed the appeal supporting Wei Jingsheng for the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. The same Parliamentarians also signed the appeal for an encounter between the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Dalai Lama, which has already been signed by 1,229 Parliamentarians from

45 Parliaments around the world.

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WEI FOR 1997 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE / TELEMATIC APPEAL

The appeal for support for Wei Jingsheng's candidacy to the Nobel peace Prize for 1997 is available over the Internet. Whoever has mailing lists or is able to distribute it further may contact Sandro OTTONI (s.ottoni@agora.stm.it).

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APPEAL TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS/NEW ZEALAND

The appeal to the UN Secretary General so that he will receive the Dalai Lama at the soonest available time has met with interest among the TSG in New Zealand. Thuten KESANG of the "Liaison Office of Tibet (New Zealand)" has announced that he will present the appeal to the 120 newly elected

deputies and 18 members of the "Parliamentary Lobby Group for Tibet."

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NEPAL/105 TIBETANS ARRESTED

105 Tibetans were arrested as they tried to enter into the district of manang in Nepal, with the intention of proceeding to Dharmsala in India.

The secretary of the TRP, Olivier DUPUIS, released the following declaration: " I appeal to the authorities of Nepal so that they may allow the Tibetan refugees to reach India. I reiterate the European Parliament's budget amendment for 1997 that states: "the finances destined for Nepal are subordinated to the guarantee of non-expulsion, on behalf of the Tibetan authorities, of any refugees from Tibet."

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HELSINKI COMMITTEE/VILNIUS REUNION

The International Federation of the Helsinki Committee recently gathered in Vilnius (Lithuania). Chope Paljor TSERING, representative of the Dalai Lama in Budapest, had the opportunity to speak to the Assembly General on the actual situation in Tibet. Afterwards Tsering was able to meet with many delegates of the Helsinki Committee, in particular those of Eastern Europe, with whom he discussed the possibility of opening a "Tibet desk" in many of those nations. Expect more information in future issues of Tibet-China Fax.

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RADIO TIBET/........IT ALREADY EXISTS

in recent days European Deputy Bernard KOUCHNER launched an appeal for the creation of an independent Tibetan radio that can empower the Tibetans in exile. On this proposal, Olivier DUPUIS, European deputy and secretary of the TRP, announced that "Radio Voice of Tibet already exists. It makes heard not only the voice of the Tibetan exile community,

but also that of Tibetans in Tibet. (....) new ideas and proposals are always welcome, on the condition that they consider ideas and initiatives that already exist."

* "The Silk Road? Now it smells like oil. A medieval paradise. Now the atomic polygon of China" by Ettore MO, in Il Corriere della Sera (Italy), Nov. 20th. Long account of the city of Khasgar in East Turkistan. On the trail of Marco Polo, the famous Italian journalist describes the living conditions of one of the most legendary cities of the world, interviewing even Yozubek MUKHLISY, president of the United National Front of East Turkistan: " the communist regime has to respond to at least 25 repressions. The long punitive campaign has jailed over 20,000 young people, under accusations of Pan-Turkish, Pan-Islamic, and Separatist activity. People speak of the missing (thousands), arbitrary arrests and detentions, even executions."

* "Interview with Nancy Li on Radio Radicale, Nov. 20th. Interview by Paolo Pietrosanti. Nancy Li, noted activist for democracy in China of the "International federation for Human Rights."

"Question: do you think that the cause of Tibet, thanks also to your worldwide exposure of it, can help the initiative in favor of a more democratic China?"

"Li: I think so. I think that the Tibetan cause can be compared to the biblical episode in which David defeats the Goliath. Tibet represents for China what Vietnam represented for America in the 1960's and 1970's. On this matter china does not have any justification. The occupation of Tibet by its army goes against its very constitution. Anyway, more Chinese people, even those who are not political, are beginning to question themselves on what is happening in Tibet. Even the richest businessmen are beginning to open their eyes to what is happening in Tibet. Also, I have been able to observe that the first thing that the Chinese delegations to the west have done is look for books that are banned by law in China. Last year they were looking for a biography of Mao written by his doctors, but this year they are looking for books on the Dalai Lama." (Conf.Part.Rad. 11603)

SECOND PAGE

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WALK AROUND/OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Hon. ___________

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of ___________

Address_____________

City, ___ December, 1996

Minister_________,

Allow us, with this letter, to inform you of another non-violent initiative and dialogue that is taking place in numerous nations of the world for the liberty of occupied Tibet and democracy for China. On December 9th and 10th, we, members of the Tibet Support Groups, Transnational Radical Party, human rights organizations, and men and women of different races, religions, cultures, languages, and political parties will begin a "Walk Around" around the building that hosts the Minister of Foreign Affairs in order to open a political dialogue with you, until you and your colleagues conceive an immediate action for the liberty of two political prisoners who are unjustly sequestered by the authorities of Peking. The "Walk Around" will conclude on Dec. 10th, International Human Rights Day, with press conferences in front of the offices of the Minister in order to remind the media and the public of our nations of the gravity of human rights violations in China and occupied Tibet. We invite you to join us in our

press conference.

In the month of October we organized another non-violent initiative and dialogue with you. 1,500 people from various nations participated in the fasting dialogue with you and your colleagues of 37 countries in order to open a discussion for the protection of human rights in Tibet and China, and on the responsibilities that a democratic nation, like that in which we live, has when confronted with situations in the world in which fundamental human, political, civil, labor, cultural, and religious rights are violated.

We ask you today, as we did then, to work so that seven year old Ghedun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, be placed in a position so that he may honor the high religious task to which he was called by the Tibetan Buddhist Liturgy. The Panchen Lama is the 2nd highest religious authority of Tibetan Buddhism and is now sequestered by the Chinese authorities, in Peking, along with his family and fifty members of the Tashi Lumpo monastery in Tibet, the Panchen Lama's historic home.

We ask you today, as we did then, to work so that the most famous Chinese democratic dissident, Wei Jingsheng, leader of the "Wall of Democracy" movement and who is in a grave state of health, be released from prison. Arrested March 29th, 1979 for "divulging state secrets," Wei was condemned to 15 years of prison for "counterrevolutionary crimes." From jail, Wei did not cease openly denouncing the violation of human rights in China and Tibet. Released in 1993 he was again arrested on November 21st, 1995 and condemned to a new sentence of 15 years. His health conditions, we repeat, are worrisome. The European Parliament awarded him the 1996 Sacharov Prize.

Within this frame, we have two specific requests:

Minister_________,

ask of our ambassador to Peking to meet with Wei Jingsheng in the prison of Tangshan, where he is detained, even if only to ascertain his health condition;

to send to the Ambassador to our nation of the People's Republic of China a note in which the government of Peking is asked to return Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the young Panchen Lama, to his monastery of Tashi Lumpo in Tibet.

In anticipation of your cordial reply and with hope that you wish to participate in the press conference of December 10th, we offer you, Minister________, our best wishes for your work,

(signatures)