< TIBET: GENEVA 1997 - #1 >

Newsletter of the European Coordinating Committee

Number 1, 5 December 1996

Editor: Rue Belliard 89 - REM 5.08 - 1047 Brussels (B)

Tel: +32-2-2304121 - Fax: +32-2-2303670

Published in English, French, Italian

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REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE "EUROPEAN COMMITTEE 1996"

Brussels, November 16-17, 1996 (annex 1)

1. Political Aspects

1.1 The manifestation of Geneva "Freedom for Tibet"

The European manifestation of 1997 will take place in Geneva on March 9 and 10. This manifestation contains 3 separate mobilizations:

a) March 9 11:00 am: a 3-4 hour march will start from the Chinese Mission in Geneva and will end at the seat of the United Nations ('Palais des Nations');

b) 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm: a candlelight vigil along the lake of Geneva;

c) March 10 from 11:00 am a presidium in front of the UN building ('Palais des Nations').

The manifestation of March 10, will be the same day the UN Commission for Human Rights starts. Its 3 objectives are:

1) to push for the opening of Sino-Tibetan negotiations;

2) the release of the Panchen Lama;

3) the formal meeting between the UN Secretary General and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The opening of negotiations will therefore be the principal slogan on which the strategy for the preparatory work will be based. The manifestation is meant to have the nature and appearance of a nonviolent movement for dialogue with national and international institutions, for an immediate and peaceful solution to the Tibetan issue.

1.2 Coordination with other continents

To show that the movement has a worldwide character, we will coordinate with those people/organisations organizing manifestations on other continents. Therefore it is necessary to collaborate with and coordinate together with the National Coordinating Committees and the Tibetan government all other initiatives in order to give it a worldwide outlook and to ensure that they take place on the same day. Cities that come to mind are: Moscow, Sydney, New York, and New Delhi.

1.3 Other manifestations in Europe

The representative of His Holiness stressed the importance of concentrating our efforts on the activities in Geneva. Therefore it is vital not to organize other events in other towns on those days.

1.4 Support from other organizations

The ECC (see below) must find a way and the terms of support from big national and international organizations (political parties, labour unions, cultural organizations, NGOs with particular attention to dissident Chinese organizations). The ECC will establish the contacts and determine the financial contribution of these organizations. As for 1996, a political platform must be established. The national committees (see below) are in charge of the contacts with national organizations.

1.5 Speakers for the demonstration

The involvement of such organizations may lead to an extension of the list of speakers who will open and close both the demonstration and the presidium. Everybody agreed on the importance of inviting Kalon Tashi Wangdhi (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tibetan Government in Exile) and Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche (President of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile). Special attention needs to be paid to the Chinese dissidence (Wei Shan Shan, sister of Wei Jingsheng, or others whom the ECC shall decide on). Other speakers to be invited could be Vips (such as Richard Gere, Montserrat Caballe, Naomi Campbell, Bernardo Bertolucci, Harrison Ford). Politicians, representatives from governments, the EC and other personalities could also be on this list. It is considered important to approach the two-day manifestation in Geneva as broad as possible, from the political and organizational point of view. For that purpose participation will be asked from representatives of national governments and parliaments as well as interna

tional organizations. Somebody pointed out the necessity to limit the number of speeches as much as possible. Therefore there will only be two main speakers (at the opening and closing of the March 9's rally and during the presidium on March 10).

1.6. Objective: 15.000 participants

The aim is to bring at least 15.000 people to Geneva. This aim is considered a 'political' step forward compared to Brussels 1996. In this regard the geographical areas upon which we must invest our efforts are those close to and well connected with Geneva. The areas from where we expect most participation are: Switzerland, especially Geneva and Zurich (Tibetan community), France, Italy and Germany, but also Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The goal to bring as many people as possible does also concern the National Committees of the countries that are further away from Geneva.

2. Organizational Aspects

2.1. Technical problems

Some of the participants pointed out several technical problems due to the difficulties that Geneva can present: difficulties to obtain the permission from the police for the route that we have chosen, expensive accommodation, sleepy town and not very receptive towards the manifestation. These problems will be analyzed in the coming days to get a clearer picture of the logistical difficulties. These difficulties did not change our decision to hold the manifestation in Geneva.

2.2 Media involvement

Many participants pointed out that this year the media should be much more involved. With regard to the national media, the main work will have to be done by the NCs and by the Technical Coordination in Brussels with regard to the international media and agencies. It is important to start contacting the media immediately and to get in touch with local TV stations just to be sure.

2.3. The Committees (European and National). The Tibetan Government

To be able to coordinate the work as good as possible it has been decided to use the same structure for the committees (European and National) as last year.

2.3.1. The European Committee (EC) 1997

It has been decided to nominate a new European Coordinating Committee for 1997 with the same functions as the one of last year. After some debate, it was decided to change the structure of the EC by adding one additional representative of TSG (leaving a vacant position for the German TSG for the moment) (see annex 2). The task of the EC is to prepare the political platform for "GENEVA 1997". The first activity of the EC is to draft a letter to be sent, as soon as possible, to the NCs; to prepare the global budget of the manifestation and related initiatives; define the target group that will be requested support and participation. The EC will meet for the first time in mid-December in Geneva.

2.3.2. The National Committees (NC)

The representatives of the TSG, of the Tibetan communities and of the Radical Party present in the meeting have created a first group of National Committees with the goal of bringing as many people as possible to Geneva for two days.

The work of the NC will be in constant contact for the organization as well for finances, with the European Committee (EC). In the next days, through the means of coordination, an adjourned list of the NCs will be passed around (annex 3). The NCs should present to the EC, as soon as possible, the program of the next three months. The NCs should also get in touch with the national media, universities, local institutions, Buddhist centers and celebrities in order to inform as many people as possible.

2.3.3. Tibetan Government in exile

The Tibetan Government in exile will be represented by Chungdak KOREN, the representative in Geneva. She should be contacted and informed on the organization of the demonstration.

2.4. Coordination and information

In addiction to "Freedom for Tibet - Democracy in China Fax" there will also be an extra version called "Tibet: Geneva 1997". There will be, like in 1996, a headquarter at the European Parliament, and another in Geneva.

2.5. Other matters

The symbols of the EC (used for the official documents) will be like 1996's: European Union flag, for the intergroup on Tibet at EP, RP Symbol, Tibetan flag for the Tibetan Communities, and a map of Tibet with "FREEDOM FOR TIBET" written on it for the TSGs.

On the left side of the documents will be inserted the names of relevant national and international organizations that will support the event.

The official card of the NCs will have the same symbols plus, on its left side, the names and symbols of national organizations that support the political platform.

3. Financial aspects

3.1. Projected Budget

As regards funding and contributions the minimum projected budget for "GENEVA 1997" has been fixed in 50.000 USD (twice "BRUSSELS 1996"). The grand total, with advertisement campaigns (newspapers, TV, etc) and other political initiatives (press conferences, meetings etc.) is 250.000 USD.

3.2. Fundraising

A first pledge has been promised by the organizations present in the meeting (annex 4), while the NCs have been left free to organize themselves according to national contacts. Everything has to be communicated to the EC. An ad hoc bank account will be open in Brussels.

Many groups have proposed fundraising events like exhibitions, Christmas cards, a sand Mandala, Tibetan Culture dance, etc.

4. Agenda

4.1. Dec. 9-10, Walk-Around

A 24 hours walk around the offices of Foreign Affairs Ministry for the release of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng in Paris, Sofia, Rome, Vienna, Brussels, Budapest, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lion, Turin, New York. Such mobilization should be organized in other places as well.

4.2. European Seminar

The second European Seminar of the National Committees, on the "GENEVA 1997" campaign strategic issues, will be held in Strasbourg in the second half of January 1997.

4.3. A flag for Tibet 1997

This Campaign asks city administrations to fly the Tibetan flag on March 9 and 10. The RP, with the help of many TSG, has sent a letter to the mayors of many European Cities. The campaign target is 3000 adhesions, in order to reach this goal, considered an important step toward "GENEVA 1997", there is a big need of a large commitment.

4.4. February initiatives

During February in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany there should be organized meetings as well as press conferences; members of the Tibetan government should be present in the meetings.

ANNEX

1. Present in the meeting:

* Chungdak KOREN, representative of the Dalai Lama in Geneva, Dawa THONDUP, representative of the Dalai Lama in Paris,

* Representatives of the European Committee:

Olivier DUPUIS (General Secretary RP and MEP of the intergroup on Tibet), Piero VERNI (Italia-Tibet)

* National Committees 1996:

François BRUXEILE (CSPT, Marseille), Michèle HUBER (Lions des Neiges), Strasbourg), Gauthier JACQUELIN (Lions des Neiges, Lion), Marcelle ROUX (France-Tibet, Paris), Lucienne BOYE-SORIAUX (France-Tibet, Paris), Thomas NAGANT (Les Amis du Tibet, Brussels), Paul RENZ (TID, Germany), N. DORJEE (Germany Tibetan Community), Monika KOECK (Save Tibet, Vienna), Massimo LENSI (RP, Budapest), Tibor HENDREI (Tibetet Segito Tarsasag, Budapest), Marina SIKORA (RP, Zagreb), Renate MULLER (TID, Liechtenstein), Paolo PIETROSANTI (RP, Rome), Olga CECHUROVA (RP, Prague), Lobsang GANGSHONTSANG (Swiss Tibetan Friendship Society, Zurich), Lakpa TSERING (TSG, Geneve).

* Brussels Headquarter 1996:

Tiziana FALLETTI, Paolo ATZORI, Véronique DE WEICHT RP

* Geneva Headquarter 1997:

to be defined

2. European Committee 1996:

* TSG

- Lakpa TSERING (TSG Geneva)

- Piero VERNI (Italia-Tibet)

- not decided (TSG Germany)

* PE Intergroup on Tibet:

- Olivier DUPUIS (General Secretary of RP and MEP)

* Tibetan Communities

- not decided

3. National Committees

* Belgium/Luxembourg

- Thomas NAGANT (Les Amis du Tibet - Bel)

- Olivier MORES (Les Amis du Tibet - Lux)

- Paolo ATZORI (RP)

* Austria

- Monika KOECK (Save Tibet)

- TSG Austria (Tirolo) not decided

* Czech Republic

- Olga CECUROVA (RP)

- TSG Prague not decided

* Italy

- Paolo PIETROSANTI (RP)

- not decided (Italia-Tibet)

* Croatia

- Marina SIKORA (RP)

- not decided (TGS Split)

* Switzerland/Liechtenstein

- Lobsang GANGSHONTSANG (Swiss Tibetan Friendship Society)

- Renate MULLER (TID, Liecthenstein)

* Hungary

- Massimo LENSI (RP)

- Tibor HENDREI (Tibetet Segito Tarsasag)

* France

- Lucienne BOYE-SORIAUX

- not decided (TSG)

National Committees to be defined:

Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Germany, Holland, UK, Portugal, Bulgaria, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden.

4. Funds

Swiss Tibetan Friendship Society........1.500 USD

Radical Party...........................5.000 USD

TSG Geneva..............................1.500 USD

Save Tibet (Vienna).....................1.000 USD

Italia-Tibet............................1.500 USD

Tibet Bureau (Geneva)...................3.000 USD

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total..................................13.500 USD

TSG Budapest will provide 5000 Tibetan paper flags (circa 900 USD) for March 9-10 Geneva demonstrations.

5. The symbols used for the official documents