< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #46 >

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".

Tenzin GYATSO, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, 1992

Edition no. 46 (Dec. 13, 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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AFTER THE WALK AROUND

THE NEXT STEP:

REACHING THE OBJECTIVE OF 1,000 ADHESIONS OF SUPPORT FOR WEI JINGSHENG AS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE BY JANUARY OF 1997.

The 24 Hour Walk Around in front of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in order to ask for the freedom of the Panchen Lama and Wei Jingsheng ended recently with success in terms of participation. As usual, even with some notable exceptions, the mass media decided to ignore the event. This attitude, which is already well known amongst us, must nonetheless motivate us to increase our journalistic contacts as preparation for "Geneva 1997."

Another deadline is rapidly approaching. In less than six weeks we will have to consign to the Nobel Committee our proposal for the candidacy of Wei Jingsheng for the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. We have arrived, as of today, to a total of 700 Parliamentarians, university professors, members of government, and other Nobel laureates who, over our last ten months of work, have signed the proposal. These are still too few to ensure that Wei enter into the group of 5 or 6 candidates upon which the committee will decide in the early days of October. And, to complicate the problem, we have arrived at the time of the year when Parliaments and universities are closed for the holiday season.

We must, over the next few weeks, concentrate our energies in this direction, seeking to contact Parliamentarians and professors even in their homes, and sending information and material by telephone and mail with great urgency.

The Transnational Radical Party has opened its subscription drive for 1997. It is a campaign that, from the first signs, promises to take off, especially among the friends who have been promoters with us of the numerous initiatives for freedom in Tibet and democracy in China. We cannot repeat to you enough the importance of joining this nonviolent international organization. It is a party that has decided to prioritize for 1997 a dedication to accelerating the process of democracy in China, the defense of democracy, and the peaceful struggle for freedom for Tibet.

Good Work!

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REPORT ON THE WALK AROUNDS

AND THE MANIFESTATIONS FOR WEI AND THE PANCHEN LAMA

The Walk Arounds recently ended around the Ministry of foreign Affairs of numerous capitals. The following pages are a brief account of what happened during those 24 hours. We have yet to receive the chronicles of the Walk Arounds in Paris and Leone, but we will publish them in the next edition of "Tibet - China Fax" along with the "Press Release of the Walk Around."

* BRUSSELS

More than 100 people participated in the Brussels Walk Around, which was organized by "Les Amis du Tibet" and the Transnational Radical Party. In the late afternoon a candlelight vigil began with about one hundred people participating. At the conclusion, a letter addressed to the Belgian Foreign Minister was consigned. Among the numerous participants there was Francois Roelant Du Vivier, regional deputy of FDF-PRL and former European Deputy. The initiative was almost completely ignored by the national media.

* NEW YORK

Numerous persons took part in the candlelight vigil at the closing of the New York Walk Around. Speakers representing various organizations supporting the initiative, among them the representative of His Holiness in New York, Kusur Dawa Tsering, took turns speaking from a platform at Ralph Bunche park next to the UN, before beginning the march to Times Square. The Democratic representative Benjamin A. Gilman participated in the closing ceremony.

* ROME

About sixty people alternated marching in the Rome Walk Around before the palace of the Farnesina, which houses the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the conclusion of the Walk Around a delegation composed of the senators of the Lega Nord (Northern League), guided by their leader Speroni and Paolo Pietrosanti of the TRP, was received by the Plenipotentiary Minister Sardo to whom the reasons and objectives of the initiative were explained.

* BUDAPEST

There were forty participants in the Walk Around in the Hungarian capital. The initiative concluded with a press conference with representatives of "Tibetet Segito Tarsasag" and the TRP at the front door of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along the Danube. The media covered the event thoroughly.

* MOSCOW

The Walk Around in Moscow was interrupted at 4:30 pm when two guards of the militia arrested Vladimir Parfenov and Viktor Doludenko, both militants of the TRP. Only after four hours of detainment were the radicals released. TRP organizers immediately called a press conference denouncing the evident violations of the law concerning the organization of manifestations on behalf of Moscow's forces of order.

* VIENNA

In Vienna 30 members of "Save Tibet Austria" participated in the Walk Around. A delegation was received by the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Rohan (secretary general of the Minister), Kurt Spallinger (specialist in Asian studies), and Christian Strohal (a human rights worker), divided the requests of the marchers amongst themselves and responded that it was important to conceive a reaction at the earliest possible moment on a European level.

* SOPHIA

The Cuban dissident Luis ramon Miranda valdes, the Liberian refugee Kortis Orsbound, and various writers, poets, musicians, and exponents of Bulgarian culture participated in the Walk Around in the Bulgarian capital. Circa 30 persons. both militants of the TRP and "Bulgaria-Tibet," alternated marching in the Walk Around in Sophia. The TV coverage of the event was extremely relevant.

* MARSEILLES

There was great success in terms of both participation and media coverage at the Marseilles Walk Around, which was organized by CSPTC and "Tibet Liberte Solidarite." More than forty people marched in silence in front of the Prefecture. The demonstrators displayed four banners of 8 meters in length each and two immense photographs of Wei and the Panchen Lama. A stand with informational leaflets, petitions, and other materials was kept open the entire 24 hours and attracted many passers by, who stopped to read and ask for more information on the campaigns for the liberty of Tibet, Wei, and the Panchen Lama.

* BORDEAUX

A group of people took part in a long march on Tuesday from the Municipal Building of Bordeaux to the Prefecture. The manifestation was organized by "Asia Pacifique," and long with the support of "Les Amis de Puntsok Ling," and the Humanitarian Association "Un Dispensaire pour Dharamsala" and the participation of a member of "Don et Action pour le Tibet - Acquitaine."

* FLORENCE

More than thirty people alternated, day and night, in Florence in front of the prefecture of the capital of Tuscany. Militants of Alleanza Nazionale (AN) also participated. In the same day, motion were deposited at the Provincial Council and the Regional Council of Tuscany concerning Wei and the Panchen Lama.

* TURIN

Under heavy rain, twenty people participated in the Walk Around in front of the Prefecture. At its conclusion a delegation was received by Dr. Garsia of the Prefecture of Turin.

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OTHER NEWS ON THE WALK AROUND

* The mayor of the city of Saint-Tropez (France), Jean-Michel Couve, adhered to an initiative organizing an information stand for the day, as well as a manifestation for human rights in China and Tibet.

* In Croatia, a letter signed by numerous deputies and the President of the Communal Council of Zagabria Zdravko Tomac arrived at the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mate Granic. In the letter, a commitment towards the freedom of Wei and the Panchen Lama is requested of the Croatian government.

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WEI JINGSHENG FOR THE 1997 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

In recent days another 26 Parliamentarians and university professors have signed the proposal of candidacy, bringing the total to 663 nominations (450 Parliamentarians, 208 university professors, three members of government, and two Nobel Peace Prize winners).

* Parliamentarians

Laszlo VARGA (Hungary, KDNP), Sandor KERESZTES (Hungary, KDNP), Tabwea TEITEINIMAN (Kiribati, Independent Party), Antonella MULARONI (San Marino), Valeria CIAVATTA (San Marino), Carlo FRANCOISI (San Marino), Bertrand COUSIN (France, RPR), Didier JULIA (France, RPR), Robert MEHELEN (Luxembourg, ADR) Volker BECK ( Germany, Greens), Eugene BERGER (Luzembourg, DP), Jean Claude PAIX (France, UDF), Robson MATT (New zealand, Alliance), Klaus BREMER (Finland, Swedish People's Party), Jean Marie ANDRE (France, UDF), Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (PE, ELDR), Per GAHRTON (PE, Greens), Francis DECOURRIERE (PE, PPE), Riccardo NENCINI (PE, PSE), Jan Theodoor HOEKEMA (Holland, Democrats 66), Stefan GAYTANDZHIEV (Bulgaria).

* University professors of Law, Philosophy, Political Science, and History

Cees FLINTERMAN (Univ. of Maastricht), Alessandro BRUSCHI (univ. of Florence), Paul de WAART (Univ. of Amsterdam), Pietro FANTOZZI (Univ. of Reggio Calabria), Giovanni de Sensi SESTITO (Univ. of Reggio Calabria), Riccardo FUBINI (Univ. of Florence).

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A FLAG FOR TIBET 1997:

2,883 SUPPORTERS AWAY FROM OUR OBJECTIVE OF 3,000.

In this past week another 23 cities have agreed to confirm or renew their support for the campaign "A Flag for Tibet 1997." Another 23 flags will fly on the communal flagpoles on March 9th and 10th.

* Situation by country as of Dec 11th.

Conf. '96 Ades. '97 Total

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Belgium 19 11 30

France 28 11 39

Italy 24 1 25

Luxembourg 4 - 4

Holland 1 - 1

Czech Republic 1 - 1

Spain 6 2 8

Slovenia - 1 1

Hungary 4 4 8

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Total 80 14 117

* The adhesions from November 28th through Dec. 11th

From Hungary: Katalin KERTI, mayor of TATA (a); Mihaly ZOLTAI, mayor of NAGYMAROS (a); Maria SZILAGYI, mayor of NYIRABRANY (a); Lajos BECZE, mayor of TAR (a); from Voivodina: Istvan BACSKULIN, mayor of KANISZA (c); from Belgium: Jean HUON, myor of HOEGAARDEN (a); Hugo PHILTJENS, mayor of KORTESSEM (a); J.M. MAES, mayor of SOIGNIES (a); Ludwig VANDENHOVE, mayor of SINT-TRUIDEN (a); from France: Michel FAURE, mayor of NYONS (a); Daniel GRAND, mayor of MILLONFOSSE (a); Herve' MARITON, mayor of CREST (a); Jeanne Pierre BALDUYCK, myor of TOURCOING (a); Raymond COUDERC, mayor of BEZIERS (c); Yves MICHEL, mayor of EOURRES (a); Claude VULPTAN, mayor of ST. MARTIN DE CRAU (a); Jean Marie GIRAULT, mayor of CAEN (c); from Italy: Fabio CECCHERINI, mayor of POGGIBONSI (c); Fortunato TURCATO, mayor of UGGIATE TREVANO (c); from Spain: juan Manuel VILLAR CAREAGA, mayor of ESCORIAZA (a); Francisco ZAMODIO MEDERO, mayor of ISLA CRISTINA (c); from Slovenia: Alojz SPRAH, mayor of KIDRICEVO (a).

(a): New Adhesion 1997

(c): reconfirmed 1996

< TIBET/CHINA TELEX >

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SLOVENIA/NEW TIBET SUPPORT GROUP

In Lublijana, on Dec. 10th, on the international day of human rights, a new Tibet Support Group was formed. The principle objective of the neo-TSG is to develop, in Slovenia, initiatives for the support of campaigns for the freedom of Tibet like those that help preserve the cultural heritage, language, and religion of the Tibetan people. The president elect of the group is Mojca KUSEJ REBOLY, to whom we send our best wishes for success. The group's address is: Prazakova 20, 1000 Lublijana, (Slovenia).

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WEI/TORINO

On December 10th the Community Council of Turin (Italy) approved a unanimous order of the day, which was presented by counselor Carmelo PALMA, sustaining the candidacy of Wei Jingsheng to the Nobel Peace prize for 1997. The document, among other things, commits the mayor and administration of Turin to "work so that every future communication between the City Administration and Chinese authorities will mention the necessity of assuring respect for human rights in the people's Republic of China." Similar initiatives, already in preparation in other cities, should be multiplied.....in the next issue we will publish the text approved by the Community Council of Turin.

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CZECH REPUBLIC/TRP DELEGATION

On December 3rd a delegation of the TRP composed of Paolo PIETROSANTI of the General Council and Olga CECHUROVA of the Czech Republic was received in Prague by Jaroslav BASTA of the Social-Democratic Party and vice president of the defense Committee of the Czech Parliament. Also in attendance was Cestmir HOFHANZL, deputy of the Civic Democratic Alliance. Both deputies affirmed their commitment to Parliamentary initiatives for the liberty of Tibet and democracy in China, with particular attention to the appeal of support for the nomination of Wei to the Nobel Peace Prize for 1997, and for the encounter of the UN Secretary General with the Dalai Lama.

< PRESS RELEASE >

* Chine: huit Ouighours executes" in the Dec 6th issue of Liberation (France). A rare and important note on the repression in eastern Turkistan (the Chinese province of Xinjiang) on behalf of the Chinese authorities against the Uiguri people, the dominant ethnic group of Muslims in eastern Turkistan. It is a land rich with oil and precious minerals that is used by the Chinese for nuclear experiments as a result of the sadly famous polygon of Lop Nor.

* "Ancora un 'grande sbalzo'" by Rosario Alessandrello, in the Nov. 27th issue of "Il Sole 24 ore." The advisor of Confindustria (representative organization of Italian industries) analyzes the problems of internationalization, and the "ninth Chinese five-year plan," explaining why it is important to invest in China at this moment, even for the social development of the country. In perfect harmony with the "4 Modernizations" of Deng.