< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #50 >

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

Issue 50, February 6th, 1997

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

___________________________

31 DAYS UNTIL "GENEVA 1997"

OBJECTIVE: 15,000 OR MORE PEOPLE IN GENEVA

only one month until the beginning of the 2nd European manifestation for Freedom for Tibet. The organizational meetings have already begun in numerous European cities in order to organize the involvement of a maximum number of citizens. The first notices regarding the rental of buses and train reservations have started to arrive at the Coordination Committee.

Thanks also to the numerous French Tibet Support Groups for their suggestion that now is the best time to organize assemblies and press conferences in the Swiss, French, German, and Italian cities that are closest to Geneva in order to mobilize and inform the media. On this point, we have requested the assistance of Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, of the monk Palden Gyatso, and Kalon Tashi Wangdhi. If there are TSG's that are interested in being responsible for such initiatives in their cities they are encouraged to contact the technical Coordination of the manifestation in Brussels at the offices of the TRP in Brussels.

In the meantime, we wait to see the Bank Account for "Geneva 1997" increase and which, despite repeated appeals, languishes with only the 5,000 USD that has been deposited by the Transnational Radical Party.

As usual, time is in short supply and there is much work to do before March 9-10.

Good Work to all.

* Bank Account: "Geneve 1997" N. 310-1075921-83, BBL Bank, Agency of the European Parliament, Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Brussels.

________________________

"A FLAG FOR TIBET 1997":

2,778 UNTIL THE OBJECTIVE OF 3,000 IS REACHED.

THE FIRST SUPPORTERS FROM OUTSIDE OF EUROPE.

The campaign has not yet taken off. The rhythm is still flat and the support from mayors less than that of 1996, despite the fact that positive signs have arrived from some nations: from Bulgaria, for example, where not one mayor supported the campaign in 1996, there are now 6 mayors who will raise the Tibetan flag this year. Good news has also arrived from outside of Europe. Thubten "Sam" Samdup of the

"Canada-Tibet Committee" has reported that he has begun to involve Canadian mayors in the campaign, and Jon Breukel of the "Australia-Tibet Council" has communicated to us that 7 Australian mayors have announced their support of the campaign.

Situation by nation as of February 5th.

Conf. '96 New. '97 Totals

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

Australia - 7 7

Belgium 20 15 35

Bulgaria - 6 6

Croatia - 2 2

Czech Republic 4 9 13

France 38 28 66

Holland 1 - 1

Hungary 6 8 14

Italy 31 13 44

Luxembourg 7 8 15

Slovenia - 5 5

Spain 6 8 14

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

115 107 222

* Adhesions from Jan. 30th through Feb 5th (31).

From Hungary: Bela CSECSEI, Mayor of Budapest-Jozsefvaros (c); Istvan MESZAROS, Mayor of BACSBOKOD (n); from the Czech Republic: Petr BRTASKY, Mayor of PRAGUE 13 (n); from Italy: Giovanni BARTOLI, Mayor of CASOLA IN LUNIGIANA; Raffaele LEONE, Mayor of NOTO (n); Lucio BARONI, Mayor of AULLA (c); Sauro CHIAPPINI, Mayor of LICCIANA NARDI (n); Ermanno BENOCCI, Mayor of SORANO (c); Franco MARCHIORI, Mayor of MIRANO (c); Fabio CECCHERINI, Mayor of POGGIBONSI (c); Cesare GIOVINETTI, Mayor of CREMA (n); Dario PAVAN, Mayor of BRUGHIERO (n); from BULGARIA: Ivan HARIZANOV, Mayor of STRUMIANI (n); Radoslav ILIEVSKI, mayor of DOLNA MITROPOLIA (n); Silvia YURUKOVA, Mayor of DEVIN (n); from Spain: Felipe DELSENY CAUBET, mayor of BOSSOST (n); from France: P. PAVEC, Mayor of VANNES; from Luxemburg: Pierre BORMANN, mayor of NEUNHAUSEN (n).

< TIBET-CHINA TELEX >

______________________________________________

WEI JINGSHENG/THE SIGNATURES DELIVERED IN OSLO

The total number of signatures in support of Wei Jingsheng's candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize, about 1,160 signatures (811 Parliamentarians, 350 Professors, 3 Nobel Laureates, and 2 members of government) were delivered to the Nobel Committee in Oslo.

________________

WEI JINGSHENG/PR

Consequent to the delivery of the signatures in support of Wei Jingsheng's candidacy for the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize on January 31st, TRP secretary Olivier DUPUIS made the following statement: "The delivery of the signatures declaring their support of Wei's candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize from all over the world concludes the first phase of an initiative, and certainly does not conclude the campaign that we, together with Human Rights in China and the Federation for Democracy in China, as well as the many citizens who would like to see democracy take root in China, have waged, so that the 1.2 billion Chinese citizens can experience the fundamental human and civil rights that begin with the freedom of expression and opinion. Wei Jingsheng is obviously a "personality" and a person that has expressed, even in the worst possible situations, the power of his convictions and the strength of his hopes for a democratic future in his great nation, which is so rich with tradition and history. But Wei Jingsheng is a

lso a symbol of resistance of the struggle for freedom and democracy. He is a symbol for hundreds of millions of Chinese people, Mongolans, Turkistanis, and Tibetans, all of whom resist the colonizing forces of the Red Chinese. Finally, he is a symbol for all those who struggle, everywhere in the world, everyday, despite the indifference of the mass media and even their own fellow citizens, for a democratic future and the rights and liberty of all the citizens of the world. We do not doubt that the members of the prestigious Nobel Committee will recognize this."

________________________________________

US SENATE/RESOLUTION ON NGAWANG CHOEPHEL

A resolution on the case of the Tibetan musician Ngawang Choephel, who has been condemned to 18 years in prison, was deposited to the first session of the US senate. The document expresses among its many points a request that the "government of the United States must readily act to sponsor and promote a resolution of the UN Human Rights Commission regarding China and Tibet, and which directly addresses the situation of political prisoners and the negotiations requested by the Dalai Lama."

________________

USA/TIBETAN FLAG

Noah RADFORD of "Students for a Free Tibet" has communicated to us that Brown University of Rhode Island (USA) will fly a Tibetan flag on March 10th.

______________________

ROMA/ASSEMBLY ON TIBET

A conference entitled "Tibet: Why does no one speak?" took place on Saturday, January 25th at the Moravia center in Rome. Particular attention was paid to the European mobilization for "Geneva 1997." Participants included Geshe Sonam Cianciub, president of the Tibetan Institute Aldo Mastroianni, and Francesco Pullia of the "Italy-Tibet" association and the Transnational Radical Party.

___________

GENEVA 1997

MARCH 9-10 FOR FREEDOM FOR TIBET: INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF PARTICIPATION

The following form is to be completed and mailed to our editorial office concerning the responsibilities and commitments each of you can undertake regarding the organization of "Geneva 1997."

* The following are the participation forms that were collected at the meeting of the Strasburg Seminar on January 16-17:

- 1,500 people from the Tibetan community in Switzerland

- 1,500 people from the Italian coordinators (by bus and train)

- 50-150 people from the Belgian coordinators (1/3 by bus)

- 50 people from Strasburg (1 bus)

- 10 people from the Hungarian coordinators (by train)

- 20 people from the Slovenian coordinators (by train)

- 50 people from the Croatian coordinators (by train)

Total as of January 31st: approx. 3,280 people.

___________

GENEVA 1997

___________

____________________________________________

FIRST NAME

____________________________________________

LAST NAME

____________________________________________

COMPLETE ADDRESS

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

NATION

____________________________________________

TELEPHONE/FAX

____________________________________________

E-MAIL

____________________________________________

ORGANIZATION

( ) I will participate in the GENEVA 1997 Manifestation

( ) I will be responsible for bringing ___________ other people to Geneva.

____________________________________________

(specify if by train, plane, car, or bus)

( ) I will contribute __________________ to the bank account for

Geneva 1997. (please specify amount)

Account information and number is: "Geneve 1997" no. 310-1075921-83, BBL bank, Agency of the European Parliament, Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Brussels.

___________

SECOND PAGE

_________________________

TIBETAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS

EXTENDED ON "VOICE OF TIBET"

As of Tuesday, January 28th, the radio station "Voice of Tibet" (VOT) extended its short wave programs by an extra 30 minutes every day. The programmers had foreseen, since May of 1996, 15 minutes of time from Monday to Friday. The transmissions broadcast news from Tibet and stories in the various Tibetan dialects.

As a result of various polls effected in Tibet, India, and Nepal, VOT has decided to extend its nightly broadcast to 45 minutes, beginning at 8:30 PM Peking time (6:00 PM in India).

All the organizations and people who are committed to the Tibetan cause in the world are invited to send VOT any news, events, or information, including planned campaigns and future events regarding Tibet, to VOT. The information can be recorded or sent via fax, telephone, or by electronic mail to our studio. If we are notified in advance of any initiatives it will enable us to organize their broadcast in the best possible way.

VOT has invested a lot of money in order to strengthen its broadcasts. We are still in search of financial assistance to secure our activities. Advice and economic support, both of which are essential to the future of our project, are always welcome. Thank You!

Voice of Tibet

Sonam T. Khorlatsang, Editor in Chief

Oystein Alme, Project Coordinator

Welhavensgate 1 - 0166 Oslo - Norway

Tel: +47-22-11.27.00 / +47-22-11.54.74

Fax: +47-22-11.12.09

E-Mail: vot@sn.no

Account Number: 1607.39.44191 - Sparenbanken NOR, Oslo (mention "Voice of Tibet")