< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA-FAX ! - #60 >

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 #60, July 2, 1997

Editors office: Massimo Lensi, Szechenyi Rkp.7.III.em 35 - 1054 Budapest (H)

Tel.e fax +36-1-111.62.17;

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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HONG KONG RETURNS TO CHINA:

THE DEBATE CONTINUES OVER THE SATYAGRAHA FOR OCCUPIED TIBET

We send this issue of the bulletin to the press only one day after the change of the flags in Hong Kong. We will not dwell for long upon this important political event, which for now has been left in the hands of facts and the numerous comments of international observers, but we must underline this as the greatest Chinese contradiction of the present when compared to the truly immense tragedies which are taking place in Chinese territories, including massacres, purgations, arrests, and ethnic cleansings in Tibet, in Eastern Turkestan, Inner Mongolia, and throughout the Chinese Laogai prison camps. An immediate and forceful response must be delivered with political clarity on behalf of our governments, and it is up to us to invite them to join the nonviolent and democratic struggle with every means at our disposition.In this issue we are giving extended attention to the McMillan-Scott Report, which was approved by the European Parliament, on the relations between the European Union and China and the debate

concerning the Satyagraha, which is attracting more and more attention and raising problems and worries as well as creating strategies and alliances. This issue presents the speeches of Klemens Ludwig, President of the German "Tibet Initiative Deutschland" and of Michael Alexander of "Tibet Information Service."Good reading and good work to everyone!

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EP/CHINA/MCMILLAN-SCOTT REPORTThe European Parliament approved an important report on the "long-term relations between China and Europe (McMillan-Scott Report)" during its most recent Plenary Session. Many reactions followed the vote; in the first place there was the reaction of the Chinese Embassy, which bordered upon insults against the European Institutions and the People's Daily of Peking. The approved document establishes a substantially new approach to relations between China and Europe based upon the principle "not only regular commercial exchange but political exchange as well." Under the initiative of Deputy Olivier Dupuis (ARE Group), diverse amendments were added on various points of the report, in particular those regarding Inner Mongolia, Eastern Turkestan, Taiwan, Tibet, Wei Jingsheng and the situation regarding all dissidents. The document invites China to abolish the death penalty, allow Wei Jingsheng to receive the Sacharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament; to establish an independ

ent commission to review the cases of 2,700 persons accused of counter-revolutionary acts, to grant foreign observers regular access to Tibet, Eastern Turkestan, and Inner Mongolia. The document also condemns China's occupation of Tibet and solicits the Chinese government to accept the proposal of the Dalai Lama, which requests the opening of negotiations based upon the cultural and religious autonomy of the Tibetan people and their right to political self determination. The Report also requests that the Commission open an Information Office in Taipei, as has been requested in various resolutions, and actively deplores the fact that the European Council and European Commission were unable to keep a common position on the question of the grave violations of human rights in China during the works of the last UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. *** THE FOLLOWING IS THE ENTIRETY OF THE SPEECH DELIVERED BY TRANSNATIONAL RADICAL PARTY SECRETARY AND EUROPEAN DEPUTY OLIVIER DUPUIS DURING THE COURSE OF THE DEBATE

AND THE PRESS RELEASE OF THE RADICAL DEPUTIES REGARDING THE CHINESE REACTION FOLLOWING THE VOTE ON THE MCMILLAN-SCOTT REPORT. __________________________

* SPEECH BY OLIVIER DUPUIS (Strasburg, June 11, 1997): "Mister President, we are few, but we have the honor of having the Commissioner (Sir Leon Brittan, ndr) amongst us, a fact that I consider important. I do not say this for Mrs. Moreau (French Communist, ndr), but because I believe that when we speak of human rights we speak of democracy, and our objective is to prevent that a model of progress without democracy will emerge, thus creating a Great Singapore. Our work in the Parliament is that of defining a policy which permits us to reach the establishment of democracy in China as soon as possible. This Report represents, therefore, a first important step in that direction. It will also give us permission to further pursue Commissioner Brittan, but in this it resolves only a minor portion of the problem. I think we all remember the grave happenings which intervened in the definition of a common European foreign policy regarding the issue of human rights in China. We all have Geneva in mind and the dis

aster of the European Union that occurred there. This was followed by French President Chirac's visit to China, who promised us changes that we await to this day, as well as the visit of the President of the Italian Council (Prime Minister Prodi), who repeated to us that he would be firm and that he would have asked that China assume new responsibilities in addressing the question of human rights. We could not register one concrete result from his visit. I would thus like to say that what we are doing is increasingly important, but that we must stand firm before the European council in the coming months, especially since the Council has recently announced that it is prepared to redefine its policy towards China. If its policy will be re-aligned according to the McMillan-Scott Report, it will be a first step in a positive direction. On the contrary, if the definition of this policy will be a confirmation of that policy chosen by Chirac and Prodi, I believe we will be headed for disaster."

* DECLARATION OF GIANFRANCO DELL'ALBA AND OLIVIER DUPUIS, EUROPEAN DEPUTIES OF THE RADICAL EUROPEAN ALLIANCE (Brussels, June 18, 1997): "The Chinese criticism of the position taken by the European Parliament regarding its endorsement of the McMillan-Scott is unacceptable, and we hope that the President of the EP will react in a firm and adequate manner in condemning the insults to the Parliament which have not had any effect beyond the fact that they reaffirm the positions we constantly assume on the issues of democracy and human rights in China. Whoever hopes that the EP will be intimidated by the cynical and blind realpolitik that has prevailed during the session of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, where various nations (France, Italy, Germany, and Spain) rejected the policy that has thus far been followed by the European Union, has once again been defeated. At this point, before the Chinese insults on one hand, and the profound divisions within the Council on the other, the Parliament cannot to

else but affirm its policy on relations with China in general, and, with particular coherence regarding Hong Kong, cancel the participation of its delegation at the ceremonies scheduled in Hong Kong on June 30th, which foresee, among other things, the presence of international guests at the opening of the new, and illegitimate, Legislative council."

___________________________________ DEBATE ON THE SATYAGRAHA (PART III)The debate on the Satyagraha for the freedom of occupied Tibet continues. It is a debate, we remind you, that is open to all those who are interested in creating a global movement for the freedom of Tibet. We have included two speeches reflecting upon the matter in this issue, as well as the introductory remarks of TRP Secretary Olivier Dupuis (Published in Tibet Fax no. 58). Those who are interested in reading the collection of speeches published to date may request them from the editor's office.

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ARE WE PREPARED TO INITIATE A NONVIOLENT SATYAGRAHA? (4)

by Klemens Ludwig

(President of Germany's "Tibet Initiative Deutschland")"I am in complete agreement with Olivier Dupuis when he says that "the nonviolent struggle for the freedom of Tibet has yet to begin." In my opinion, the question that remains is whether we are really prepared to initiate a nonviolent Satyagraha and its consequences. I am not suggesting we are not ready, but that it will require an immense effort on our behalf. All of the nonviolent "weapons" such as fastings, sit-ins, gatherings, and marches are not enough for a Satyagraha unless these take place in Tibet. It is not difficult for them to be organized in Geneva, Brussels, Paris, or Bonn, and even the number of participants must increase. Nonetheless, the question is whether or not we want to assume the responsibility of the risk of these activities in occupied Tibet. And what would the consequences be for us and the Tibetans?""We often refer to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King as examples of nonviolent struggle. From my perspective, the example

s are not adequate. Both of them struggled within a relatively democratic system, were partially supported by certain media and public of that same system, and this support was crucial to their success.""Can we expect any type of support on behalf of the Chinese people or media regarding the nonviolent struggle for the freedom of Tibet? I'm afraid not. It is not because all Chinese citizens are anti-Tibet, but because their authoritarian regime does not allow space for protest. For example, the fact that a true nonviolent struggle never took place against Hitler or Stalin should not surprise us. Such totalitarian regimes do not create the conditions for organizing such protests. Regarding Tibet, the Chinese government would react as Hitler or Stalin did, and not like the British or American governments did.""How does all of this affect the nonviolent Satyagraha campaign?""If it were supported solely by the Tibetans in exile, we could continue with our activities of placing pressure on the Chinese gover

nment and our own governments until they also press the Chinese. Such strategies are effective when considering the controversy within the Chinese Leadership concerning Tibet, a fact that allows us to hope for change. The Satyagraha is an ethical concept which foresees a personal commitment and risk which goes beyond that which the Tibetans in exile and other non-Tibetans have taken. It would not be unrealistic to say that the Tibetans are prepared to take such risks. But as a representative of a movement which supports Tibet who lives in a country that is rich and filled with commodities, I can say that the road which must follow to prepare the Satyagraha is a long one. I do not mean to be a pessimist, as I do believe in the possibility of change, but it is not practical to live in a world of illusions. My idea is that we must learn from the Tibetans concerning when the time will be right to earnestly begin the Satyagraha, and only then every individual who is prepared to participate and assume the risks of

being arrested will exemplify a great success and be a model for others to follow. In this sense, I believe in taking little steps, and I believe that it will never be too late for Tibet as long as the Tibetans never renounce themselves." ________________________________________________________________________

THE SATYAGRAHA INCLUDING CHINESE DISSIDENTS, THE UIGURI, AND MONGOLS (5)

By Michael Alexander

(Director of "Tibet Information Service," Germany and Malta)I fully agree with Anders H. Anderssen (Tibet fax 59) that Tibetans must take charge of this operation. All philosophical and well-meant support from people other than Tibetans are, of course, valuable but it is the practical approach which, in the end, is of real importance. We also should co-ordinate all efforts together with Chinese dissidents, with Uighurs and Mongols because they have the same aims. We could support them in and outside Tibet and other areas only to a certain extent. The main practical task has to be done by them. They should sit together and work out concrete plans, but it would be foolish to make these plans known through Tibet Fax or other means of communications, because the Chinese authorities will have this Knowledge immediately through their channels and could counteract all plans.So, whatever the practical plans and communications are concerned they have to be kept top-secret otherwise the Satyagraha will end in co

mplete failure. This also applies to any expert advice Tibet supporters may be asked to give. And when I say experts, I do not mean just wellmeaning people but experts in clandestine operations, because that is in practice what it will amount to. There is another aspect to look at: The non-violent way Gandhi went to achieve Indian independence with thousands of people lying on the road thus blocking any transports has worked with British but will never work with Chinese who would not hesitate to roll over them with tanks. Lastly: Non-violence is applied to people -as I see it- but not to objects._______

Note: Articles must be sent via fax or preferably via e-mail to the TRP Office in Brussels in English, French, or Italian. The length of the text should not exceed 40-50 typed lines. Fax: 32-2-284.91.98e-mail: pr.bruxelles@agora.stm.it_______ < TIBET-CHINA TELEX > ___________________________ A PLAZA, A STREET FOR TIBETIn recent days the mayors of Gradisca d'Isonzo and Racale (Italy) and Grand Synthe (France) adhered to the campaign. There are now a total of 24 cities that have dedicated a street or plaza to a free Tibet as of July 2nd. ______________________________________________ CHINA/WEI JINGSHENG IS BEATEN BY HIS CELL MATE The famous Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, who is serving a 15 year sentence in the Tangshan prison in Northeastern China, was beaten violently by his cell mate. The event occurred two weeks ago, but the New York based "Human Rights in China" only revealed the news today, explaining that Wei was seriously injured and that he requested that his family take legal actio

n against the authorities responsible in the jail (...) Wei's family also spoke of his grave physical condition, who suffers from arthritis, high blood pressure and serious stomach problems. They condemned the fact that the prison authorities continue to deny Wei the medical attention he needs. Wei Shanshan, the sister of the dissident, accused the government of Peking of confiscating a package she sent to her family from Germany. The package contained copies of Wei's book, a photograph of the dissident's nephew, hundred dollars and one hundred marks. The package never arrived.

(Peking, June 26th - ADNKRONOS/DPA)

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COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET OF EXPENSES

FOR THE "GENEVA 1997" MANIFESTATION

Although it is late due to the extenuated collection of all of the expense related documents, we publish the comprehensive budget for the "Freedom for Tibet" manifestation which took place in Geneva on March 9-10 of this year. We beg your pardon for the inexcusable delay. The budget is in Swiss Franks (CHF) (ml).

* CONTRIBUTIONSTibet Office (Geneva, Switzerland) 3,000 CHFSyamatara (Hilms, Austria) 296 CHFSave Tibet (Vienna, Austria) 1,148 CHFLes Amis du Tibet (Luxembourg) 435 CHFCSPT (Lossanna, Geneva, Switzerland) 4,400 CHFSwiss Tib. Friendship (Zurich, Switzerland) 2,000 CHFTibet Initiative Basel (Switzerland) 1,500 CHFVerein der Tibeter (Switzerland) 860 CHFTibet Initiative De. (Germany) 2,100 CHFVerein Tibeter Jugend (Switzerland) 1,264 CHFTibet Unterstuetzung (Lichtenstein) 500 CHFTransnational Radical Party 7,400 CHFPaola Ragno 435 CHFAlessandro Pacetti 104 CHFDonations at Manifestation Tables 530 CHF_______________________________________________________

Total 25,972 CHF_______________________________________________________

* EXPENSESPostal fees 54 CHFLegal Fees 130 CHFHousing (marchers) 1,913 CHFStaff Housing 4,258 CHFCandles 2,086 CHFProduction of "Geneva 97" stickers 350 CHFFlyers 2,121 CHFPodium Construction 3,400 CHFSecurity 955 CHFElectricity for Podium 4,000 CHFTelephone bills 1,708 CHFElectricity 564 CHFPhotocopies 886 CHFOffice Supplies 265 CHF"Geneva 97" Poster Production 3,282 CHF _______________________________________________________

Total 25,972 CHF_______________________________________________________