< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA-FAX ! - #66 >
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#66, December 10th, 1997
Editors office: Paolo Atzori
Tel: +32-2-2847198 - Fax: +32-2-2303670
mailto:P.Atzori@agora.stm.it
http://www.agora.stm.it/pr
telnet:Agora.stm.it
Distribution: Alberto Novi
43, Rue Wiertz - LEO 7H252, 1047 Brussels (B)Tel: +32-2-2847198 - Fax: +32-2-2303670
Published in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian, Croatian and Rumanian
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EDITORIAL
Jang Zemin's visit to the United States was marked by the unfortunate consequences it produced in terms of a lack of progress with respect for human rights and the actualization of democratic reforms in China. This negative experience would be a minor evil if only it could convince those who struggle for democracy in China and freedom in Tibet, as well as Eastern Turkistan and Southern Mongolia, of the necessity of reinforcing and modifying-the strategy which has been followed up to now, a strategy which it was hoped would convince the powers of our own nations to act with greater strength so that human rights be respected and that indispensable democratic reforms and civil law be activated in that great nation.
If we subtract the lessons of this failure and those of our many experiences, both positive and negative, over the years, we- Chinese, Tibetans, Mongols, Turkistanis, Africans, Americans, Asians and Europeans - might give birth to a collective movement that is organized and founded upon Ghandian nonviolence that would oblige our governments to follow their words with deeds, and that would make democracy and respect for human rights a condition sine qua non of their relationship with China; thus we would surely have taken a great step forward.
It is-an extremely difficult-task that confronts us. In recent days, we have been able to count upon one person, Wei Jingsheng, for the presence of a resource of immense human and political value. He is a part of all of us, and we must know how to treasure him.
Best wishes to-everyone for good work in 1998!
Olivier Dupuis
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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
HESITATION OF THE 1998 BUDGET PROJECT VOTE BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
By Gianfranco Dell'Alba, European Deputy (ARE)
The long opening phase of the first reading of the projected European Parliament budget for the European-Union closed in Strasbourg in late October of this year. First, in the specialized commissions, and later in the balancing commission and on the Parliament floor, we sought, as we did in other years, to pass a series of amendments tied to the battles and priorities of the Radical Party.
What follows is the budget that has resulted from a real war with the other Parliamentary groups, which more often than not saw us allied with the Demo-Christian Party against the Socialists on almost every point.
Regarding the campaign for democracy in China, an amendment was adopted which allocates 1,600 ECU's for cooperation with Taiwan, even as China prepares to join the world Trade organization (WTO) as well as other agreements it has with Europe to this end; an amendment was added which allocates funds for the promotion of democracy in Asia, in particular in China (including Hong Kong), as well as activities connected to the vigilant watch of human rights, especially in Eastern Turkistan and Southern Mongolia, and also for the furthering of the freedom of the press.
We were also successful in preserving the budget lines instituted by us in favor of the defense of human rights in Tibet, whereas we were unable to pass a new proposal for the increase of funds (from 2,600 ECU to 3,600 ECU) for Tibetan refugees. due to the staunch opposition, with the exception of Deputy Happart, of the socialists. The Popular, Green, and Radical Parties voted in favor of this.
Other amendments proposed by the Foreign Affairs Commission and others failed to pass, such as that which sought to send delegations of the Union to Taipei (Taiwan), Hohhot (Southern Mongolia), Urumqi (Eastern Turkistan) and Lhasa (Tibet). The Radical (ARE), Popular (PPE), Greens and certain liberals voted in favors of this, while the Socialists (with the exception of Deputies Denys, Happart, Laignel, Lindperg, Marinho, Mutin, and Titley), Communists and Liberals opposed it.
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NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1997 AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1998.
A GOOD CHOICE, CERTAINLY NOT THE BEST NOR THE MOST COURAGEOUS.
DECLARATION OF OLIVIER DUPUIS, SECRETARY OF THE TRANSNATIONAL RADICAL PARTY AND MEP.
"The Nobel Committee's decision to award the 1997 Peace Prize to the organizations that are fighting for the total ban of the production and use of antipersonnel landmines is a good choice. But, certainly not the best and nor even the most courageous one.
With its "politically correct" flavor, it fits perfectly in the current mood. It will give more media attention to a campaign that has never had press coverage problems. It was an awaited decision that did not take the world by surprize and will not disturb the visit of the Norwegian Royal Family to China next October 17.
However, this decision risks to hinder - and this is the most serious problem - the struggle of millions of Chinese, Mongols, Oiguri and Tibetans for democracy in China. Hundreds of thousands of people that experience every day on their freedom, their health and often in prisons or in concentration camps, the inhumane conditions or their arbitrary detention and tortures.
For the third year in a row, Peace Nobelists, parliamentarians as well as University Professors endorsed the nomination of Wei Jingsheng "the Father of Democracy", the author of the famous essay "The Fifth Modernization: Democracy", the irreducible adversary of the Deng Xiaoping regime and recipient of the 1996 Sakharov Prize awarded by the European Parliament.
Several hundreds in 1995, more than 500 in 1996, and, thanks to the renewed commitment of the Transnational Radical Party, Human Rights in China and the Federation pour la Democratie en Chine, over a thousand in 1997, were the supporters of Wei's nomination among parliamentarians and University Professor in 1997.
For the citizens of the so-called free world, for those who live in "tired" democracies, there is no room to be tired, discouraged or desperate. Starting today, the Transnational Radical Party and Human Rights in China have decided to relaunch a new campaign, this time associating Wei Jingsheng with Wang Dan, leader of the Tien an Men movement. I am sure that many citizens, as well as many other organizations will join us, so that by the end of January 31, 1998, will be able to gather thousands of endorsements from parliamentarians and university professors."
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CHINA: "WELCOME FOR WEI JINGSHENG"
THE RELEASE OF WEI JNGSHENG COULD AND WILL BE THE OCCASION FOR A GREAT RENEWAL OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY IN CHINA, FOR THE FREEDOM OF TIBET, SOUTHERN MONGOLIA, AND EASTERN TURKISTAN. DECLARATION OF THE TRANSNATIONAL RADICAL PARTY.
Rome, Nov. 16th, 1997. The release of Wei Jingsheng and his forced expatriation return us to the times of the most brutal "Brezhnevism," when the Soviet Communist regime, hard line yet lenient, rid itself of its-least favored citizens.
To those who would reduce this event to a purely political victory by the alliance of Chinese and Westerners in a realpolitik in which even the greatest Chinese democratic dissidents are integrated, we can now say that with the exception of the Radical Party, Human Rights in China and few others who conceived and actuated the struggle for Wei's freedom and for democracy for all Chinese, Tibetans, Turkistanis and Mongols, the world will find in Wei a new strength, a great intelligence, which will help to relaunch, with him, one of the most important struggles for freedom and civilization of the late 20th century.
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JUST RELEASED WEI JINGSHENG MEETS THE RADICAL PARTY
THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN CHINA TO BE RELAUNCHED
DECLARATION OF OLIVIER DUPUIS, SECRETARY OF THE RADICAL PARTY AND MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
New York, 2 December 1997. Just released, Wei Jingsheng, the biggest exponent of the democratic opposition in China, does not intend to have a rest. He is ready to relaunch on the world level the struggle that has seen him engaged for 20 years inside and outside the laogai of the People's Republic of China.
He indends to relaunch the campaign of Human Rights in China and the Transnational Radical Party for the nomination to the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize 1998 to Wang Dan and himself. Moreover, a European "tour" aiming at the involvement of parliaments and the public opinion will follow. Mr. Wei also is committed to requesting that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights of Gnenva expresses itself on the continuous and persistent violations of human rights in China.
Declaration of Olivier Dupuis
"It is a Wei Jingsheng - more than ever determined to continue the struggle for democracy in China and very curious to know the radicals - the one that I have met with Marino Busdachin and Marco Cappato, last night. A meeting marked with warmth, cordiality and also with acknowledgement of what radical militants have done in these years for his release and for the respect of human rights in China. This first positive meeting allows us to hope about the future possibilities of relaunching, with strength, our initiatives for the reforms and democracy in China."
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A PLAZA, A STREET FOR TIBET
The following have joined our campaign:
- Dario Pavan, city of Brugherio
- Giuseppe Tarallo, mayor of Montecorice
The total number of mayors who have supported the campaign is 29:
Belgium 3
France 10
Italy 13
Czech Rep. 1
Spain 1
Switzerland 1
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Total 29
