I have not had any further news conceming the defence of the Tibetan people's rights nor have I heard anything about worldwide potential initiatives like international Satiagraha. As far as I am concerned, the dead silence fallen over the matter troubles me and makes me feel uneasy.

As a matter of facts, while recent American films on Tibet are causing quite a stir, Dalai Lama, by giving up all claims about Tibetan independence from the Chinese Popular Republic, seems to let all hopes about Tibetan people's self-determination fade away. Is this choice due to "realpolitik"? and, therefore, is the bowing to force not justified by the law? Or is it something else? Not giving answer to this questions can cost a lot, not only in terms of Tibet's image, but also in terms of putting into practice the theory of non-violence. The Radical position on the matter is compulsory: on one hand we still perceive the relation between Tibet and China, still based on force only, as an unacceptable form of international relation, on the other hand, our values bind us to find and promote various solutions and initiatives. These may either be:

- active (therefore non-renunciatory)

- non-violent (therefore legal and shared by all populations)

- realistic (therefore not only demonstrative, but also effective)

These assumptions, strongly reinforced during a period of hunger strike called in January for a greater freedom of expression in my country, brought back to my mind and strengthened an idea I had previously developed and already mentioned to you. What about a campaign, approved by all exiled Tibetan authorities and, in particular, by Dalai Lama, in favour of the widening of Tibetan citizenship also to those people with no Tibetan origins, born and resident outside Tibet, who wish to awarely, formally and purposely obtain it? The suggestion I am making is well represented by a simple and specific request that, I hope, will be followed by that of many other people and, thanks to your direct and authoritative intercession, will be soon presented to the Dalai Lama.

THE UNDERSIGNED GUIDO BIANCARDI, ITALIAN CITIZEN BORN IN LODI ON THE 3RD OF JULY 1943, FORMALLY ASKS YOUR HOLINESS, TENZIN GHIATSO, XIV DALAI LAMA, LAWFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE, RELIGION AND CULTURE TO CONFER ME TIBETAN ClTIZENSHIP AND CONSEQUENTLY ALLOW ME TO SHARE THE FREE CHOICES OF YOUR PEOPLE REGARDING THE DEFENCE OF THEIR PECULIARITIES, THEIR VALUES AND THEIR OWN INTERESTS, AS STATED IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS CHART AND RECOGNISED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW.

The approval that Dalai Lama could eventually express on the initiative, would give a much greater sense to the renewal of my subscription to the Transnational Radical Party, conceived as a duty towards non violence (I would then bring it up to one million lire). At this stage, I would like to better explain the reasons for this initiative of mine, that I consider absolutely 'natural and necessary". My opinion is that the opposition between, on one side, the unsuccessful limitation of all interventions against any illegal oppressors and, on the other, the giving up of the basic principle regulating all international disputes (i.e., no justice, no peace) is unreasonable and unacceptable. This opposition needs to be finally faced according to non-violent and democratic principles and by answering to the following questions:

1) What legal condition would allow us to verify the possibility a population actually has to freely express its will, especially as far as both territorial independence and real sovereignty over this territory are concerned? According to democracy, the only answer to this question is individual voting, better if based on special and proper campaigns like referenda.

2) Which is the best non-violent and non-racist method to express our right of intervention among those ruling a country? The answer to this second question would be accepting the idea that those sharing the same rules could freely express their opinions on all matters. As States and Citizens committed to the formulation and promotion of the same high principles (such as liberty, democracy, solidarity, respect of the law, non-violence etc.), they are formally entitled to express their wishes. This is why the whole initiative is based on such a formal request and tries to overcome the often tragic rule according to which citizenship has to be given for blood and territory only. Such a solution would be made possible by the Radical peculiar concepts of contemporaneity and potential multi-identity, so well represented by double membership and transnationality.

The idea of solving the long-lasting clash of interests between the Chinese and the Tibetans seems wonderful to me. As a matter of facts, it may be easily put into practice by democratically, legally and non violently verifying the opinion of those interested in expressing it over an international controversy. This would mean holding a referendum on Tibet's political destiny addressed to all Tibetan and Chinese citizens both inside and outside the two countries. As a result, by gathering all people wishing to embrace a noble cause and by encouraging a more active involvement of those directly responsible for Tibet's future, a much greater attention and popular participation would be obtained. Then, there would be a large group of "new Tibetans", finally able to oppose China's major force: the dimension of numbers. When called by their legal representatives and if officially recognised by the international Community, this billion Tibetans would prove that universal responsibility could not only be a theoretic

al model but also a practical and plausible solution; and a worldwide referendary Satiagraha would finally be made possible.

This year, or soon after, there are going to be some special events that are not to be missed:

- the 50th anniversary of Gandhi's death

- the 50th anniversary of the declaration of human rights

- the conference for the constitution of the international permanent tribunal for crimes against mankind

- the catholic jubilee of the year 2000

- the showing of different films on Tibet and our enrolment campaign, which could easily encourage each other.

Besides, what sense had Kennedy's public statement "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a Berliner)? What were its effects after 1961? I would be delighted to try and do something for Tibet and China (as well as for South Afiica, Algeria, Israel, ...). If you agree on the initiative, as Party Secretary please do get involved in its promotion and, in case, in the opening of an

international debate.

Guido Biancardi

N.B.

This is not, nor must be taken as, an opportunistic initiative. It is not meant to force those faced with the responsibility of taking decisions while living an extremely difflcult situation. It is not a compulsory revolution, rather a brotherly invitation not to surrender to violence nor to its unavoidable effects. Above all, I would like to state that my initiative is worth Satiagraha dignity, since it represents the possibility to choose a responsible and unselfish loss of independence without implying a loss of values or of identity, and to achieve, through our behaviour, the only condition that may allow us to generate and spread virtue.

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