From: Tibetan Youth Congress on Mon, Apr 27, 1998 10:24 AM

Subject: Update of TYC Unto Death Hunger Strike

To: tibet-house@bluewin.com

TYC UNTO DEATH HUNGER STRIKE UPDATE

April 25th, 1998

European Union (EU) responds to hunger strikers:

The Presidency issued a statement on behalf of the EU. It expressed their deep concern and appealed to the hunger strikers to end their fast. It also said that, "The human rights situation in Tibet is an issue of serious concern to the European Union, and it takes every opportunity to raise the issue with the Chinese authorities. This was done most recently with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji at the EU/China Summit on 2 April. The European Union has agreed with the Chinese authorities that a delegation of EU ambassadors in Beijing will visit Tibet 1-10 May in order to make an assessment of the situation there."Swedish Foreign Minister questioned by Green Party: Ragnhild Pohanka of the Green Party asked two questions of the Swedish Foreign Minister: "Does the Foreign Minister intend to act in the Security Council so that the question of Tibet will again be on the agenda?" and "In what way does the Foreign Minister intend to act as for the question of the Tibetan hunger strikers and their demands?" The Foreign Min

ister responded negatively to the first question and said that, "Within the framework of an active dialogue with China, we will continue to criticise the serious violations taking place as for the religious and cultural rights of the Tibetan people, as long as the unsatisfactory state of things does not change."

Republic of Poland writes to hunger strikers:

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland wrote to the six hunger strikers to express their solidarity. He said, "We, the Polish People and the Government of my country are conscious of the fact that human, political and social rights of the Tibetan People are constantly violated. Not the last result of this is that the Tibetan cultural heritage, which is the precious treasure of the whole human kind, is seriously threatened." He also appealed to the hunger strikers to stop their protest before it is too late.

French government questioned by senator:

Senator Claude Huriet, President of the French Senate Friendship Association with Tibet, wrote to the French government: urging the UN to resume the Tibetan question; reminding them of the ICJ report and asking them to apply the recommendations; requesting news of the Tibetan hunger strike; asking what kind of humanitarian help was sent to the Tibetans in exile; asking what kind of direct propositions to peacefully solve the Tibetan question the Prime Minister will make when he goes to China; and asking to free Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the youngest political prisoner in the world.

Canadian official visits hunger strikers:

Ed Whitcont, First Secretary of the Canadian High Commission visited the hunger strikers and articulated his deep concern for them. Whitcont expressed hope that the hunger strikers ' demands would be met before anyone died.

Report from Italy about reactions to the hunger strikers:

TYC was informed that no large newspapers in Italy have covered the hunger strike, although a small piece was broadcast about the event on a state TV channel. The Foreign Commission of the Italian chamber unanimously approved a resolution of the Lega Nord Party to involve the government and the UN in Tibet-China dialogues and to ask China to respect human rights.

The majority of support for Tibet comes from the Lista Pannella Riformatori Party, Lega Nord per l'Independenza della Padania, and the Green Party.

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisations (UNPO) continues aid:

The office of the General Secretary of the UNPO has written to TYC about their recent actions in support of the six hunger strikers and their demands. They sent their "feelings of solidarity and support" as well as news of their appeals to the governments of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Costa Rica, Norway, Denmark, the U.S.A. and the European Union to raise the issue of Tibet at the next session of the UN, and to request the UN Secretary General to appoint a representative to investigate the situation and report on it. They also reported on the questions on Tibet in general and the hunger strikers in particular to the Dutch Foreign Minister Van Mierlo, raised by The Greens in the Dutch First Chamber. They hope to get similar questions raised in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament by other major political parties. UNPO representatives will meet with officials of the Netherlands Foreign Ministry on April 27th.

Tibetan meets UN Secretary General in Los Angeles, California:

Tenzing Chonden, board member of Friends of Tibet, met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during the VIP reception before the "World Affairs Council" luncheon in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. Chonden pleaded with Annan to respond to the hunger strikers saying, "We understand Secretary General that you may not be in a position at the present time to respond to all three demands of the hunger strikers. However, time is running out for the six Tibetans who have been fasting for forty-three days now, for the six million Tibetans who have spent nearly forty years under unwanted Chinese rule. Life is precious Mr. Annan, yours as well as that of all other living creatures. We would like to appeal to your sense of responsibility and creativity at this time. Please consider intervening in a way that can give us all hope." Chonden also hand delivered to Mr. Annan over 1,000 signatures collected within 24 hours in letters and petitions addressed to Kofi Annan from hundreds of students, concerned supporters and friends, and

Tibetans in exile.

Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) expresses support:

The MP and Chair of the Board of Directors of FNF in Germany, Dr, Otto Graf Lambsdorff, voiced the FNF's whole-hearted support of the demands of the hunger strikers. Dr. Lambsdorff also wrote to the UN Secretary General asking him to take the necessary steps to implement the demands. The Foundation expressed concern for the health of the six hunger strikers and requested them to stop the fast. The FNF supports the promotion of human rights and the rule of law through its programmes in over eighty countries.

Groups in California hold events for hunger strikers: The Tibetan Association of Northern California along with other Tibet support groups (including the Bay Area Friends of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet, UC Berkeley) have helped with petitions, demonstrations and media activities recently.

Hunger strikers replaced in Leh, Ladakh:

In a press release, the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association (HBCA) reported that 24 women replaced 18 monks in their Ladakh Himalayan Committee Action on Tibet chain fast. The HBCA also requested the Indian government to take action and for Indian nationals to urge the government to do so.

Other local and international support for six hunger strikers:

Indian Parliamentarian Mohan Singh visited the hunger strikers and said, "The whole world is with you."

Twelve members of the Samta Party staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in support of the hunger strikers' demands.

Twelve Tibetans, including representatives from TYC-Kashmir and the Tibetan Sweaters Seller's Union, started a cycle relay from Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi today.

Second batch of fifty buddhist nuns from Dolmaling, Jamyang Choeling and Trilokpur nunnery from Dharamsala gathered in front of the UN office in Delhi yesterday to undertake a movement in support of the TYC hunger strikers. Many of them were the former political prisoners in Tibet. The nuns prayed for the six Tibetans and world peace.

TYC-Manali staged a procession, followed by a 24 hour hunger strike.

Tibet supporters including members of Students for a Free Tibet, Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. will hold a day of fasting today.

According to information from the Office of Tibet, Geneva, Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (a Tibet support group) launched a campaign calling on female personalities of France to write letters to their government.

More individuals and organisations have written to TYC to express their solidarity and support for the six hunger strikers and their demands. Donations were received from the Tibetan Women's Association, Switzerland and the Tibetan Association of Northern California, U.S.A.. Letters were received from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, the Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain, France, and individuals from the U.S., Canada, and Padania (northern Italy).

Tibet supporters continue to write to political officials:

Many foreign organisations and individuals have informed TYC of letters they have sent to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. They also expressed their sympathy and concern for the increasingly grave situation of the six hunger strikers in Delhi. Mrs. Danielle Mitterand, President of France Libertes and the widow of the former French President, as well as other individuals from France, the U.S., Canada, Germany and Padania (northern Italy) are among to them.

The Tibet House Trust in London wrote the British Prime Minister and HRH The Prince of Wales about the six hunger strikers.

Prominent French personalities have added their signatures to an open letter sent by Philippe Wagner to Prime Minister Lionel Jospin about the hunger strikers.

Released by:

Yangchen Dolkar (Mrs.)

General Secretary

Tibetan Youth Congress

Central Executive Committee Phone: 91-1892-21554

P.O. Mcleod Ganj - 176219 Fax: 91-1892-21849

Dharamsala, H.P., India Email: tyc@del2.vsnl.net.in

Contact in Delhi:

Tseten Norbu(Mr.) Phone: 09811163081

President Fax: 91-11-646-1914