Brussels, October 20, 1996

Dear Mayor,

On March 10, the anniversary of the uprising of the Tibetan people, 607 Mayors from 25 countries supported the "Flag for Tibet" campaign. By hoisting the Tibetan flag on their City Hall, these mayors showed their solidarity with one of the most oppressed peoples of the world, who has suffered under the ferocious occupation of the Peking regime for already more than 40 years.

Thanks to this initiative, but also thanks to a first European demonstration of more than 7.000 supporters marching the streets of Brussels on March 10, and the approval of a number of resolutions by the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium in which, for the first time, the invasion and the occupation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China is openly denounced Europe has finally shown its concern about the future of the Tibetan people and the protection of its traditions and ancient culture.

After consultations with the Tibetan Government in Exile and in cooperation with numerous Tibet Support Groups we have decided to relaunch the flag campaign in 1997. This time however, we will extend our appeal to thousands of mayors in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. The goal of this ambitious and difficult project is to have the Tibetan flag waving on more than 3.000 city halls worldwide on March 9 and 10, 1997.

At the same time we will organise, together with the Tibet Support Groups, a second European rally for the freedom of Tibet, on Sunday March 9th, 1997. This rally will take place in Geneva, where at that time the U.N. Human Rights Commission will be in session.

In order to give more strength to our campaign, that will eventually lead to a Satyagraha (a nonviolent mobilization after the example of Gandhi) in 1998, we are also organizing a campaign which asks thousands of city administrations all around the world to dedicate a street or a square to the Tibetan cause.

Unfortunately, municipal laws do not allow local administrations to dedicate a street or a square to a person that is still alive. Names like Tenzin Gyatso, the 10th Dalai Lama, or Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the young Panchen Lama that has been kidnapped by the Chinese authorities, can therefore not be used. As possible alternatives, we propose "Dalai Lama", "Panchen Lama", "Tibet Free Street" or "Tibet Free Square".

We hope whole-heartedly that, together with your municipality and city-council, you will be able to support the campaign for "A Flag for Tibet" on March 9-10, 1997. We also hope that you will be able to move a motion for "A square for Tibet" to your own city council.

Yours sincerely,

(XXX) Olivier DUPUIS

President General Secretary

Tibet Support Group Transnational Radical Party

Member of the European Parliament

PS. Every ten days we publish an information bulletin on the campaigns for "Freedom for Tibet and Democracy for China" which can be sent by fax or email. In case you wish to receive this, please send your fax number or email address to: Radical Party - c/o European Parliament - REM 5.08 - Rue Belliard 97 - 1047 Brussels - Tel. +32-2-230.41.21; Fax. +32-2-230.36.70; e-mail: pr.bruxelles@agora.stm.it

Enclosed:

a. List of Mayors who supported "A flag for Tibet" Campaign in 1996;

b. Form for support of "A flag for Tibet" Campaign 1997;

c. Postcard for the release of the Panchen Lama (the Tibetan flag is shown on this card);

d. The status of Tibet by Dr. M.C. van Walt van Praag.