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.

Brussels-New York, October 10, 1997. "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 and awaited decision that did not 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, 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 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."

Transnational Radical Party