For Immediate Release Contact:

Buchung Tsering, 212-213-5010

John Ackerly, 202-785-1515

Tibetans Demand Tough Stance in Sino - U.S. Summit in N.Y.

Clinton's Political Balancing Act Short-Changes Tibet, Fails to Win

Respect of Chinese Leadership

Tibetans will be out in full force when President Jiang Zemin visits New York to demand that President Clinton toughen his stand on Tibet. "If the U.S. does not stand firm on its commitment to Tibet the Chinese will not take the U.S. seriously on this issue or others issues," said Lodi Gyari, President of the International Campaign for Tibet.

Tibet is believed to be on President Clinton's agenda with President Jiang, just weeks after he met with the Dalai Lama in Washington, a move that earned sharp denunciation from Beijing. With China furious at the United States for visits from both the Dalai Lama and the Taiwanese President, the U.S. administration appears to be on the defensive. "It is time for this country to stand up more strongly for Tibet, and stop being intimidated by Chinese tyrants," Mr. Gyari said.

In denouncing Clinton's September meeting with the Dalai Lama, a Chinese official said "on Tibet and Taiwan issues, which involve China's territorial sovereignty, the US government often says one thing but does quite another. It is so changeable and untrustworthy that it says this today but will do something else tomorrow."

To show resolve, 6 Tibetans are staging a hunger strike in front of the United Nations, which is in its 6th day as of Thursday, October 19. There has been no response from U.N. officials.

Looking for a Breakthrough on Sino-Tibetan Talks

A breakthrough on Tibet at the New York Summit is not likely, though it could provide a refreshing, unexpected positive step in U.S. - China relations for both leaders. Members of Congress are now gathering signatures on a letter to Clinton emphasizing the importance of human rights and negotiations with the Dalai Lama at this summit. China claims to be ready to holds talks with the Dalai Lama, and this appears to have become the number Tibet one issue with the Clinton administration.

Jiang Zemin, 69, considers himself to be somewhat of a Tibet expert and during his 1993 meeting with President Clinton in Seattle he offered to give the President a list of books on Tibet to read. But Jiang is not a leader given to new political initiative, particularly during this transition period, and during his six year tenure as China's most powerful leader, he has left virtually no mark on Tibet policy. He has visited Tibet once, uttering predictable hard-line phrases, such as stressing the need to "stabilize the situation" to thwart growing independence sentiments, and calling on security forces to "crush any unrest by religious and ethnic minorities" following demonstrations.

Jiang on Tibet and Taiwan: "All other issues can be discussed."

In a recent interview with the Washington Post and US News & World Report, Jiang Zemin said that regarding talks over Taiwan, other than independence, "all other issues can be discussed." This line is an exact replica of what Chinese leaders have said about Tibet since 1979, but has proven hollow. What is left unsaid, is that all other issues can be discussed on China's terms and after China's preconditions have been met. In the case of Tibet, the pre-conditions, which change periodically, include the Dalai Lama categorically stating that Tibet has always been part of China as well as Chinese approval of any Tibetan negotiating team.

The United Nations has become a testing ground for both Tibet and Taiwan as both peoples vie for some form of recognition acknowledging their historical distinctiveness from China. Jiang's attendance of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the UN will rekindle grievances stemming from China's recent heavy-handed bullying tactics to prevent Tibetans and Taiwanese from making progress.

Under Boutros-Ghali's leadership, the UN has routinely swept Tibet under the rug. These ugly tactic came to light in recent months when British authors blew the whistle on UN officials whitewashing a history of the UN, and when UN strong-armed a U.S. religious organization to exclude the Dalai Lama from a inter-faith prayer service. Most notably, China's harassment and surveillance of Tibetan women at the UN women's conference in Beijing attracted enormous media attention.

Hunger Strikers Gamble on Goodwill

Tibetans, frustrated with China's continued occupation of Tibet and Clinton's luke-warm reception of the Dalai Lama, are starting to resort to more desperate tactics both in Tibet and in exile. Inside Tibet, reports of sabotage this summer marred the Tibetan reputation for non-violence, and the hunger strikers who are now in front of the UN say they will fast until death unless the UN recognizes Tibet as an occupied country and invites the Dalai Lama to address the General Assembly.

Even if UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali dared to meet with the hunger strikers and address their demands, the demands are next to impossible for the UN to meet. The six hunger strikers, all Tibetans residing in America, Ms. Yiga, 26, Mr. Tenzin Jamyang, 24, Mr. Jamyang Tenzin, 42, Mr. Tenzin Dhangsong, 23, Mr. Legden, 33, and Mr. Pema Dorjee, 42.

In addition to the hunger strike, Tibetans are staging a series of demonstrations during the weekend of Oct. 21-22, and outside the summit meeting with Clinton and Jiang on Tuesday the 24th.

The International Campaign for Tibet Phone: +1 (202) 785-1515

1735 Eye St. N.W, Suite 615 Fax: +1 (202) 785-4343

Washington, D.C. 20006 E-mail: ict@peacenet.org

Non-profit, Tibet advocacy group Internet: http://www.peacenet.org/ict