Santa Fe, October 28, 1995, (The New Mexican) -- Tibetan Pema Dorje of Santa Fe said, Friday, he was weak but well after ending a 13-day hunger strike to protests United Nations inaction on what he called his homeland's 46-year occupation by China.

Dojre, 42, was one of seven Tibetans who had fasted outside the United Nations in New York City during its 50th anniversary celebrations.

The group, which had said they would fast until death, ended their protest Thursday night after receiving a message from their political and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

"I am very good, my health is good," Dorje said through translator Tashi Khangsar in a telephone interview from a New York City apartment. "I am hoping within one week I may recover, and after a full recovery, I am coming to Santa Fe."

Dorje, who arrived in New mexico in 1993 with a resettlement projet, said he believed the hunger strike was not in vain, even though the group's demands were not met.

"It did not fulfill my wish completely, but His Holiness the Dalai Lama has asked us to end this drastic non-violent way of protesting and he further told us that the (hunger strike) has rejuvenated international awareness for Tibet," Dorje said.

The strikers, who has spent nearly two weeks bundled in blankets under a tent on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, had demanded the United Nations declare Tibet an occupied country, lead negotiations on Tibet's future and recognize the Dalai Lama as the sole representative of the Tibetan people.

"I joined the hunger strike, because the world body is just not taking any action regarding Tibet and, at present, the crisis is such that the very existence of Tibet is at issue," Dorje said. "The Chinese are sending thousands and thousands of immigrants to Tibet and Tibetans are becoming a minority in their own country."

"I am very happy in the United States; if I work I get everything I want," said Dorje, a room attendant at Eldorado Hotel. "But my fellow Tibetans in Tibet, 6 million, are really suffering under the Chinese occupation, and I can't see my fellow brothers suffering and enjoy myself in this developed country."

In a statement to the hunger strikers faxed from the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, in India, the Dalai Lama said: "I feel that the seriousness and the sincerity with which you have been undertaking your fast has in itself conveyed your message to the international community. I am, therefore, asking you to end your hunger strike."

James P. Rubin, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, also sent a statement to the protestors.

"We have urged the Chinese government to hold serious discussions with the Dalai Lama... We have also called upon China to respect Tibet's unique religious, linguistic and cultural traditions... the United States hopes to continue these efforts," the statement said.

The strikers also said they received several letters of support from U.S. Congressmen and human rights activists. About 100 letters were sent from Santa Fe to U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali through the Office of Project Tibet, a non-profit organization that helps Tibetan refugees in India, Nepal and the United States.

Paljor Thondup, Project Tibet director, said he had mixed feelings about the end of the hunger strike.

"I think it's good that people didn't have to die," he said, "but it's also sad that the Dalai Lama had to intervene to save his own people - and not the United Nations."