Published by World Tibet Network News - Sunday, December 03, 1995

December 1, 1995

Eva Herzer

388 Colusa Avenue

Kensington, CA 94707

510-526-5144 (w)

510-527-1535 (h)

Letters to the Editor

New York Times

229 West 43rd Street

New York, NY 10036

Dear Editors:

Your article on the Panchen Lama controversy( Nov. 29, page 8) points out atheist China's latest and perhaps most far reaching interference in Tibetan religious affairs. Controlling the appointment of Tibet's second highest religious leader, is part and parcel of China's consistent destruction of Tibetan culture. Denying Tibetans the right to select their religious leaders and detaining those involved in their selection, including the true reincarnation recognized by the Dalai Lama, is not only immoral but is also a blatant violation of international law and norms. China specifically violated the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 1980, without objection from China. This UN Declaration defines freedom of thought to include the right to elect, appoint or designate appropriate religious leaders in accordance with the standards for that religion (Article 6(g)).

When will the international community insist on the rule of law in Tibet and China? Does anyone still doubt that China intends to annihilate the Tibetan culture and identity? China's final solution for Tibet is no secret and its 3-part plan is blatantly ruthless: First, control the culture and religion; second, limit the Tibetan population through coerced abortions and sterilizations; and third, transfer millions of Chinese into Tibet (an estimated 7 million so far) to make Tibetans a minority in their own land.

Do we not owe it to the Native American Population we annihilated, do we not owe it to ourselves, to our dignity as human beings, to demand that our Government stop business as usual with China until China decides to comply with international human rights law. Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Nazi holocaust, said that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Will we continue to be indifferent to the cultural genocide in progress in Tibet?

Sincerley,

Eva Herzer

President, International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet