January 24, 1996

Dear Friend of Tibet:

I am writing to invite you to the Tibet Conference of the Americas in Washington DC on March 9 - 11, 1996. This will be a time for the Tibet movement to gather together, meet new and old friends, and chart upcoming goals.

The Tibet movement in North America has had a profound impact on helping Tibetans regain their freedom and protect their culture. Nevertheless, we must always make an effort to improve our communication, coordinate our campaigns, and address shortcomings in the movement. We have worked out an excellent program to do this with the input of other Tibetan organizations and leaders.

Some of the distinguished guests who will be with us include Professor Samdong Rimpoche, head of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, Harry Wu, the tireless human rights crusader, Gendun Rinchen, one of Tibet's most celebrated former prisoners of conscience and Senator Con. Di Nino from the Canadian Parliament. We also will hear from Congressman Charlie Rose, known as the grandfather of Tibet advocates on Capitol Hill, and we have invited a representative of the Clinton Administration.

This conference comes at a time when U.S. - China relations are again declining, partially as a result of the loss of credibility the U.S. sustained by de-linking human rights and trade. This country's China policy continues to be driven by business and trade concerns, making our voices about the desperate situation in Tibet even more important.

The Dalai Lama's visit to the United States in September of last year brought the issue of Tibet into the homes of more Americans than ever before. We need to build upon that exposure, to motivate and enable more people to do something to bring the military occupation of Tibet to an end.

I am deeply aware of the need to expand out work, and I need your help to do it. At the conference, we will have a day and a half to develop strategies which will send a strong message to all Chinese that Tibetans will not stop fighting until a just resolution is found.

On Sunday afternoon, we plan to hold the largest rally ever in front of the Chinese embassy. In a change of strategy, Tibet groups in Europe and North America are centralizing their 10th March programs to fewer and larger cities. European groups will be converging in Brussels. I urge all the groups and individuals in the Americas to come to Washington, D.C. for the rally. A large rally will be an effective way to show international support for a strong resolution on China and Tibet at the UN Human Rights Commission which will be in session in Geneva from March 18 to April 26. We are working to urge the Commission to pass a resolution condemning the detention of the Panchen Lama and denial of freedom of religion in Tibet. Afterwards, a march from DC to New York led by Takster Rimpoche will begin their 300 mile walk. There will also be a Tibetan Association meeting organized by the Office of Tibet. On Monday, we are making arrangements for a day of lobbying for Tibet supporters to meet with their Congressional

representatives.

I very much hope that this conference will help to recognize and train past present and future leaders from the Tibetan community and Tibet-related organizations in the Americas. This movement has grown from a relatively small and powerless nucleus, to broad and energetic coalition of groups and individuals who serve as a model and inspiration to grass-roots movements world-wide. We will be making recommendations to the international Tibet Support Group meeting being held in Bonn, Germany in June.

I have enclosed a draft program of the conference and a registration form. If you have questions, please contact Kelsang Aukatsang, the conference organizer, or Maya Crawford, who will be coordinating housing and volunteers. They can both be reached at 202-785-1515.

I hope to see you in March!

Sincerely,

Lodi Gyari,

President

PS. Since the conference fee of $45 does not cover all costs, please consider becoming a Supporter ($100) or Benefactor ($200). We will acknowledge all Supporters and Benefactors in the conference materials.

The conference is sponsored by the International Campaign for Tibet, Tibetan Rights Campaign, U.S. Tibet Committee, Students for a Free Tibet, Canada Tibet Committee, International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet, The Milarepa Fund, Tibet House, Project Tibet,Tibetan Community Assistance Project, Capitol Area Tibetan Association, Tibetan Women's Association, East Coast and The TransNational Radical Party.

The Office of Tibet, an honorary sponsor of the conference will be represented by Representative Rinchen Dharlo.

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TIBET CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS

New Horizons for the Tibet Movement

March 9, 10 &11, 1996

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1996

8:45 A.M. REGISTRATION

9:30 Welcome

Lodi G. Gyari, President, International Campaign for Tibet

Rinchen Dharlo, Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama for the Americas

9:45 The Political Status of Tibet

*Congressman Charlie Rose, member of U.S. House of Representatives

*An MP from Canada

*Winston Lord, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

10:30 Pro-active Nonviolence Strategies

Keynote speaker: Prof. S. Rinpoche, Chairman, Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies

Moderator: *Doug Weiner

Recognition of delegates to the Beijing women's conference and the October hunger strikers.

Panelists:

Gendun Rinchen, tour guide, former prisoner of conscience

*Yodon Thonden, attorney, delegate to U.N. Conference on Women

*A representative of the hunger strikers at the UN's 50th Anniversary

Questions & Answers

12:30 P.M. Lunch Break (regional caucuses to meet)

1:30 Workshop I: Understanding China - The Impact of Pressure on Tibet

Coordinator: Jigme Ngapo

Discussion leaders: *Orville Schell, *Liu Binyan, *Haipei Xue

Prominent scholars, activists and China watchers - with diverse viewpoints on issues relating to Tibet - will discuss how recent changes in China are affecting Tibet. Workshop participants will also propose suggestions on how best to reach out to Chinese communities.

Workshop II: Improving Coordination & Communication

Coordinator: Kunzang Yuthok

Discussion leaders: Glen Gilbert, Meta McGarvey, Dan Hodel,

*Carole Samdup, *Beata Tikos

Discussion on ways to increase the effectiveness of the Tibet movement through improved co-ordination and communication.

Distribution of action alerts, organizing a Tibet presence at the Atlanta Summer Olympics and other grassroots campaigns will also be addressed.

3:30 Workshop III: International Parliament and Government Initiatives

Coordinator: Rachel Lostumbo

Discussion leaders: *Thubten Samdup, Eva Herzer, Marino Busdachin, Staff of U.S. Congress

This workshop will discuss the current status of government and UN support for Tibet and the ways that the Tibet Support Groups can help build new energy and commitment to Tibet.

Workshop IV : Activism With a Punch - Boycotts and Divestment

Moderator: Claudia Cellini

Coordinator: John Ackerly

Discussion leaders: John Dinuson, Jeff Fiedler, John Hocevar, David Jacobs, Erin Potts, John Voss, *Dechen Wangdu, Anne Hoffman

This workshop brings together a dynamic and growing team of people who are working on economic actions to bring pressure on China. The workshop will coordinate a national boycott and divestment efforts and expand and strengthen Students for a Free Tibet chapters.

Workshop V: Humanitarian Aid, Development & Tourism in Tibet

Coordinator: Kelsang D. Aukatsang

Discussion leaders: Lodi Gyari, Tenzin Takhla, Sonam Zoksang, Ann Oliver

This workshop will explore strategies of using international assistance to improve health and education in Tibet and will discuss the impact and significance of a growing tourism industry in Tibet. There will also be a presentation by Tibet Fund.

7:00 Reception by Capitol Area Tibetan Association

8:00 Dinner

Keynote speaker: Harry Wu, prominent Chinese human rights activist and President of the Laogai Foundation. Introduction by *Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1996

10:00 A.M. New Horizons for the Tibet Movement

Moderator: Mark Rovner

Speakers: Lodi Gyari, Dr. Edward Luttwak, *Roger Craver,

*Bob Squire, *Joel McCleary

Questions & Answers

11:00 Assessing the Movement

Moderator: *Tenzin N. Tethong

Panelists: Reports from the workshops

12:00 Recognition of Prof. Thubten J. Norbu and marchers to New York.

12:10 Concluding Remarks: Rinchen Dharlo

2:00 Rally to Commemorate the Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day

Venue: Embassy of China. 2300 Connecticut Avenue, Metro: Dupont Circle.

3:00 March for Tibet's Independence (Organized by Int'l Tibet Independence Movement)

Venue: Embassy of China.

4:00 Tibetan Association Meeting (Organized by Office of Tibet, New York)

Venue: To be announced

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1996

9:00 A.M. Session on Lobbying

Venue: Capitol Hill. Details to be announced

Coordinator: Rachel Lostumbo

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TIBET CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS

New Horizons for the Tibet Movement

March 9, 10 & 11, 1996

REGISTRATION FORM

Name:_______________________

Affiliation:_______________________

Address:_______________________

Phone:_______________________

E-mail:_______________________

Regular.............................$45*

Supporter.........................$100**

Benefactor........................$200**

*includes conference registration, lunch,reception and dinner.

**Supporters and Benefactors will be acknowledged in conference materials. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Please make checks payable to the "ICT-Tibet Conference" in U.S. dollars (Send to: 1825 K St. NW Suite 520, Washington, D.C. 20006)

Please check of the below:

I would like ICT to help me find housing in D.C.

Please send me information about reasonably-priced hotels in D.C.

I will be staying for the lobbying day on Capitol Hill on March 11th.

WORKSHOPS

I am interested in attending the following workshops:

1. Understanding China: The Impact of Pressure on Tibet

2. Improving Cooridnation & Communication

3. International Parliament and Government Initiatives

4. Activism With a Punch: Boycotts & Divestment

5. Humanitarian Aid, Development & Travel in Tibet

(Workshops 1 & 2 will be held simultaneously. Workshops 3, 4 & 5 will also be held simultaneously)

We are considering providing hands-on training on the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web at the Conference site. Would you be interested in participating?

Yes

No

REGISTRATION FEE FOR STUDENTS

Students participants have the option of paying a reduced rate of $30 for the conference and meals. This discount has been made possibly by ICT, Milarepa Fund and the Students for a Free Tibet.

Student..........................$30

(Address and directions to the conference will be mailed to all participants)