Published by: World Tibet Network News, Monday, March 11, 1996

From: SEIBERT 2410

The traditional 10 march demonstration was held yesterday, March 10, in Vienna, Austria.

About 30 Tibetans and 100 Austrian Tibet supporters marched from the downtown Stephan's Square to the Chinese Embassy, a considerable larger number than in past years. They carried Tibetan flags, incense sticks, prayer wheels, and transparencies in German, Tibetan, and Chinese.

The number of Tibetans was boosted by the T.I.P.A. ensemble which tours Austria until end of next week. Thus, the Tibetan national anthem, the Tibetan freedom song and the concluding freedom prayer could be sung by many strong voices. The declaration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was read out in German, and speeches were given by Mrs. Tseten Tsoechbauer, chairwoman of the Organisation SAVE TIBET Austria, and Mrs. Madeleine Petrovic, leader of the parliamentary group of the Greens.

Different from previous years, the demonstrators were not allowed to protest right in front of the Chinese embassy and were stopped by police about 100 m in advance. Police not even permitted local residents to pass. Chinese embassy staff stood on the police's side of the barrier to watch the demonstrators. They videotaped almost the whole event, obviously with permission by Austrian police.

While the Flag for Tibet Action had found some media resonance the days before, the demonstration was not reported in the three major newspapers, I could check today. One newspaper reports a press release of Madeleine Petrovic, which is translated below. Also the demonstration in Brussels is not mentioned in the newspapers.

Die Presse, Mon 11 March 1996

Petrovic criticizes Schuessel because of China

Vienna (apa). The Chairwoman of the Greens, Madeleine Petrovic, called the attitude of the Foreign Ministry towards human rights violations in China "miserable and corrupt". In Schuessel's Ministry one had nothing else to do but to prevent Austrian mayors from participating in a Tibet solidarity action.

Schuessel's officers now worry whether the solidarity declarations could lead to diplomatic dissonances.