Published by: World Tibet Network News, Monday, May 6, 1996

(Statement of the Tibetan Rights Campaign and the Canada Tibet

Committee)

On Friday, May 3, 1996, the United Nations denied accreditation to the Habitat II Conference for the Canada Tibet Committee (Montreal) and Tibetan Rights Campaign (Seattle). The refusal by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) following a debate between the American and Chinese representatives, raises serious concerns about the ability of the United Nations to apply impartial, universal standards to its decision-making process.

Kunzang Yuthok, Executive Director of the Tibetan Rights Campaign, worries that the UN in trying to please China has made false accusations about her organization.

Press Release/#5639 issued by the UN on May 3 stated; "The NGO Liaison Coordinator for Habitat II, Farouk Mawlawi said,.... the Tibetan Rights Campaign had stated that it had participated in the Fourth World Conference on Women and that it had been recommended for accreditation to that Conference. However, ... it was found to be erroneous."

"This accusation is completely false" says Yuthok. "Our application does not say that we were accredited to the FWCW. It states that our activities included work for the FWCW. The Tibetan Rights Campaign was part of the Tibetan Women's Delegation to the FWCW and served as its U.S. coordination body.

Yuthok has not discounted bringing a legal action against the Secretariat. "This lie has seriously affected our organization's reputation and integrity within the UN governing bodies. The false accusation was made by a UN official before the ECOSOC body during final deliberations on our status. A public apology, before the same body, and an explanation are clearly in order. The record must be set straight."

"The inability of member states to effectively stand up to China on basic issues of fairness allows China to flaunt the UN Charter with impunity" says Carole Samdup of the Canada Tibet Committee. "Even though the Canada Tibet Committee is a federally registered non-profit organization which has taken an active role in preparations for the Habitat conference, the Government of Canada put forward no objection to our rejection by the Habitat 11 Secretariat. Canada's position further validates China's flagrant political manoeuvering by refusing to register a vote in favour of the Tibetan Rights Campaign."

Samdup added that both the Tibetan Rights Campaign and Canada Tibet Committee are mandated to promote universal human rights. "Rights are indivisable," says Samdup, "and the activities of our organizations are therefore clearly relevant to a conference promoting the right to housing." Still, both Yuthok and Samdup are pleased that the Tibetan issue has been debated within the Economic and Social Council. "Whenever the question of Tibet is raised, it reminds governments around the world that we are still struggling for our cause," said Yuthok. "We call upon all Tibet NGOs to continue applying for accreditation to various United Nations events. We will serve as reminders to the UN and member states that the situation of Tibet needs their immediate attention."

Ms. Kunzang Yuthok Ms. Carole Samdup

Tibetan Rights Campaign Canada Tibet Committee

4649 Sunnyside Ave N., #323 4675 Coolbrook Ave.

Seattle, WA 98103 Montreal, Quebec H3X 2K7

U.S.A. Canada

Tel: (206) 547-1015 Tel: (514) 487-0665

Fax: (206) 547-3758 Fax: (514) 487-7825

Email: trcseattle@igc.apc.org Email: fourniel@ere.umontreal.ca