Organization: Politiken Online
Subject: IPU REQUEST FOR ACTION
To: Multiple recipients of list TSG-L
REQUEST FOR ACTION: INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) CONFERENCE IN BEIJING
By the Tibet Support Committee, Denmark.
(This letter will also be sent out by post)
Copenhagen 18 July 1996.
Dear TSG friends.
As decided at the Second International Conference of Tibet Support Groups in Bonn in June, we request all TSG's to contact the IPU delegation of the parliament in your respective countries urging them to support the initiative for Tibet at the next IPU Conference in Beijing 16 - 20 September 1996.
In this letter you will find:
1. A presentation of IPU
2. The importance of the next IPU conference
3. Lobby work for Tibet at former IPU conferences
4. What you can do
1. THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU)
The IPU is a world organisation for parliaments of sovereign states. It is a focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative institutions. The IPU supports the effforts of the UN, and works in close co-operation with it. Twice a year, IPU brings together representatives of the member parliaments for the study of political, economic, social and cultural problems of international significance.
IPU members submit to their respective assemblies and governments the resolutions adopted by the IPU and promote their implementation. Numerous measures of legislative, political or technical nature have been taken all over the world as a result. The direct dialogue among politicians which the IPU institutionalises and promotes is an important way of establishing issues on the international political agenda.
By 1996, 129 national parliaments are members of the IPU. Twice a year, the member parliaments send their IPU delegations to IPU Conferences held in different member countries.
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT IPU CONFERENCE
The 96th IPU Conference will take place in Beijing on 16-20 September 1996.
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TIBETAN ISSUE AND FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS WORLD-WIDE TO SHOW AND STAND BY THEIR CONCERN FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE.
It is also an important forum for promoting concern and action for Tibet in Third World countries. Many IPU members are from countries where Tibet is not yet on the political agenda.
3. LOBBY WORK FOR TIBET AT FORMER IPU CONFERENCES
The President of the Danish IPU delegation, MP, Mr. Henning Gjellerod (Social Democrat), has since1994 been working hard to bring forward the issue of Tibet at IPU conferences. During the last IPU meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 12 - 20 April 1996, Mr. Henning Gjellerod succeded in gathering 11 MP s for a meeting on Tibet. The participants established an Ad Hoc Group on Tibet which was adopted by the 12+ Group on the IPU Conference. (See list of the countries of the 12+ Group below).
The following MP delegates joined the meeting and are thus initially forming the Ad Hoc Group:
Denmark (2) Henning Gjellerod, Poul Quist J rgensen.
Germany (1) Uschi Eid
Estonia (1) Mart Laar
Canada (3) Peter Adams, J.M. Forrestall, Sheila Finestone.
Finland (1) Jorna Kukkonen
France (1) (first name?) Muriet
Belgium (1) Jacques Lefevre
San Marino (1) Antonella Mularoni
The purpose of Ad Hoc Group is:
- To present a memorandum on the Tibet-issue to the 12+ Group during the 96th Interparliamentary Conference to be held in Beijing on September 16-20 1996.
Decisions worked out by the Ad Hoc Group on Tibet and adopted by the 12+ Group during IPU Conference in Istanbul:
1) The group will address the Hearing on Tibet held in Copenhagen on May 13th. 1996, and also the Dalai Lama, who will attend the hearing.
2) After the above mentioned hearing, the Danish IPU delegation will prepare a draft momorandum which will be sent to the other participants for comments.
3) During the conference in Beijing, the Ad Hoc Group on Tibet will hold a new meeting to discuss the draft memorandum and thereafter present it to the 12+ Group.
4) Other activities can possibly be discussed.
4. WHAT YOU CAN DO
To strengthen this initiative it is essential that as many MP s as possible will attend the next meeting of the Tibet Ad Hoc Group at the IPU conference in Beijing on September 16-20 1996.
What you can do immediately:
A) Find out who are the president and members of the IPU delegation to Beijing from the parliament in your country.
What you can do before the end of August:
B) Ask the president/members of the IPU delegation from your country to participate in the Tibet meeting organized by Mr. Henning Gjellerod during the Beijing conference. If they are interested, please ask them to contact Mr. Gjellerod to indicate their wish to participate.
The address of Mr. Gjellerod is:
Member of the Parliament of Denmark
Mr. Henning Gjellerod
Christiansborg
DK-1240 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Tel. +45 33 37 41 36 (secretary Ms. Elizabeth Burns)
Fax +45 33 37 41 28
C) Especially for the Nordic Countries!!: A preparatory meeting is held by the Nordic delegations. This is taking place in Beijing before the conference.
At this meeting Mr. Gjellerod will bring up the Tibetan issue as well, and announce the planned Tibet meeting of the Ad Hoc Group.
D) Ask the IPU delegation members in your country to work for obtaining observation membership at IPU conferences for the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (as recommended by the Second World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet in Vilnius, May 1995).
E) Ask the IPU delegation members to mention Tibet in their individual contributions at the Beijing conference.
We would appreciate very much if you report back to us about the outcome of your effort. Our address is:
The Tibet Support Committee
Ryesgade 90 A
DK-2100 Copenhagen O
Denmark
Fax: +45 31 23 14 26
or on E-mail:
Lutzer.Mathiasen@online.pol.dk
With warm regards
Stella Lutzer
Chairman
The Tibet Support Committee
Denmark.
Member countries of the 12+ Group are:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. Observers: Israel, European Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
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