Washington, D.C., December 11, 1996 (ICT) -- It could have been the worst choice of a day for the visiting Chinese Defence Minister, Chi Haotian, to be hosting a dinner reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. on December 10.

As guests began arriving at the Chinese Embassy's imposing building on the evening of December 10, Human Rights Day, around 50 Tibetans and Tibet supporters held a candlelight vigil in the island park in front of the Embassy. The vigil was part of the worldwide events being held on Human Rights Day dedicated to the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.

Reacting to reports that the American Defence Secretary, William Perry, had attended the Chinese reception, ICT President Lodi Gyari who led the candlelight vigil, said, "It is unbecoming of Secretary Perry to be attending a reception on Human Rights Day by a Chinese Minister who is responsible for the Tiananmen Square Massacre. His action is insensitive to international sentiments."

Participants of the vigil, organized jointly by the International Campaign for Tibet and the Capital Area Tibetan Association, carried a Tibetan National Flag and placards carrying photos of the young Panchen Lama and with signs saying "Free the Panchen Lama", "China Quite Tibet", "Free Tibet Now", etc. The vigil began with the recitation of Tibetan Buddhist prayers for the long life of H.H.the Dalai Lama, for the wellbeing of the young Panchen Lama, and for the freedom of Tibet. Thereafter, the participants circumambulated the island park several times as passing motorists honked in support.

Officials of the Chinese Embassy continued to peek through the venetian blinds of the closed gates of the Embassy.

The vigil concluded with the singing of the Tibetan National Anthem after which the demonstrators chanted several slogans calling for the release of the Panchen Lama and the freedom of Tibet.