April 25, 1997 9 am - noon

Chinese Embassy

Washington, D.C.

Students for a Free Tibet announces a major action on behalf of the Panchen Lama at the Chinese Embassy following the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Washington DC for the World Parliamentarians Meeting.

The action will be an Interfaith Vigil with speakers and a prayer session, and a well planned and carefully thought out non-violent civil disobedience action on the morning of Friday April 25, 1997, the Panchen Lama's 8th birthday, at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC.

The action is co-sponsored by the Capital Area Tibetan Association, the Tibetan Association of NY/NJ, Tibetan Women's Association, Tibetan Youth Congress, World Artists for Tibet, and the U.S. Tibet Committee. The event is timed to occur following the visit of His Holiness sponsored by ICT and the Interfaith Service at the National Cathedral on April 24.

Those who would like to participate in the civil disobedience action are asked to make three commitments: 1) a personal commitment to nonviolence in body, speech, and mind; 2) attend a one day preparation and training session (in NY April 12 or Washington April 24; 3) attend a meeting in Washington on the evening of April 24 for final preparation and plans before the action (to follow a fundraiser for the Capital Area Tibetan Association).

For more information, please contact:

Students for a Free Tibet, 212-481-3569, e-mail: ustcsft@igc.apc.org

or Metta McGarvey, 617-648-4456, e-mail: mmcgarvey@div.harvard.edu

Information is posted on the web at: http://www.tibet.org/SFT/actions1, and is listed under "Panchen Lama Day of Action"