Mr President,

At present, as the Secretary of the Chinese communist Party in Tibet Mr Chen Kuiyan announces a new wave of repression against monks and nuns in the country, we wish to express our concern regarding the situation of a young 21-year-old girl called Ngawang Sangdrol.

According to statements by some Tibetans formerly detained in Drapchi prison and having recently arrived in India, Ngawang Sangdrol -- a nun from Garu nunnery who was arrested on June 17th, 1992 during a peaceful demonstration on the Barkhor -- has been submitted to particularly severe treatment for several months.

Initially condemned to 3 years of imprisonment, she saw her sentence increased to 9 years for having sung in her cell. Several artists in France protested at that time. At the end of June 1996, the Drapchi authorities convened the prisoners and ordered them to clean their cells in the anticipation of a visit by Chinese officials; Ngawang Sangdrol had an altercation with a guard. Sent back to her cell, she shouted several slogans in favour of Tibet's independance.

Since then she has been in an isolation cell where she is reported to have suffered from torture. Her sentence has been increased by another 9 years, to a total of 18 years imprisonment.

We urge you to do your best to protect the physical integrity of this young Tibetan girl and to obtain her release, along with all political prisoners in Tibet.

More generally, we sincerely hope that France will not remain indifferent to this situation and will unambiguously engage in an action in favour of a dialogue between China and the Dala=EF Lama, to allow the survival of the Tibetan people and the self-determination of their future.

We assure you of our continued vigilance.

Yours sincerely,

SIGNATORIES OF THE PETITION IN FAVOUR OF NGAWANG SANGDROL

BARBARA

Alain BASHUNG

Julos BEAUCARNE

Jane BIRKIN

Tony BONFILS (bassist of Hallyday, Jonasz, Ray Charles, Tina Turner...)

Francis CABREL

Jean-Patrick CAPDEVIELLE

Alain CHAMFORT

Yves DUTEIL

François HADJI-LAZARO (Les Gar=E7ons Bouchers & Pigalle)

Françoise HARDY

Michel JONASZ

Lord YEHUDI MENUHIN

Florent PAGNY

Serge PERATHONER

Veronique SANSON

Daniel SEFF

Yves SIMON

Hubert-Felix THIEFAINE

TYLA (Dogs d'Amour)

Christian VANDER (MAGMA)

Isabelle VANDER "

ZAZIE

Bands :

ANGE

DJAM & FAM

I MUVRINI

L'ANGE VERT (Celtic rock)

LOFOFORA

TOURE KUNDA

TRI YANN

Music journalists :

Philippe BERARD (Inrockuptibles)

Toper FREEMAN

contact : csptf@francenet.fr

(to the attention of Cyrille Beerens)

Submitted by: C.S.P.T. (Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain - France)