August 27, 1997

President Dr. David Strong

P.O. Box 1700

University of Victoria

Victoria, BC

V8W 2Y2

Dear Dr. Strong

I was shocked to learn that your institution will be conferring an honourary degree to Jiang Zemin.

This is the same man who has been called the butcher of Tiananmen Square.

This is the same man who TODAY heads the most repressive and undemocratic government in the world.

This is the same man who while preaching religious freedom, authorized the abduction of the second most important religious leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Panchem Lama and is still holding him and his family hostage. His Government chose their nominee for the post by lot and imposed him on Tibetans.

This is the same man who heads a country regularly accused by bodies such as Asia Watch and Amnesty International of some of the worst Human Rights abuses in the world to-day. These accusations include torture of political prisoners, forced integration in the Chinese culture and forced sterilization.

What message is the University of Victoria sending the world with this action?

We are only now beginning to learn and understand the damage done by complacency with despots and dictators. How many lives would have been saved had the Swiss Government and Banks not helped the Hitler regime?

Is the University of Victoria prostituting itself on the economic altar and at what cost to the millions and millions who are to-day oppressed by this man s regime.

Are you deaf? Do you not hear the voices of anguish and pain from the children who to-day suffer many indignities at the hands of Jiang Zemin's henchmen?

China has regularly used its relationship with Canada as justification for their actions, and they will surely point to the University of Victoria as another respected institution which agrees with their policies.

Please send a message to the world s oppressed by withdrawing your invitation to Jiang Zemin.

Respectfully,

Senator Consiglio Di Nino

c.c. Board of Governors, University of Victoria

University of Victoria Students Society

University of Victoria Graduate Student s Society