Published by: World Tibet Network News Friday, September 26, 1997

By Jean Marie Brodu, C.S.P.T.

First, Philippe would like to thank VERY MUCH all those, from the whole world, who sent him messages of support.

These messages were of great help to him, and showed him that he was not alone in front of the Chinese embassy. Some of those messages have been really very warm and full of emotion.

He expressed his wish that his action would incite more people to speak out for the Tibetan cause wherever they are, and that the medias would not be stuck to the official rule asking them to silence Tibet because of "economic reasons" !

There have not been as many information through the medias as we expected, but among the nice ones, we'd like to mention the article published in "Le Monde", one of the most famous French newspapers, dated last week-end, and there should be a good one next Friday in "Libération", probably the next main important newspaper in France, according the interview Philippe had with the journalist and a photographer.

On the 10th day of his hunger strike, Philippe Wagner received the support of the French Parliamentary group that mentioned the work they had done to make the Tibetan issue better known, ie - 216 deputies signed the "Appeal of French Parliamentaries for Tibet" - they sponsored Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the youngest political prisoner in the world - they regularly enquire about political prisoners, such as Ngawang Sangdrol, for example by asking written questions to the French government.

The Parliamentary group showed their understanding towards Ph. Wagner's action, based on the principle of non-violence commonly used in the Tibetan struggle, and expressed their wish that he stops his hunger strike so that his life be not in danger.

They assure Ph. Wagner that they will, as much as they can, go on helping His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize, in all his efforts in favor of Tibet and the Tibetan people.

Philippe received our daily visit since the beginning of his hunger strike, and always thanked very much all those who sent him a message. This seemed to be very important to him.

My personal addition will be to say that his action has always been strictly driven on a non-violence principle, a deep respect for all those who came to see him, whether they were "friends" waking him up in the middle of the night, whether they were Chinese pulling down "inadvertendly" the picture of His Holiness, or whether they were speaking for hours with him while he was tired !... (and I must admit we've maybe spoken too much with him as well...)

Philippe decided, on request of various people and organisations, including the Tibet Office in Paris, the President of the former Parliamentary Group of studies on Tibet from the National Assembly, and the President of the Tibetan Frenship group in the Senate to stop his hunger strike on 25th September, around 19h00. A number of Tibetan, Chinese and French friends were be there to accompany him for this final walk out. Philippe tried to offer some flowers to the Chinese Embassy, butthose were refused. He left the flowers on the door...