Published by: World Tibet Network News Tuesday, September 30, 1997

From: Thinley Norbu

DHARAMSALA, 30 September 1997, (DIIR) -- As you might be wondering what is the current position with the proposed satyagraha, it will take off in no less than 50 hours.

Many people have expressed their appreciation to the proposed satyagraha which is to be launched by Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj from 2nd October, 1997. The organisation has made it very clear in their letter to the President of China that if China fails to to respond positively to the appeal, they will have no other alternatives than to launch satyagraha into Tibet.

The emphasis of the satyagraha would be to mobilise world opinion in favour of a constructive dialogue between Beijing and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. About 66 Indians and three MPs including Nirmala Deshpande herself have registered so far to participate in the satyagraha. No foreigners participation has been reported todate. Tibetans are not being encouraged to join the satyagraha and it seems to be carried out exclusively by non-Tibetans.

Previously the satyagrahis are to be divided into three groups and enter through Sikkim, Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Now following the impositiong of section 144 in Sikkim because of some inner state political problems, it is reported that the satyagrahis would enter through Kalimpong and Darjeeling.