Jang Zemin's visit to the United States was marked by the unfortunate consequences it produced in terms of a lack of progress with respect for human rights and the actualization of democratic reforms in China. This negative experience would be a minor evil if only it could convince those who struggle for democracy in China and freedom in Tibet, as well as Eastern Turkistan and Southern Mongolia, of the necessity of reinforcing and modifying-the strategy which has been followed up to now, a strategy which it was hoped would convince the powers of our own nations to act with greater strength so that human rights be respected and that indispensable democratic reforms and civil law be activated in that great nation.

If we subtract the lessons of this failure and those of our many experiences, both positive and negative, over the years, we- Chinese, Tibetans, Mongols, Turkistanis, Africans, Americans, Asians and Europeans - might give birth to a collective movement that is organized and founded upon Ghandian nonviolence that would oblige our governments to follow their words with deeds, and that would make democracy and respect for human rights a condition sine qua non of their relationship with China; thus we would surely have taken a great step forward.

It is-an extremely difficult-task that confronts us. In recent days, we have been able to count upon one person, Wei Jingsheng, for the presence of a resource of immense human and political value. He is a part of all of us, and we must know how to treasure him.

Best wishes to-everyone for good work in 1998!

Olivier Dupuis

(Published by FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - Number 66 - 10 December, 1997)