Published by: World Tibet Network News Monday, December 22, 1997

Source: Voice of America

DATE=12/22/97

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

INTRO: A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS, IS CALLING ON CHINA TO ALLOW A UNITED NATIONS-SUPERVISED REFERENDUM IN TIBET TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THE REGION. LISA SCHLEIN REPORTS THE GENEVA-BASED ORGANIZATION ALSO HAS PUBLISHED A 365-PAGE STUDY THAT ANALYSES TIBET'S HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION.

TEXT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS SAYS INTERNATIONAL LAW ENTITLES ALL PEOPLES TO THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. IT ARGUES THE TIBETAN PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXERCISE THIS RIGHT SINCE CHINA INVADED TIBET NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE REPORT, REED BRODY, SAYS TIBETANS HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO ASSERT HOW THEY WISH TO BE GOVERNED. AND HE SAYS A U-N SPONSORED REFERENDUM IS NEEDED TO RESOLVE THE STATUS OF TIBET.

/// BRODY ACT ///

UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE TIBETANS ARE A PEOPLE UNDER ALIEN SUBJUGATION ENTITLED TO THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. AND, OUR REPORT FOUND THAT THE

AUTONOMY WHICH CHINA CLAIMS THAT TIBETANS ENJOYED IS ACTUALLY FICTITIOUS BECAUSE ALL POWER, OR REAL POWER, IS REALLY IN CHINESE HANDS.

/// END ACT ///

THE REPORT FINDS REPRESSION IN TIBET HAS INCREASED STEADILY SINCE 1994. THAT IS WHEN SENIOR COMMUNIST OFFICIALS BLAMED THE DALAI LAMA FOR CAUSING INSTABILITY IN TIBET.

MR. BRODY SAYS THE CHINESE MAPPED A NEW STRATEGY IN AN EFFORT TO QUELL RESISTANCE. HE SAYS THIS INCLUDED THE MOVEMENT OF CHINESE INTO TIBET AND A CRACKDOWN ON DISSENT, USING TORTURE AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE.

/// BRODY ACT ///

SINCE LAST YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A FURTHER ESCALATION OF REPRESSION MARKED BY AN INTENSIVE RE-EDUCATION DRIVE IN THE MONASTERIES IN WHICH MONKS WERE TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO SIGN LOYALTY PLEDGES OR FACE EXPULSION. SEVERAL SENIOR RELIGIOUS OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED.

/// END ACT ///

MR. BRODY SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT CHINA TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE COMMISSION'S CALL FOR A REFERENDUM IN TIBET. BUT, HE SAYS HE HOPES OTHER GOVERNMENTS WILL TAKE UP THE CALL. AND, ULTIMATELY, HE HOPES WORLD PRESSURE WILL PERSUADE BEIJING TO SEEK A SOLUTION WHICH WILL BE IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH THE CHINESE AND THE TIBETAN PEOPLE. (SIGNED)