World Tibet Network News Monday, March 09, 1998

VIENNA, March 8 (AFP) - Austria's Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel announced Sunday that a European Union mission would visit Tibet in April to

urge greater respect for the Tibetan identity, the APA agency reported.

Schuessel told APA by telephone from Beijing, where he is currently on a three-day visit, that the EU should work for more recognition of "Tibetan autonomy."

He urged the need to obtain greater "respect for the Tibetan identity, religion, culture and language."

The mission will be composed of delegates from the three EU troika members, the current presidency-holders Britain, and the past and future holders, Luxembourg and Austria respectively.

Schuessel noted the Chinese were slow in improving their attitude to human rights, but that there was some development.

But he criticised the information provided by the authorities on Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the eight-year-old boy who was named Panchem Lama, the highest

authority in Tibet after the Dalai Lama, but who lives in China.

The boy was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the Panchem Lama who died in 1989, but the Chinese authorities installed a politically-suitable "counter-Panchem Lama".

The UN commission on children's rights were unable to reach the Panchem Lama, said Schuessel, adding that Chinese authorities assure he is in "a safe place and goes to school."

Coinciding with Schuessel's announcement was a large demonstration in Paris to mark the 39th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.

According to police, 4,000 people turned out for the rally, although organisers of the "Tibet 98" rally of around 50 groups put the figure at 7,000.

Bearing placards reading "Freedom for Tibet" and "Long live a free Tibet"

the demonstrators laid out a huge Tibetan flag in public gardens in central Paris.

The trail of people wound its way to the Chinese embassy to deliver a petition calling for negotiations to begin between Beijing and the exiled Tibetan government.

The protest ended back at the Trocadero gardens, with people lying on the ground to symbolise the many Tibetans who died in their fight for freedom.