World Tibet Network News Wednesday, April 08, 1998

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organzation Communique,

The Hague, March 30, 1998

UNPO appealed today for the United Nations to swiftly implement demands made by six Tibetan hunger-strikers. It also expressed its deep concern for the six Tibetans and sent messages of solidarity to the five men and one woman who are on a hunger-strike to the death. The six began the hunger-strike on March 10, the day commemorating the National uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule. They represent the suffering of the six million Tibetans inside Chinese occupied Tibet, according to Tsering Norbu, President of the Tibet Youth Congress.

In an appeal to the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, the six call on the UN to resume its debate on the question of Tibet based on previous resolutions at the UN in 1959, 1961 and 1965. They are also appealing to the UN Commission on Human Rights to appoint a Special Rapporteur to investigate the situation of human rights in occupied Tibet, and finally they ask that Kofi Annan appoints a special Envoy to promote a peaceful resolution to the question of Tibet and to organize a UN-supervised referendum to ascertain the wishes of the Tibetan People. These demands form the core findings of a report on Tibet prepared by The International Commission of Jurists.

The Hunger strikers are:

Dawa Gyalpo aged 50

Dawa Tsering aged 53

Karma Sichoe aged 25

Palzom (Mrs) aged 68

Yngdung Tsering aged 28

Kunsang aged 70

UNPO joined others from all over the world in sending letters to H.E. Kofi Annan expressing their solidarity with the hunger-strikers and urging the UN Secretary General to take immediate action. Messages of support continue to flood in and others have begun hunger-strikes in support of the six. Politicians in many countries are being urged to bring up Tibet's plight with the leaders of the Peoples Republic of China and to assist in preventing the ongoing human rights abuses occurring in Tibet. Today, the 20th day of the hunger strike - the participants are said to be displaying much courage and tremendous determination.