World Tibet Network News Sunday, April 19, 1998

New Delhi, 19th April 1998

Today marks the 41st day of our unto-death hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and the United Nations has yet to give us a favourable response. All we heard from the UN Secretary General and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights was a request to stop the fast. None of them said a word about addressing any of the three demands put up by us.

Our activists did not go on this fast to be asked to stop it. They began this hunger strike only to request the UN to fulfill its responsibility to our nation and implement the recommendations made to this end by the International Commission of Jurists.

The reaction of the UN has deeply saddened and disappointed the six hunger strikers and the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC). It has also strengthened their resolve to continue the fast and fight for the rights of our people. Similarly, the succeding batches of hunger strikers are now more than ever determined to die until our demands are met. Our activists know that if life be the price for saving Tibet from the indignity of slavery and colonialism, then this is what they have to pay.

Tomorrow we will complete the sixth week of our Hunger Strike Unto Death. On this ocassion, a 48 hour fax jam campaign, directed against the UN Secretary General - starting from 5:00 pm (Indian Standard Time), will be fitting response to the indifference of the UN. The fax number of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is 011 - 212 - 963 4879.

I also request all of you to reinvigorate your campaign and pressure your governments and the UN to act immediately and save our activists and nation from death.

Finally, I would like to express our deepest thanks to all our friends for their abiding support to the cause of Tibet. Your support has given us hope and courage as we move forward on our way to freedom, justice and RANGZEN.

With my warm regards,

Tseten Norbu

President, Tibetan Youth Congress.