World Tibet Network News Saturday, April 25, 1998

MONTREAL, April 25, 1998 (CTC) -- A spokesman for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), Mr. Gordon Houlden told the CTC today, that birthday cards for the Panchen Lama, which had been sent to DFAIT Minister Lloyd Axworthy, will be delivered to Chinese officials by our Embassy in Beijing.

The spokesperson said that over 1000 cards have been received in the past 3 weeks. Many were signed by nine year olds from different cultural communities including the Chinese.

The Panchen Lama birthday card campaign will conclude this weekend with a series of events across Canada - most of which will also highlight the situation of the New Delhi hunger strikers.

The campaign was sponsored by the Canada Tibet Committee and endorsed by Amnesty International and Free the Children.