< FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA-FAX ! - #69 >

Newsletter on the campaigns of the Radical Party for the freedom of Tibet and the democracy on China.

Issue #69, May 6, 1998

>> Editors office: Massimo Lensi, Via Cavour 68 - 50129 Firenze (Italy)

Tel.+39-55-230.22.66 - Fax +39-55-230.24.52

Mailto: tibet.fax@agora.it

Url - http://www.radicalparty.org

Telnet: Agora.stm.it

>> Distribution; Alberto Novi, Rue Wiertz 60 - 1047 Brussels (Belgium)

Tel.+32-2-230.41.21 - Fax.+32-2-230.36.70

Mailto:A.Novi@agora.it

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"I truly believe that individuals can make a difference in society.

Since periods of great change such as the present one come so rarely

in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our

time to help create a happier world". Tenzin GYATSO,the Fourteenth

Dalai Lama, 1992

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>> Published in english, spanish, french and italian.

THE 1998 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO WEI JINGSHENG

At the time of Wei Jingsheng's visit to Italy, another piece of news flashed around the world : WANG Dan had been expelled from the People's Republic of China and had been hustled onto a plane for Detroit, USA. It was said that this was a present for Clinton. It is clear that the democracy campaign in China cannot exclusively be seen through these eyes of such sporadic homage to the American administration and that it is difficult, for the time being, to say that Western governments are adopting a different attitude, busy as they are with ratifying the very best (in their view) financial deals with Beijing.

Wei repeated this on several occasions. Not only at the time of his expulsion but also during the months when the Beijing authorities allowed him to live quite "normally" in between one "mock" court case and yet another.

In order to reinforce his struggle and that of all the friends of the Chinese dissident movement in exile, the 1996 Sacharov Prize-winner needs precise objectives, together with support from Western governments and the international community. One of the many possible routes in this respect includes the campaign in favour of awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Wei, a campaign which has been active for some years now. This having been said, and with the expulsion of Wei, the conditions have now been created which will considerably enhance the visibility of the objectives of the democracy campaign in China, and thus in its wake, an enhancement of the abilities of organizations, whether Chinese or not, which consider this struggle to be of paramount importance.

More than any other Western government, the Italian government has snubbed Wei, refusing to meet him. It preferred to acquiesce to quite blatant diplomatic pressure by China - an attitude which says a lot about the importance given to questions of democracy and human rights in China ... and not only in China. As the author, Adriano Sofri, wrote in the daily "Il Foglio" in reaction to the Italian government's attitude, and addressing Wei directly : "I feel like crying. You too explained that it was wrong to think that everyone in China just wants to get richer : there is a real desire for democracy. I really believe this and would like to say so to the Italians".

Good Work to you all !

(Published by FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - Number 69 - 6 May, 1998)