BUREAU OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA

Mr, Olivier Dupuis

Secretary General

Transnational Radical Party

Rue Wiertz 60

1047 Bruxelles

May 5, 1998

Dear Olivier Dupuis,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply and here are our responses to the points raised by your party.

1. The hunger strike organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress has brought to the continents the urgency and the need for action and support for the cause of Tibet attention of the United Nations Organization, Government and people across the The tragic, self-immolation of Thupten Ngodup, a dedicated and a brave Tibetan and the unto-death hunger strike by the six Tibetans, who went on hunger strike for 48 days, until they were forcefully removed by the Indian Police to a hospital, are clear indication of the Tibetan people's frustration and desperation in the face of inaction of world bodies and governments on the issue of Tibet.

We fully realize the necessity to capitalize on this current awareness and the international attention we are receiving. I am sure the TYC will keep on with their demands directed towards the United Nations. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan administration will continue to make every effort to obtain international support for the Tibetan cause.

We appreciate your suggestions such as that the objective of 1,300 Parliamentarians from all over the world is to ask the Secretary General Kofi Annan to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also demand for the appointment of a special rapporteur to investigate the Human Rights situation in Tibet. UN mechanisms and procedures are complex, nevertheless, we request the continued support from our friends.

3.This is to inform you that the Tibetan Government in exile have not remained inactive with regard to Tibet issue at any time. However, the reality is that the degree of awareness and impact of our efforts depends, to great extent, on the response we receive front the world bodies, the media and our supporters. Particularly when dealing with political entities, and government organizations the response depends very much on their political agenda and national interests.

4.You have stated in forth para of your letter "in these dramatic times, the priority is put elsewhere. The responsibility lies in the hands of the Tibetan Government in exile to re-animate and pick-up the flame".

Thank you for your suggestions. This is to inform you that right from the beginning it was the Tibetan administration which organization the rehabilitation and the education of the Tibetan refugees and managed to keep the Tibetans in a cohesive community and kept the faith of the Tibetan people for a more free and happier Tibet.

We would like you to know that the hunger strike unto-death which is taking place in Delhi is an initiative undertaken by the Tibetan Youth Congress. We commend their courage, determination and sense of nationalism. However, we do not wish to see any Tibetan lose his or her life in the process.

Since the TYC has explicitly requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan not to intervene, we have respected their demand and have in no way intervened. But, we have done all we could within our means and power in getting more support from the countries who have been supported of the Tibetan cause and simultaneously urged all our friends to write and approach the United Nations to take heed of the Tibetan Youth's three demands.

Finally, as you have stated the word Satyagraha in your suggestion, I would like to make a short comment. The issue of Satyagraha has been seriously discussed at all levels in the Tibetan community.

This is to inform you that the fundamental policy of the Tibetan administration is to get China to the negotiating table to reach a negotiated settlement for the greater interest of Tibet and Tibetans.

However, we respect the individual initiative taken by our support groups. Therefore, any action taken by you, as long as it is the true interest of the Tibetan cause, will be appreciated.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Kalon & Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama

BUREAU OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA

Here is a short synopsis of what the Tibetan Government-in-exile have done for the benefit of the Tibetans and for the cause of Tibet.

For these many years we have been appreciative of the unstinted support of the Radical Party for the Tibetan cause and in view of this we would like to explain to you at length the various efforts made by the Tibetan government not only to administer the Tibetan community in exile and maintain our community cohesive but also to carry on the fight for the restorations of the lost rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people. When we first came into exile, we Tibetan refugees had nothing. But through the years because of the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama we have not only managed to survive as a people in exile butmanaged to preserve and promote the integrity of our cultural heritage. With the assistance of the Indian and foreign aid organizations, we have managed to rehabilitate thousands of Tibetan refugees in agricultural settlements, built schools for Tibetan children, re-built monasteries, cultural and educational institution, which have become the basis of the relatively affluent Tibetan communit

y in exile. We have also managed to introduce the principles of democracy and accountability into the body politics of the Tibetan administration.

On the international front, way back in 1959, 1961 ants 1965, with the support of many countries, the Tibetan administration has been successfully able to get three resolutions passed in the United Nations General Assembly which called on China to respect the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people, including the right to self-determination.

1991 through our efforts we have managed to get the Human Rights subcommission to pass a resolution calling once again for China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people.

On the diplomatic front His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made two proposals to China on how the protected and complicated issue of Tibet could be solved. One is the Five Point Peace Plan and the Strasbourg Proposal. It is unfortunate that China has deemed it necessary to reject both the proposals.

Even now the fundamental position of the Tibetan Administration remains unchanged: we are willing to talk with the chinese leadership to reach a negotiated settlement of the Tibetan issue.

As for the Chinese themselves, because of the initiative of the Tibetan administration, we have managed to change the views Of many prominent Chinese on the question of Tibet. Starting from the early 1980s when thousands of Chinese who appreciate the efforts made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the Tibetan issue for the benefit of both Tibet and China.

Regarding the coordination of Tibet Support Groups around the world, the Tibetan administration organized the first Tibet Support Group Conference in Dharamsala in 1990. We organized the second international Tibet Support Group in Bonn in 1996. Both these conferences helped a great deal in chalking out a common strategy to highlight the Tibetan issue internationally.

As for the Tibetan organizations like the Tibetan Youth Congress, we would like you to know that the Tibetan administration has helped found the organization and supported it, including financially, through these more than 28 years.

Though these are the efforts the administration has made, it is clear even to us that these are not enough. Because of our limited ability and scarce funds have not been able to accomplish as much as we would like. Those are nevertheless, some of the achievements we have on record. I am sure you are aware of the other progress we have made in bringing the Tibet issue in the international fora.

We hive explained the situation at length to you because the Radical Party is a friend and supporter, on which we rely so much to bring the Tibetan issue to the attention of the international community.

We hope that this will help clarify some points raised in your party's letter and we appreciate the frankness and honesty of the letter.

With best wishes,

Your sincerely,

T.C. Tethong

Kalon &, Representative of H.H, the Dalai Lama

(Published by FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - Number 70 - 1 May, 1998)