October 27, 1997
Dear Tibetan Support Groups:
We are writing to ask you once again to come forward with your support. We know that everyone is busy with their own projects and the wonderful volunteers are so often overworked. But an opportunity has arisen which could be of enormous help to the Tibetan people. The DIIR asks for your cooperation.
As you well know, on July 29th, the U.S. Secretary of State announced her intention to appoint a U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. According to the U.S. Secretary of State, the coordinator's mission is a) "to promote substantive dialogue between the government of the PRC and the Dalai Lama or his representatives." b) to "vigorously promote the U.S. policy of seeking to protect the unique religious, cultural and linguistic heritage of Tibet." c) to press"for improved respect for human rights." We also feel that it would be most beneficial if other countries would follow the example of the United States and appoint their own Special Envoys for Tibet. We are particularly interested in such an appointment from the European Union.
Nora Jacquez, Ph.D., and an attorney from Colorado, U.S.A. has been working with our office in a SIGN ON FOR TIBET campaign. We are now gathering petition signatures worldwide supporting the above mission statement for the U.S. Special Coordinator. These signatures will also demonstrate the extent of global interest in the scope of influence and the effectiveness of the position. The same petition supports the appointment of Special Envoys for Tibet from other countries, in particular the European Union. This campaign will inform political leaders that such appointments have popular support.
The plan of action is as follows: Each TSG can make copies of the petition form enclosed with this E-mail. The petition is then distributed to members to be signed carefully with 50 signatures on each page, front and back. If each member were to gaher signatures for at least two petitions, the number of signatures from around the world would be truly impressive. We gathered signatures here in Dharamsala this weekend and we can tell you that the Petition receives almost unanimous support and it is very easy to get signatures.
If your group can't participate in this project, please let us know by November 15, 1997. Otherwise, we will assume your participation and estimate our signatures tally accordingly. The deadline for petitions locally is February 1, 1998. All petitions need to reach the Colorado address at the bottom of the Petition form by February 15, 1998. They will then be presented with appropriate media coverage to the Special Coordinator on March 10, 1998. After that presentation they will be sent on to the European Union.
We appreciate your past efforts and your tireless dedication to alleviate the plight of the Tibetan people is gratefully recognized.
Sincerely,
Tsewang Phuntsok
Deputy Secretary, DIIR
PETITION
We, the undersigned, do hereby express our support to the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. The Coordinator's mission as expressed by the U.S. Secretary of State is:
a)"to promote substantive dialogue between the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama, or his representatives."
b)"to vigorously promote the U.S. policy of seeking to protect the unique religious, cultural and linguistic heritage of Tibet."
c)to press "for improved respect for human rights. We also hereby support the appointment of Special Envoys for Tibet from other countries, in particular, from the European Union.
NAME ADDRESS WORK COUNTRY
Send completed form to: SIGN ON FOR TIBET: 146 So.Kendall St. Lakewood, Colo. 80226 USA
