---------------------------------------------------------------GENEVA 1997: REACTION FROM TIBET BUREAU
Att. Olivier Dupuis and Massimo Lensi
To European Coordinators
Office of Tibet London, Paris, Budapest
9 & 10 March, 1997 Geneva Demonstration
From Ngawang Drakmargyapon (Tibet Bureau, Geneva)
22 January 1997
10 March Demonstration
Following the phone call with Massimo this afternoon it is necessary to underline two points:
1) Regarding the posters:
During the 11 January meeting in Geneva with the European Co-ordinators it was decided to print them in French, German, Italian and English. We are then surprised to know that the English version is not going to be done, at least for the moment. The Tibet Bureau still believe that at least 500/1000 copies should be printed in English.
2) Regarding the invitation letters as decided in the Geneva meeting they must be signed by all the European Co-ordinators, no matter if they live in different part of Europe. It was mentioned the possibility of using a scanner to simplify the process to get the signatures.
The application for the authorisation of the demonstration has been sent by fax to the Geneva Police on Monday. We suggest Olivier Dupuis to phone to Mr. Walpen (Chef de la Police) sometime next week to do the follow up. Mr. Walpen's phone number is 0041.22.4278000/8111.
Regards,
406, 4-Feb-97, 17:01, M.Lensi, V.Donvito, *, 2226,
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GENEVA 1997: REACTION FROM TIBET BUREAU
To European Coordinators
National Coordinators
Office of Tibet London, Paris, Budapest
From Ngawang Drakmargyapon (Tibet Bureau, Geneva)
31 January 1997
re: Declaration Text
This is to inform you that still exists certain language and substantive problems with the Declaration Text which is released in the Geneva Fax today. The suggestions Tibet Bureau had on the initial text of this draft was communicated on several occasions to EC Office in Brussels and also to Mr. Massimo Lensi in Budapest. But our opinions seemed to have been irrelevant to the editors and writers of the Geneva Fax which is extremely unfortunate. I would also like all of you to understand that the opinion of Tibet Bureau was expressed as the representative of the tibetan people and Tibetan governament.
And, if you compare Tibet Bureau's text drafted based on the initial text which was distribuited during the Strasbourg Meeting and the text released in the Geneva Fax you will understand why some if the crucial issues in our draft need to be reflected in the Declaration. Some of the language were inserted in our text to reflect the objective of our massive gathering in Geneva, for example, commemoration of the 38th anniversary of 10 march (...).
Since Mr. Lensi did not release the text edited by Tibet Bureau, we are releasing it today to all concerned co-ordinators as we view this text as the DECLARATION. I am sorry to have written this Memo but in absence of Rep. Chungdak Koren in Geneva I wanted to make the above situation clear to the Tibetan Communities in Europe and our Supporter in Europe.
Tibet Bureau will be requesting Tibet Zentrum in Hamburg and CSPT-Suisse to make the German and French translation of the Declaration.
Suggestion: concerning the Candle-light Vigil, I was thinking why not ligth 1,2 million candles in memory of the tibetans who perished as a direct result of the chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet between 1949 and 1979. Any reaction to this suggestion. I will raise it when I attend the Switzerland and Liechtenstein co-ordinators meeting this Sunday.
Lets bring 10.000 people in Geneva.
regards
Ngawang Drakmargyapon
407, 4-Feb-97, 17:02, M.Lensi, V.Donvito, *, 4510,
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GENEVA 1997: REACTION FROM TIBET BUREAU
To European Coordinators
National Coordinators
Office of Tibet London, Paris, Budapest
9 & 10 March, 1997 Geneva Demonstration
From Ngawang Drakmargyapon (Tibet Bureau, Geneva)
3 February, 1997
RE: What to do in the case of No Authorisation on 9 March, 1997 & OTHERS
During a Swiss-Liechtenstein National Co-ordination meeting on 2 February in Zurich, various steps were discussed to be explored if we do not get the necessary authorisation from the Geneva Police on 9 March 1997. The meeting which was also attended by EC member Mr.Tenzin Emchi and Ms.Tenzin W. Dronghsar is now requesting the EC to make a decision on these proposals and others which may be gathered. The last conversation between Ms.Drongshar and Geneva Police was not very postitive for the permission on 9 March. Some of the steps proposed at Zurich meeting were the following:
1. Appeal for reconsideration of the Geneva Police decision immediately after receiving it;
2. Alert the media when the authorisation is refused after Appeal to create a debate and public awareness;
3. On 9 March, 1997 begin a walk for freedom of Tibet from a nearby town/city into Geneva city;
4. Walk around Geneva city in groups less than 10 people on 9 March;
5. Consider 9 March demonstration in Bern in front of Chinese Embassy and 10 March Vigil in front of the UN (here there were major practical problems while the Bern Police will not give premission as it is Sunday);
6. Use the Automobile Exhibition avenue to send the message of the demonstration on 9 March;
7. Hold the candle light vigil without involving the bridge path;
8. Hold a Day-long Vigil in Plainpalais ground in Geneva on 9 March, including the candle light vigil; and,
9. Decide to do the 9 March demonstration without permission.
Apart from points 1,2,4,6 and 7, I personally feel holding a day-long vigil (with speakers programme and the candle light vigil) on Plainpalais ground is the most ideal solution if the Authorisation is not given for the 9 march. Of course a lot of practical questions will have to be solved. The Geneva Police may even be willing to give the permission if the entire days event take place in one area which cause no major problems in terms of traffic or therwise.
Having informed the EC of the above, I wish request all EC to reach to some concrete decision by this week as a fall-back strategy because we cannot discourage the people from coming, at this stage.
I also wish to remind EC Office to fax the authorisation application to Mr.Jomini in Geneva immediately to get the permission for the UN Vigil on the morning of 10 March.
Central Fund
On the financial side, I am happy to inform the EC that Tibatan Youth Association in Europe has donated 1,500.00 CHF to the central Fund while Tibet Initiative Basel-Switzerland has donated 1,000 CHF. With these two donations, Switzerland has now contributed 7,500.00 US$ and 2,500.00 CHF to the central Fund. Tibet Bureau also expects the Tibetan Community in Switzerland to make some financial contribution.
In this connection, I was surprised that the latest Geneva Fax did not mention the role of Ms.Haschke who very kindly accepted the responsibility given to her by the EC Meeting of 11 January at Tibet Bureau in Geneva. I don't understand why this happened.
Geneva Fax
The Zurich meeting of Switzerland and Liechtenstein National Coordinators regretted the fact that regular information about the Geneva events was not forthcoming as decided during Strasbourg Meeting. For example, the question of weekly editions of Geneva Fax.
I also have problems with the various figures being quoted in Geneva Fax or TRP Fax because our application only quotes 10.000. However, figurs of 15.000 and even 20.000 are being quoted which is not consistent.
Secondly, the latest TRP Fax no.49 again refers to the Geneva Events. During the 11 January EC Meeting in Geneva, Rep. Chungdak Koren requested that news and information about Geneva Events be only published in Geneva Fax so that people are not confused.
Press Strategy
The media co-ordination from Switzerland and Liechtenstein will be handled by the following people:
Mr.Tenzin Emchi, Ms. Tenzin W. Drongshar, Ms.Renate Mueller, Mr.Andrea Fuchs and Mr.Lucius Blattner. This media team will work very closely with EC members. The Swiss-Liechtenstein group will hold its next meeting in Geneva on 23 February.
Lets bring 10.000 people in Geneva!
