Geneva Rally for Tibet's stolen child

Ten years ago, on 17 May 1995, the 6-year old child Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was taken from his home in Tibet by authorities of The People’s Republic of China and put into “protective custody”.

THIS CHILD HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE
Only days before Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s abduction the Dalai Lama had recognized the young boy as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. The Panchen Lama is considered one of the most important religious leaders in Tibet and has a special relationship with the Dalai Lama, who was forced to flee Tibet in 1959 after the Chinese occupation. Typically, the Panchen Lama is heavily involved in the selection process for the next Dalai Lama and vice versa.
The well-being and whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family remain unaccounted for by China. Chinese authorities have refused all requests by foreign governments and the UN to verify his safety. Inside Tibet his photograph is banned and Tibetans are forbidden from expressing devotion to him. He is another of the young victims of China’s repression of the Tibetan people.
On 19-20 September the Chinese government must report on Children’s Rights in the PRC before the United Nations Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
TELL CHINA & THE UNITED NATIONS THIS 10-YEAR LONG TRAGEDY MUST END NOW !

Time & Date: 2PM, 19 September 2005
Location: Palais Wilson, Lakeside, Geneva ( Quai Wilson)
Special Speakers: Kelkhang Rinpoche, General Secretary of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Lobsang Dorjee, Secretary of 1995 Search Committee of H.H the Panchen Lama
Contact: ICT Europe

SFT France and France-Tibet Activists Agitate Bombardier Conference

Paris, June 11 2005 – Students for a Free Tibet France and France-Tibet activists chained themselves at the entrance of a restaurant where Bombardier was leading a conference, while others were distributing leaflets to inform journalists about what Bombardier is doing to Tibet.
On June 7th, when Students for a Free Tibet demonstrated in front of Bombardier’s annual general meeting and participated to this general meeting to ask Bombardier to leave Tibet (see ICT article on June 8).
On June 11th, SFT France kept reminding Bombardier that they should KEEP HANDS OFF TIBET, and that as long as they don’t cancel their project of making and selling rail cars for the Gormo-Lhassa railway, SFT and Tibet supporters, anywhere in the world, will keep reminding them about it !
The Chinese government invaded Tibet in 1949-50 and has brutally occupied it ever since. Tibetans inside Tibet and around the world are struggling to regain their freedom. China’s most recent plan to strengthen its control over Tibet is to construct a railway that will for the first time connect Tibet to China’s rail system.
The rail line will help the Chinese government’s efforts to move millions of Chinese settlers into Tibet – a way of assimilating Tibetans into Chinese culture and eroding their resistance to Chinese rule. It will allow China to easily transport Tibet's natural resources, like oil, gas and gold, to China’s east coast. Economic benefits of the railroad will mostly bypass Tibetans who mainly live on the outskirts of Tibet's centrally controlled economy, beyond the reach of the railway.
Bombardier is helping China build the railway and strengthen its control over Tibet.
Bombardier announced in February that it will supply the Chinese Ministry of Railways with 361 specially designed rail cars for the Tibet line. Bombardier’s own code of ethics states “We behave with integrity and in an ethical manner in everything we do and say,” yet the Tibetan people were never consulted about whether or not they even want this railway. By providing essential components of the railway, Bombardier is supporting China’s occupation of Tibet ; SFT and Tibet supporters will not leave them alone until they cancel their project !!!

Paris demonstrates for the young Panchen Lama

The tibetan flags wave in the wind, under the Eiffel Tower. Two hundred people gathered saturday under the Parisian monument to ask for the release of the young Panchen Lama, detained by China for 10 long years.
A very symbolic place, since short time before its death, the previous Panchen Lama had privately said that he dreamed to see the Eiffel Tower one day, symbol of France which he thought as the country of human rights.
The vigorous demonstrators listened with attention to the President of the Tibetan Community in France, Thupten Gyatso, who pointed out the importance of this day, the injustice of this arbitrary detention, and claimed for the release of the young Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, reminding to the Chinese authorities that money cannot buy the truth.
Christophe Cunniet, from France-Tibet TSG, asked the demonstrators to imagine what would occur if a lay state kidnapped the pope Benedict XVI just after his designation, to replace him by another pope. This is however what happened to the young Panchen Lama, three days after his designation by the Dalai Lama. Christophe Cunniet also protested, supported by the shouting of the demonstrators, against the statements of the Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in visit in China, where he supported the anti-secession law allowing the use of force against Taiwan, as well as the lifting of the European embargo on the sales of weapons to China.
Philippe Horellou, also from France-Tibet, reminded the campaigns for the release of the Panchen Lama, in particular the petition and the international call, which gathers nearly 400 personalities and NGOs.
Alexis, from Students for a Free Tibet in France, showing the dynamism of the young people for Tibet, also spoke to defend the young Panchen and all the other political prisoners.
Several political personalities also addressed messages of support for the demonstrators.
The demonstration, very visible and rhythmed by many slogans, marched towards the head office of UNESCO, where a letter was handled to the reception by a delegation of the organizing TSGs.
Paris, April 23, 2005 - Source : Organizers Press Release

Panchen Lama's birthday celebration in France

France, 27 April 2003: The 14th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, was celebrated with sorrow in France saturday, mainly by the TSGs Etudiants pour un Tibet Libre, Solidarite Tibet, Communaute Tibetaine en France, Lions des Neiges and France-Tibet. About 300 people came to demonstrate for Panchen Rinpoche in PARIS and LYON. They were about 20 Tibetans in Paris, and one of them, Tobten, gave a very touching talk about effort to release Panchen Rinpoche.
A petition requesting his release and a visit of a UN delegation is now reaching 100000 signatures and should be handed over to President Chirac and Kofi Annan. An appeal has been signed by 346 groups and personalities so far. Representatives from TSGs gave speeches about the situation in Tibet, and about the visit in China, the same day, of the french Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The speakers expressed criticism that the Prime Minister did not put the Human Right issue on his agenda, at least on the official one.
At the beginning of this week, a conference was held in La Sorbonne, the famous University in Paris, also organised by Association France-Tibet and Etudiants pour un Tibet Libre. Given the recent execution of Lobsang Dhondup and the death sentence of Tenzin Delek Rinpotche, the subject of the conference was about the repression and capital punishment.
Marie Holzman, a famous specialist on China, gave an excellent talk, where she analysed the recent death sentences in Tibet, underlining the absence of logic of these sad events. Other speakers were Tobten, a Tibetan who presented the situation in Tibet, and the chinese Jianping Zhang who spoke about the repression of the Falun Gong movement. The President of Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort gave a speech where he outlined the necessity of uniting forces for abolition of death penalty in China and Tibet.

Jacques Rogge interview with Hardtalk / Tim Sebastian

S When human rights groups protested at the 2008 Olympics going to Beijing you replied that the IOC is not a political body, the IOC is a sports body. It's not the task of the IOC to get involved in monitoring or in lobbying or in policing. You may not be political but…
R That's the… if I may interrupt you, that's only half of what I've said but I'll add the second part later.
S You must acknowledge however that the Olympic Games confers huge political respectability on a country, and is used for political purposes by governments. You'd acknowledge that, wouldn't you ?
R On the issue of human rights, I've said indeed the first part of what you have quoted. But I said at the same time that the IOC will make sure that within it's sphere, which is sport, that all the human rights are totally respected. I've expressed this very clearly.
S How can you make sure of that ? How can you do that ?
R I've said this very clearly to the political leaders and we have in the host city contract a lot of provisions where we have to approve and we have to sign and we have to take decisions. I've said to the Chinese political leaders, the IOC urges you to improve as much as possible human rights, as soon as possible and I've said clearly after discussions I had with Amnesty International that it is not our role to monitor human rights, because to monitor human rights you need specialised task forces and specialised people which we do not have. And I have said that we would be in close contact with Amnesty International and with Human Rights Watch of the UN and they will report to us and they will tell us what they feel.
S And what if they don't improve their human rights record by 2008 ? Because in the 3 months leading up to the decision…
R That is a speculative question, because we are convinced that the Olympic Games will improve the human rights record.
S Well, in the 3 months before the bid was awarded to them, in the 3 months they executed more people than the rest of the world had done in the previous 3 years.
R I agree, I agree
S What if they don't Monsieur Rogge, what if they don't improve their record by 2008. What are you going to do ?
R They will improve their human rights record.
S What if they don't ?
R This is a speculative question and we'll see at that time.
S Well, lots of questions are speculative Monsieur Rogge. The world has a right to know if you have a line in the dust.
R I've given you clearly my line. We've said to the Chinese, we want you to improve the human rights in general. We'll make sure that within the sphere of sport, which is a broad and important one, they will be respected. And please do the maximum you can.
S Are there any circumstances under which the IOC would remove the games, either from China or from any other country, on the basis of human rights violations ?
R This is again a speculative question with so many possible scenarios that I am not in a position to answer you today. However, let me say the following…
S You can't even say whether it's a potential possibility for any country ;
R I am saying the following. The IOC is a responsible organisation, be it in the field of security, be it in the field of just logistics and delivering what is needed to have good games, be it in the field of human rights or any other major issue that would make the games difficult or impossible for young athletes to participate in, then we will act. You don't ask me today to line out which scenario which answer to which crisis scenario, but we are, and I'm repeating, we are a responsible organisation who is living in the real world, has a lot of interface with society and we, we respect and we feel the inference of all these aspects of society; environment, culture, human rights, security issues and so forth. We are not in an ivory tower! 
S Are you satisfied, coming down from your ivory tower, are you satisfied…
R I am not in an ivory tower, but some people are.
S Are you satisfied that Greece Athens will be a secure location for the Olympic Games, on the basis that for the last 25 years there have been bombings, murders with impunity, and not a single member of the terrorist group November 17 has actually been brought to justice ? Are you satisfied this is a safe location for the Olympic Games ? 
R We are stood today in the same situation today as we were before the Barcelona Games with the major threat of ETA. The Barcelona Games were a great success because the security arrangements had been prepared a long time beforehand and they were secure in a country that's still experiencing terrorism. We'd go to the United Kingdom, we'd be afraid of IRA. There is a problem in Athens with the 17 November group, it's true. We are preparing the same way we have prepared with Barcelona, there is a major budget being voted by the Government. There is an ongoing collaboration with major countries like United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Germany.
S Is that enough to turn back 25 years of incompetence or neglect ?
R I'm saying that we have been in countries where there was an inland terrorist problem and that that went well because of the preparations. I am confident that the Greeks will deliver. 
S And they'll deliver on time ?
R Yes.
23rd April 2002 (Source : Free Tibet Campaign)

" FREEDOM AIR " FOR GENDHUN CHOEKYI NYIMA

We suggest that you send a gift to the Panchen Lama. This gift is "freedom air".
You only have to send a nice gift parcel to the chinese ambassy of your country. The parcel should be empty, or filled with styrofoam so that it does not crush.

The card on the parcel will carry the following message :
FREEDOM AIR FOR GENDHUN CHOEKYI NYIMA, THE ELEVENTH PANCHEN LAMA
care of his Excellency the Ambassador of the PRC in ......
We thank you for collaborating in this international action.
Source: LIONS DES NEIGES

Arrest of RSF and France-Tibet activists : Press Release from RSF

OFFICIAL VISIT OF CHINESE VICE-PRESIDENT HU JINTAO TO PARIS
Arrest of RSF and France-Tibet activists

On 5 November, at 10.15 a.m., eleven activists of Reporters Without Borders (RSF-Reporters Sans Frontières) including General Secretary Robert Ménard, were arrested. They were demonstrating in front of the Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI) in Paris where vice-president of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao, was giving a talk. They threw some leaflets on Hu Jintao's car after having broadcast by megaphone the whole of a message recorded by Wei Jingsheng. In this message the Chinese dissident appealed directly to the Chinese vice-president:

"Sir Hu Jintao, I am Wei Jingsheng, I represent the Chinese democratic movement. In its name, I send you this call: you must understand that the situation of the Chinese government is not as stable and strong as it appears. And nor is the post that you will probably get soon.
Your policy creates more opposition. You must study more cleverly and learn the desires of the Chinese people. So you must adapt yourself to the evolution of world history.
You must do something to democratise China; otherwise your future may be as pitiful as that of the old leaders. Think carefully about it."
This message was also broadcast on 1 November in Lyon as Hu Jintao was entering in the city hall. Some journalists from Lyon Capitale were arrested.
Activists from RSF and France-Tibet were arrested, handcuffed, for the fist time, by French policemen and taken to the police station.
RSF asked for the release of 13 journalists and 18 web dissidents detained in China. Hu Jintao was the leader of the Communist Party in Tibet (he imposed martial law in 1989), the organisation thought this was a good opportunity to call the authorities' attention to the case of Tibetan film director Ngawang Choephel, sentenced in November 1996 to 18 years in jail for "spying".

Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontieres
asia@rsf.org   www.rsf.org

Note from France-Tibet : "That was quite great, we were in a building under construction just the other side of the road, and demonstrated just when he went out. We had managed to arrive in the building from behind. The police arrived in about 2 or 3 minutes only; we were handcuffed (for the first time) and were kept about 2 hours at the police station. Hu looked scared, hands up and moved fast to reach his car."

France-Tibet 10 rue Jean Mace 75011 Paris, France
E-mail:      http://www.tibet.fr

If you know any athletes or other representatives of the world of sport, please send them a copy of this appeal and keep us informed.

International day of Action against BP: the action in France

In France, we have gathered thursday feb. 15th in front of BP main office, in Cergy near Paris.
It was the first time they ever had a demonstration there, so it was quite a surprise for them - just the touch of reality they need !
We had a 6 meters banner reading "BP HORS DU TIBET" (BP out of Tibet) and distributed leaflets "BP EST EN PANNE AU TIBET" (BP is out of order in Tibet) and an open letter to the french chairman, to all people and car drivers who went out.
The first person we gave papers told us "My wife is Chinese!... There is a lot of exageration about Tibet", but most of the other BPers were quite more open, even if some of them forced our stop or were afraid at our flag-moving staging. Most of the employees had never heard about this problem before.
Only 3 policemen with motor-scooters were there to have an eye on us, which is quite a contrast compared to when we "meet" the chinese embassador (3 riot police busses, independently of the number we are... how happy taxpayers we are)
At the same time, people succeeded to enter the site and put stickers "BP is out of order in Tibet" in the BP building.
The "good" surprise we had is that the Communication Director of BP France spontaneously came out to meet us! He played the role of the persecuted person ("But we are not in Tibet... and we're not involved in this pipeline"), so we had to explain one more time about the difference between the TAR and the whole Tibet, and the role of BP.
He said he had received 400 emails in one day, which is the beginning result of a "cyber-action" we had launched the day before; "But they are all saying the same thing...", and he said he will answer all of them...
Also, about our banner "BP out of Tibet" (we had added "BP" over "China" to recycle a banner), he asked why not removing the "BP" letters to put back "China"? With this he would have agreed...
He offered to meet us at any time. (if you have new arguments or strategies for a meeting, please tell me).
The day after, we heard that all the employees had received an email following our action and trying to justify BP presence in China. It was the first time they were communicating about it to the employees there.
The correspondent of Voice of Tibet in Paris, who came for the event, made a 3 mn broadcast the same evening, which has been broadcasted in Tibet. Also, we continue to give letters to the BP gas station caretakers, following the action launched by Milarepa, USTC, FTC and SFT. Keep on the pressure !
Source : France-Tibet

Press Conference at the European Parliament office in Paris

Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, President of the Tibetan Parliament in exile.

Samdhong Rinpoche: Good morning.
I want to speak about the present situation in Tibet.

Since the French President is visiting China very shortly, some timely information about the present situation in Tibet seems to be important. This morning I met Mr Badinter. We had a long discussion and he was very sympathetic to the Tibetan issue; he had a lot of great motivations. Thereafter, at the Prime Minister's office, I met the technical adviser for Asian affairs and he also had a similar concern about Tibetan situation. We had an exchange of views. Then at eleven we had a meeting with the parliamentary group in the Parliament House, the Senator's group for Tibet and there was a great hearing. So my visit is very useful.

The situation in Tibet is deteriorating at great speed since last three years, and particularly since July this year. Religious repression, racial discrimination and economic exploitation have spontaneously increased. Their systematic planning to transfer large number of Chinese people to Tibet has already brought more than seven and a half millions of Chinese people, which is much more than the number of native Tibetan population. In near future, they are also planning to bring in much more Chinese people. Under the economic program in "Tibet Autonomous Region", more than 40 big projects have been identified and under these projects, they are planning to shift Chinese population in the name of skilled labour, technicians, and managerial staffs and so forth. So by that way, Chinese population can be shifted to Tibet in more efficient way. At the same time, the repression has increased.

Tibetans living inside Tibet is undergoing a great misery, and every day they have to live under fear and doubts. Therefore, the urgency to resolve the Tibetan issue is much more needed than ever before and the time is running out. Under such circumstances, as we had discussed in May in 'Berlin Conference' [of Tibet Support Groups], time-frames strategy should be adopted now.

The international public pressure on the Chinese authorities as well as public pressures to the different nation governments must be increased to get some results in near future. For the Tibetan Government in Exile and His Holiness The Dalai Lama is concerned, our policy of the middle path approach to have a dialogue with Chinese authorities about the settlement of Tibetan issue, but the Chinese government's response is very slow and mostly negative. So the only way to bring them at the negotiation table is to put visible and invisible pressure on them from various sources, particularly from international community. It is the only method; we have no other ways to deal with China.

Our approach is very sincere: we want stability in China and we are ready to compromise with the Chinese occupation if they guarantee to the Tibetan People, the cultural and religious autonomy, allow the Tibetans to lead their own way of life and to perform their legitimate responsibility and their duty. The minimum demand put forward by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is in consonance with the Chinese leadership statement given a long time ago, in 1978 where the then Chinese leader M. Deng Xiao Ping stated that except for the separation of Tibet from China, all other issues can be settled through negotiation. In response to that, His Holiness agreed that if the three regions of Tibet are unified and given a genuine democratic autonomy, no demand for separation or independence would be made. So in the vision of these two frameworks, the Tibetan Government in Exile was ready to negotiate but China is trying to buy time and was putting forward impossible new pre-conditions.

Under such circumstances as we discussed in Berlin; three years is the time for Chinese to consider the negotiation meaningfully with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Within three years if there is no response, a new strategy of the Tibetan Government would be required. This is our thinking at this moment; it appears to us that it is the only way. The recent European Parliament resolution in July of this year gave a strong support in this matter. Now we have to think how to follow-up this resolution, how to adapt it in various national governments and national parliaments, give a follow-up to the European Parliament resolution. I think the time of three years is extremely important to the Tibetan cause. So I asked for all initiatives of Tibet Support Groups, to coordinate themselves their actions at national and international level. The Tibetan support groups have worked hard for the last many years and I am confident that they will continue until the issue of Tibet case is settled.
Thank you all for meeting here this morning. It is very encouraging, and I hope we will coordinate and can work more and more in future time. Thank you very much.

Question: Do you think that compassion can disarm China and save Tibet?
S.R.: I very much think so. If we could develop a genuine compassion then it will definitely disarm Chinese people. Mahatma Gandhi used to say that if he get one hundred very qualified satyagrahin, then he would overcome the British regime within 24 hours. I also use to say that if the majority of Tibetan people could generate a genuine compassion for Chinese people, then I think that within three months of time, a positive change can be achieved. But it is very difficult for the people of Tibet, because they are hurt in their heart very deep, so it is a very difficult task. With His Holiness preaching's, I hope Tibetan people will understand this and we might be able to generate such a compassion. It may be three months, it may be three weeks, it may be three days, but I want to say that there would be the change.
Source: France-Tibet TSG

The press conference was organised on Tuesday October 17th 2000 by the Transnational Radical Party (Olivier Dupuis) and by France-Tibet TSG. During the visit of Samdhong Rinpoche in France, many political meetings took place. 50000 signatures and an Appeal for the Panchen Lama, signed by 300 NGOS and personalities, was handed to the Elysee Palace before the departure of Jacques Chirac to China.

EUROPEAN MARCH FOR TIBET : CROSSING THE ALPS

July 10th, 2000: The departure of the « Transalpine Tibetaine » was a great symbolic event, with more than 4000 people gathering at the concert for Tibetan Freedom in Nice !
The well known French group « Tryo » offered this free concert, raising the awareness of the youth for the Tibetan cause. They did so for many months in their concerts, collecting more than 60,000 signatures so far, asking for Panchen Lama’s release.
Palden Gyatso gave a moving speech on the stage, recollecting his years of imprisonment and torture under Chinese rule. Palden was arriving from the USA where he participated in a successful walk from San Diego to Los Angeles.
Wangpo Bashi, representing the Office of Tibet, thanked « La Marche du Tigre », organisers of the walk, and the other associations who helped this project.
Monseigneur Vigile, an Orthodox monk, brought his support for the spirit of the walk and the Tibetan cause.
Ani Pachen Dolma, 67 years old, a famous fighting tibetan nun, who had taken her father’s gun leading a group of partisans, was also there with several Tibetan monks, and Geshe Thupten Tempa coming from Mungod in India.
Reting Tempa Tsering, a former partisan, wounded by a chinese bullet, and hunger striker in 99 in front of UNO in Geneva, is also one of the marchers.

More than 150 walkers left for the first day of the march, and finished by night under the stars and the beautiful lights of the French Riviera. The march will take place from July 9th in Nice, to August 26th in Geneva, lasting 49 days, every day symbolising one year of Chinese occupation since the invasion of Tibet in 1950. The walk will cross the Alps, through France, Italy and Switzerland, and will last more than 700 km, with horses and yaks, through mountain roads and trails going up to 3000 meters high. It will also symbolize the Tibetan people’s escape through the mountains in front of Chinese oppression, and also their hope to come back by the same way. This first day of the walk was dedicated to the International Day for Tibet. In Geneva, the walkers will arrive just at the end of UNO Human Rights sub-commission.

Demonstrations will take place on August 16th in Chamonix, and on the arrival August 26th in Geneva, at 2PM Place des Nations in front of UNO.

If you need more informations and pictures, see the walk web site : http://www.tibet-transalp.com
E-mail : trans-alpes@infonie.fr

DEMONSTRATIONS AND APPEAL FOR THE PANCHEN LAMA - MILITANTS COVER CHINESE AMBASSY GATES WITH POSTERS

Over 300 Tibet supporters gathered in the center of Paris on April 24th 2000 to inform about crackdown on tibetan people, and call for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the day before his 11th birthday. Video films were played to inform about the Tibetan issue, and a large painting, measuring 6 meters long, of the Panchen Lama was performed during the demonstration, calling for a FREE TIBET. The demonstrators claimed that the 6-year-old child was kidnapped by the Chinese authorities and that for the past 5 years, he has undergone a terrible "re-education" under custody. For Gendhun, the world's youngest political prisoner, denied freedom of religion and rights of the child, an APPEAL was launched addressed to the President of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Written in Tibetan: Free Panchen Lama from detention !

This Appeal, requesting that a delegation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child visit Gendhun and his family, is already signed by 143 NGOs and celebrities (if you want to join, please write to the coordinator of the Appeal at: )

After the demonstration, some activists managed to approach the chinese ambassy and quickly sticked Panchen Lama posters to its main gate, reading "The world youngest political prisonner". They wanted to protest against the recent renewed refusal from the chinese ambassador that a delegation be sent to visit the young boy or his family.

July-August 2000 : Second Peace march in Europe

The second Peace march in Europe will take place this year: "La Transalpine tibetaine", from Nice to Geneva (approx. 500 km, 49 days) from 9 July to 26 August 2000. First part will cross French and Italian Alps with 10 horses and 5 to 7 yaks (50/200 persons, shelters & tents), second part from Chamonix to Geneva will follow roads and treks on plains (200/2000 persons, hostels).
Expected personalities: Palden Gyatso, Ama Adhe, Geshe Thupten Tempa (Mundgod), Ani Panchen Dolma, Nawang Lhamo (MP), Mingma (14 years old injured boy), two Tibetan representatives of TYC and, on final part, Jetsun Pema.
Peace march will end on UN Plaza in Geneva (1000/3000 persons) during UN special sessions.
Every stay of those 49 days (bardo) will symbolically remember one date of Tibetan calvary since 1950 with animations like deploying biggest flag in the world (in Chamonix, 16 August).
Claims are about decolonization of Tibet and negotiations.
Made with help of many European TSG, Tibet bureaux of Paris and Geneva, Tibetan communities of France and Switzerland, Franco-Italian and Without borders Mountaineering organisation (security).
On 6 July in Nice, musicians group "Trio" have offered to perform a concert to raise funds for the Peace march. Average public of Trio is about 5000 persons.
First Peace march called "La Marche du Tigre": from Lyon to Marseille (approx. 250 km, 24 days) was held from 2 October to 26 October 1998 (40/500 persons, 5 countries).
For more precise information e-mail me please.
Aim of "La Marche du Tigre" is to organise Peace marches for Tibet.
Cheque order : La Transalpine Tibetaine
Postal cheques number: CCP 8 950 88 V Lyon-cheque RIP 20041 01007 - 0895088V038 key 12

Co-ordinating association:
La Marche du Tigre  6 rue Marius Gonin  69005 Lyon   FRANCE
Co-ordinator: Mathieu Vernerey  Tel & fax: 00 33 - 4 72 77 56 73
E-mails: vernerey.mathieu@wanadoo.fr   michel.gignoux@wanadoo.fr

135 Pro-Tibet Demonstrators Detained in Paris

THREE DEMONSTRATORS FOR TIBETAN CAUSE HAVE CHAINED THEMSELVES, FROM 9 AM TO 10 AM, APRIL 24, 1999, ON THE IRON GATES OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY, IN PARIS

The chains "made in china (!)" from two of the demonstrators, didn't resist much in front of the shears of the police. But to get rid of the third one, attached around the neck, the police officers had to use a blowtorch! This one was not long to put fire at the clothes of the peaceful demonstrator! A fire fortunately quickly stopped, he wasn't finally wounded...

The 3 demonstrators, with two supporters, have been taken to the station, for searching and identity check. The tibetan flags hold up in front of the embassy have been confiscated, and each has been released after one hour. To avoid any return of the demonstrators, two police officers were still posted in front of the embassy.

For any answer to the requests of the demonstrators, the embassy agreed to provide... the ladder which allowed the forces to go up to the iron gate.

Photos: Sylvine, France-Tibet

Intending to show what the tibetan people had endured for 40 years, the demonstrators were requesting news of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the youngest political prisoner of the world. They also urged China to allow a delegation of the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child to visit Gendhun Choekyi Nyima.

THE YOUNGEST POLITICAL PRISONER OF THE WORLD WILL BE 10 YEARS OLD ON APRIL 25 - HE IS SUPPORTED, LIKE THE OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS OF TIBET, BY A HUNGER STRIKE IN FRONT OF UNO IN GENEVA.

China having obtained SATISFACTION in front of the 55th session of the human rights commission in UNO, on april 23rd, the hunger strikers, whose state continues to worsen, continue with all the more eagerness to claim justice.
The strikers now lost more than 7 kilos and are particularly weakened. The current situation does not forecast of any probable stop of their movement.

PRESS RELEASE FROM FRANCE-TIBET

Hunger strike for Tibet resumes, in front of UNO

www.suisse-tibet.com/tyc

Campaign for the release of the world's youngest political prisoner

Click here

CHINESE LEADERSHIP DIVIDED ON TIBET ISSUE

WTN - Monday, March 22, 1999 - by Tendar, DIIR
DHARAMSALA, DIIR, 22 March 1999 - In an unprecedented development, Chinese diplomats are pitted against the State Council over how to handle the issue of Tibet and what policy to adopt towards the Dalai Lama, according to delayed reports from China.
The reports speak of a closed-door conference in Beijing in October 1998, during which officials of Chinese missions in Europe asked their government to improve relations with Dharamsala, reasoning that the Dalai Lama had made it clear he was not seeking independence for Tibet.
Beijing's refusal to adopt a liberal stance towards the Dalai Lama, they said, was damaging the image and prestige of China in Europe. China's State Council rejected this suggestion, stating that the "Dalai Lama is a political fugitive and ... the Central Government's policy towards the Dalai Lama is clear."
Hardliners in Beijing contend that as long as the Dalai Lama is alive, China should merely feign interest in negotiating with him. "This will help us build our international image and buy time. .. "The issue of Tibet hinges solely on the person of the Dalai Lama, who is now nearing 65 years of age. When he is dies, the issue of Tibet will also die."
At the other end of the spectrum, a section of liberal Chinese leaders want to see the Tibetan issue resolved during the lifetime of the Dalai Lama. They argue that in the absence of the Dalai Lama, China will not find a leader, who enjoys the loyalty of all the Tibetan people, to negotiate with. This, they believe, will create unmanageable problems for China in the future. They are concerned that the avenue for peaceful negotiation may not remain once the Dalai Lama is gone.
Kalon T.C. Tethong, a member of the Tibetan cabinet, said that the hardliners policy of waiting for the passing away of His Holiness the Dalai Lama would prove to be disastrously short-sighted. Kalon T.C. Tethong said, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the solution to China's Tibet problem. If the Chinese leaders consider him a problem, then they will miss the opportunity for resolving the Tibetan problem."

Freedom for Tibet week: the European Demonstration
40 Years in exile: London 99

A TIBETAN FLAG ON THE TOP OF NOTRE-DAME IN PARIS !

Since March 10^th, on the top of the flèche which dominates the Notre-Dame towers in Paris, a tibetan flag is waving !

It was hung by two supporters of tibetan cause, who climbed with bare hands at the Gothic walls of the monument.

This flag intends to commemorate the 40 years of the rising of the tibetan people in Lhassa, March 10, 1959.

It is also an homage to the mountaineer Chantal Mauduit, died in an avalanche last May in Himalaya, and who two years ago, the same day, had carried herself a tibetan flag at the top of Notre-Dame, in a wish to support the tibetan cause.

The climbers began their scaling at 2 o'clock in the morning, right at the moment when the lights switch off and when the cathedral is plunged into darkness. They climbed with bare hands the walls of the monument, and arrived at the summit of the flèche at about 4 AM.

They also carried to the top a banner marked " UNO : JUSTICE ! ", thus showing the wish that France engages clearly at last in favour of the Humans Rights in Tibet, in particular at the time of the 55th session of the Commission of Humans right of UNO, which will begin its work in Geneva on next 22 March.

Photo France-Tibet

March 10, 1999, a demonstration as taken place near the chinese embassy in Paris, in presence of Ama Adhe, a tibetan resistant woman who spent 27 years in the Chinese jails, and in presence of the Dalaï Lama representative in France.
A "TIBET" of lights has been carried out, in memory of the victims of the Chinese occupation.

As the demonstrators were denied access to the pavement in front of the embassy, a big frustration led to some friction with the police, which was closely surrounding the demonstrators... In reaction, the demonstrators finaly managed to hold a sitting in the middle of the street.

As you know it, the tibetan people and his culture are seriously threatened of disappearance by the policy of occupation, oppression and colonization of the Beijing government.

We continue to claim with force the opening of a dialogue between the Dalaï Lama, the tibetan government in exile and the chinese government.

Statement of FRANCE-TIBET association.

(Fortunately this action as been widely broadcasted in France, on radios, TVs and Newspapers !)

"Denounce me" Dalai Lama tells followers

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 - The Dalai Lama has urged his followers in Tibet to denounce him "without hesitation" rather than suffer beatings or imprisonment at the hands of the Chinese authorities.
In a recent address, given to newly-arrived Tibetan refugees here and released to the press Monday, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said there was no shame in denunciations made under duress.
"From now on, if the Chinese authorities ever force you into denouncing me, do that without any hesitation," the Dalai Lama said.
"Please convey this message to other Tibetans in Tibet as well."
The Dalai Lama said he had always felt "deeply saddened and troubled" by reports of Tibetans found carrying his picture being subjected to detention, beatings and imprisonment.
Pictures of the Dalai Lama are banned in Tibet, and human rights groups have documented numerous instances where people carrying them have been beaten into renouncing loyalty to the exiled leader.
"If you were to denounce me, the act would be seen by any sensible man as having been committed under duress, under gunpoint," the Dalai Lama said.
"Except for a few ignorant fools, who would ever believe the false statements and propaganda by China?"
The London-based Tibet Information Network (TIN) reported late last month that a monastery in Tibet had been closed by the Chinese after monks refused to denounce the Dalai Lama. (...)
Source: WTN

I'm ready to talk any time: The Dalai Lama

JANUARY 18, 1999 VOL. 153 NO. 2

The Dalai Lama on his frustrations with Beijing
The Dalai Lama's brief chat with U.S. President Bill Clinton at the White House in November raised hopes that Beijing's leaders might at last agree to meet with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. But expectations that Washington could broker a dialogue between the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner and the Chinese swiftly foundered.
In an uncharacteristically somber mood, the Dalai Lama met recently with Time's New Delhi Bureau Chief Tim McGirk in Bodh Gaya, northern India, and explained his frustrations in trying to discuss with Beijing the issue of Tibetan autonomy.
Asked how the relationship was progressing, he glumly replied: "There's no news. Nothing's working."
TIME: During President Clinton's trip to China, a glimmer of hope emerged that Beijing might start talking to you. What's happened? Has the door shut?
Dalai Lama: I cannot say it's shut. "Shut" is maybe the wrong word. But there are some confusing signals coming from Beijing. One of the informal channels which we used to make contact with them is now more or less closed. It's not working.
TIME: Why did the Chinese leaders change their minds about speaking to you?
Dalai Lama: It seems that lately, the overall government policy regarding dissidents--and the democracy movement--has hardened. Their attitude toward me and Tibetans has gone the same way. It seems that the influence of the hard-liners is increasing.
TIME: Is President Jiang Zemin himself responsible for this?
Dalai Lama: We know there are two groups [in the Politburo], one moderate and one more hard-line, on Tibet.
TIME: What's next? How can you convince the Chinese leaders that there's no harm in talking with you?
Dalai Lama: My position hasn't changed in spite of the tougher Chinese attitude. I'm fully committed to the middle-way approach [of seeking autonomy for Tibet], one which can actually help to achieve genuine stability and unity for China. It's actually an antidote to separation. The Chinese government should appreciate this, but unfortunately there's too much suspicion. As soon as some positive indication comes from the Chinese government, I'm ready to talk anywhere, any time, without preconditions.
TIME: Are you optimistic?
Dalai Lama: One encouraging thing is that some Chinese writers and intellectuals are now becoming more aware about Tibet. Certainly America and Western Europe are also increasing their support for us. I'm very pessimistic for the immediate future. In the long run, though, I'm always optimistic.
TIME: At times, it seems as though the Chinese strategy is simply to ignore you and hope that they will outlast you.
Dalai Lama: Yes. One opinion [among the Chinese leadership] is that if the Dalai Lama dies things will become easier. There will no longer be any resistance in Tibet. But there's another opinion: that as long as the Dalai Lama is there, only then can a real solution be found through the middle way. Without the Dalai Lama, things could become difficult and more dangerous.
TIME: But in the meantime, it seems that Beijing is trying to destroy Tibet's separate identity.
Dalai Lama: That's my concern. Tibet's living Buddhist culture and tradition are not only of benefit to 6 million Tibetans but also to the Chinese. In the past, Tibetan Buddhist traditions have helped the Chinese a lot. In the future, these traditions can also help to give the Chinese deeper values.
TIME: In what way? Do you believe the Chinese people have lost their values?
Dalai Lama: Today, there's nothing--only money. Marxism doesn't have any effect. There's corruption and scandals everywhere. Nowadays, the Chinese are saying that if corruption is eliminated then the Communist Party will die, and if corruption is not eliminated then the country will die. Self-discipline based on spiritual values--that's the real answer to corruption.
TIME: There are reports that a new crackdown is under way in Tibet. What advice would you give to those Tibetans--in particular the Buddhist monks and nuns--who are being forced to denounce you as their spiritual leader?
Dalai Lama: I'd say O.K., denounce me. Especially if they're being subjected to physical torture. I don't want them to undergo that pain.
TIME: Why are the leaders in Beijing so afraid of you?
Dalai Lama: [He laughs and shakes his head.] I don't know. I don't know. They have big military power but no truth.

Aerial Suspension, Ferocious Dogs Used to Torture Prisoners

BEIJING, Jan. 06, 1999 -- (Reuters) Ten years after China ratified a key global anti-torture treaty, prison authorities still systematically torture political prisoners in Tibet, an India-based human rights group said in a report on Tuesday.
"Reports of torture and ill-treatment are prevalent in prisons in Tibet despite China's claim that it adheres to international laws which effectively bar the use of torture," said Lobsang Nyandak, director of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy.
The center -- based in Dharamsala, India, home of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama -- on Tuesday published a book of case studies of 60 political prisoners who died in detention or shortly after release on medical parole.
Torture methods used on male and female Tibetan political prisoners, including Buddhist monks and nuns, included electric shocks, aerial suspension, sexual assault and attacks by ferocious dogs, the center said.
The 40-page study, titled "Tales of Terror: Torture in Tibet," draws on reports from former prisoners and family members of torture victims both in Tibet and among refugees in India and Nepal. The book also includes accounts from 13 torture survivors.
"The repression not only of political prisoners, but of Tibetan people has increased over the last 2- years, ever since the 'Strike Hard' campaign was launched," Nyandak said, referring to an anti-crime crackdown begun in 1996.
"There's not a single Tibetan prisoner who has not undergone torture while in prison, but it's a matter of degree," he said by telephone from Dharamsala. Most political prisoners in Tibet are advocates of independence for the remote Himalayan region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a news briefing he had no knowledge of the report from Dharamsala.
"I have not seen the book you mentioned so I cannot comment," he told reporters.
"But I can say that China has implemented in a very strict manner the convention on torture. In addition we have a prison law and all activities are conducted in accordance with the law."
China ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel and Degrading Treatment or Punishment in October 1988 after signing the pact in December 1986.
The human rights center quoted a 28-year-old Buddhist nun named Tenzin Choedon as saying she suffered beatings and had a stick inserted forcefully in her vagina, causing severe stomach pains. During her torture session, she watched other nuns being abused with electric batons in their anuses.
Chinese prison torturers had become more sophisticated in recent years, inflicting internal injuries to "tactfully cover up visible signs of torture," the center said.
Nyandak said the center would publish an annual report on Jan. 10 which estimates that there were 1,083 political prisoners in Tibet in 1998, including 246 women and 12 youths under the age of 18.
China has said its rule over Tibet has raised living standards and halted human rights abuses by a medieval Buddhist theocracy that practiced slavery until the 1950s.

Tibetan protestors storm Chinese embassy in India

NEW DELHI, Jan 7 - About 20 Tibetan activists demanding independence from China forced their way into the Chinese embassy complex in New Delhi on Thursday.
Some 60 members of the Tibetan Youth Congress were involved in the protest, which followed an 11-day march across northern India to promote the cause of Tibetan independence.
The demonstrators, wearing yellow headbands with the slogan "Free Tibet," drove up to the embassy in a hired bus, then rushed the main gates of the embassy compound, taking Indian security personnel by surprise. Around 20 of the activists managed to scale the gates and ran inside the complex, shouting slogans.
The remainder burned and then stamped on a Chinese flag, chanting "Freedom for Tibet" and "Down with China."
The demonstrators who managed to climb into the embassy met no resistance from embassy security and left voluntarily after several minutes. The protestors also handed out copies of an open-letter to Chinese President Jiang Zemin asking for an end to Beijing's "colonial rule" of Tibet.
"When all the previous kings, dictators and emperors could not last forever and the likes of Hitler could not endure their tyranny forever, there is no way that you can endure your occupation of Tibet," the letter said.
Many of the demonstrators were among 70 Tibetan Youth Congress members who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday at the end of an 11-day, 250-kilometer (156-mile) march across northern India, to demand Tibetan independence.
A statement issued by the march organisers had urged the United Nations to discuss the status of Tibet and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to name a special envoy to supervise a plebiscite in the Himalayan region. India is home to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and his government-in-exile as well as around 100,000 Tibetan exiles.
The Tibetan Youth Congress is one of the more radical Tibetan exile groups, and is firmly opposed to the Dalai Lama's switch from demanding full Tibetan independence to regional autonomy inside China.

[No one has been arrested since the Tibetan fled in their bus after the protest and before the indian police could arrive.]
Source : WTN

China Heavy prison sentences on high-profile dissidents show disregard for international human rights standards

Amnesty International, 21 DECEMBER 1998 Just over two months after China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Chinese authorities have rushed through the trials of three key dissidents who had attempted to openly set up a political party. Two of them, Xu Wenli and Wang Youcai, were sentenced today to lengthy prison terms for "subversion". The third one, Qin Yongmin, was tried on 17 December and is still awaiting sentencing. "These trials are a state-managed exercise and a mockery of justice", Amnesty International said. "In these cases the authorities have not even kept the pretence that they are complying with the requirements of Chinese law." "These trials show the authorities' contempt for the international standards which they signed only two months ago," the organization continued. "This is a major step backwards, after a year in which the government had shown a slightly more tolerant attitude towards dissent." Amnesty International is calling on the government to release the prisoners immediately and unconditionally. The organization believes they have been arbitrarily imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association, in violation of international human rights standards. Background Xu Wenli, june 98 (Photo Reuters/l'Express) These are the first high-profile dissidents to be tried under the new "national security" provisions of the Criminal Law, which replaced the provisions on "counter-revolutionary crimes" after the 1997 revision. The three trials took place in three different provinces, barely three weeks after the defendants were detained, on 30 November 1998. The speed with which the defendants were brought to trial has made it impossible for them to hire lawyers of their choice and to prepare a proper defence. Wang Youcai and Qin Yongmin did not have lawyers and Xu Wenli only had a state-appointed one. Xu Wenli, 55, a veteran pro-democracy campaigner in Beijing who had previously been jailed for 12 years as a prisoner of conscience, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for attempting to "subvert the state power". His trial, held on 21 December 1998 in Beijing, lasted about three and a half hours. Xu Wenli was represented by a state-appointed lawyer. His wife was reportedly informed of the trial only on 18 December, after being denied information about his whereabouts and legal status since his detention on 30 November. According to the official Xinhua news agency, the court found that, in November, Xu Wenli had "secretly planned the founding of the so-called Beijing and Tianjin regional Party Committee of the China Democratic Party, with the purpose of subverting state power", that he has attempted to recruit members in the party, and had sought and accepted funds from some "hostile organisations abroad" in order to organise and conduct subversive activities. Similar accusations were made in the verdict against Wang Youcai, 32, a dissident from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, who was tried on the same charge as Xu Wenli. On 21 December Wang Youcai was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on this charge. His chosen lawyer was reportedly detained several times by police to prevent him from defending Wang, who eventually had no lawyer at his trial. One of the "most wanted" student leaders after the repression of the 1989 pro-democracy protests, Wang Youcai had spent two years in prison for his activities during the 1989 movement. The main organiser of the China Democratic Party, Wang Youcai had made an application to register the Hangzhou branch of the party in June 1998, during US president Clinton's visit to China. Qin Yongmin, a veteran dissident from Wuhan, Hebei province, was also detained on 30 November 1998 and charged with subversion. He was tried on 17 December in his home city. Lawyers in Wuhan city had reportedly been warned by the authorities not to defend Qin, and his family was unable to find a defence lawyer for him. The verdict against him is expected to be announced on 22 December. Qin Yongmin had been imprisoned on several occasions previously and Amnesty International considered him a prisoner of conscience. Earlier this year, he had been active in the formation of an independent human rights group, "the Human Rights Monitor", and had been calling repeatedly for political reforms and an improvement in China's human rights record. Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom

Chinese authorities stopped jamming Voice of Tibets broadcasts

After pressure from, among others, the Canada Tibet Support Groups and Reporters Sans frontières, the Chinese broadcasting authorities stopped its efforts to jam and interfere Voice of Tibets broadcasts.
For this support we are most thankful.
Reporters sans frontières immediately faxed (+86 106512 5810) President Jiang Zemins office with the following text:
“Your Excellency,
Reporters Sans Frontières, an independent organisation for the defence of press freedom worldwide, protests against the jamming of Voice of Tibet.
According to our information, on 17 December, the Chinese authorities jammed Voice of Tibet (VOT), and Oslo-based radio station which broadcasts a 30-minute daily programme to India, Nepal and India. According to Mr Alme, director of VOT, the Chinese authorities aired a Radio Canada International programme on the same frequency in order to prevent the clear reception of VOT.
In the past, China jammed the international programmes of the BBC, VOA and other stations broadcasting from abroad on several occations.
Reporters Sans Frontières reminds you that, on 5 October, China signed the United Nations´s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 19 which states that “everone has the right to impart information regardsless of frontiers”.
Our organisation urges you to use your influence to ensure that VOT is not jammed in future.
We thank you for your attention and would welcome your comments.
Your faithfully, sign. Robert Ménard, General Secretary”

Protester fined after boarding Chinese [destroyer] ship

Sydney Morning Herald, December 19, 1998
A protester who claimed he was kicked and punched by Chinese sailors when he boarded their destroyer was convicted yesterday of illegally entering Navy waters. He was fined $100.
Robert John Samsa, 38, a former sailor in the [Royal Australian Navy] had been trying to get publicity for his Free Tibet campaign when he boarded the Quingdao on May 4.
Samsa steered an inflatable boat out to the ship and climbed up the stern as it approached Bradleys Head about 9 am.
Shortly after he got on the ship, the Chinese sailors lowered a tarpaulin over the back, shielding Samsa from cameras.
Samsa told Downing Centre Local Court the sailors then punched and kicked him before he rolled overboard. "Realising if I stayed there I'd suffer more serious injury, I decided to flee the scene," he said.
He had earlier fallen off the stern and climbed back on board. Samsa said he realised there was a danger sliding off the back of the destroyer but feared for his safety on board. "There's always a danger when you're on the stern of any sort of warship that if you slip you'll fall into the propellors," he said.
The magistrate, Ms Janet Wahlquist, said Samsa had clearly breached the 100-metre exclusion zone around naval installations.
"Of course, he has a right to protest ... but this protest could have been legal without doing what he did," Ms Wahlquist said.
Source : WTN

Don't let democracy die under economic crisis: Asian dissidents

PARIS, Dec 12 - Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng led a call by Asian activists meeting in Paris on Saturday for the fight for human rights in the region to be upheld despite the economic and financial crisis. Speaking at a Conference of Democrats of Asia, Wei also warned the West that even though many Asia nations were moving to free up their markets, "economic development will not in itself provoke a move to democracy."
Chinese politics itself was at a "critical moment," he said, adding that while China was opening up to investors and trade, only a very few people were reaping the financial benefits.
Wei was deported from China to the United States last year after spending all but six months of the last 18 years in Chinese prisons for calling for democratic reform.
Olivier Darrason, a former French politician now with a French rights group, said the collapse of several so-called Tiger economies meant nascent democracies could return to totalitarian means to restore order.
The prospect of opening doors to the biggest number of potential consumers in the world was more important to the West than human rights, he suggested.
Some of the dissidents -- from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, North Korea, Myanmar, Tibet and Vietnam -- told of atrocities and repression they had lived through in their homelands. (...)
Tenzin Choedrak, imprisoned for 19 years in his homeland Tibet, found China less benevolent. Chinese troops took over Tibet in 1951, and Beijing claims the territory has belonged to it since the 13th century.
The Chinese, he said, have set about destroying Tibetan culture, pillaged the earth and brought in millions of 'colonists' in order to outnumber the six million Tibetans, who have been systematically deprived of their liberty. Between one million and five million people have been slaughtered there, he said. (...)
The conference was held two days after the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which originated in Paris.
Source : WTN

Letter to send to the chinese President

Please send this letter to support the campaign for the release of Ngawang Chophel !
Send to:

President Jiang Zemin
Guojia Zhuxi
Beijing-shi
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Dear President Jiang Zemin,

Ngawang Choephel is an exile-Tibetan music teacher. In September 1995 he was in Tibet filming traditional music and dance performance. He was held without charge for 15 months and then sentenced to 18 years for "spying".

He has committed no crime. Ngawang Choephel was researching and recording his own cultural heritage.

I urge you ensure the safety of Ngawang Choephel and to secure his immediate release from custody. There has been no evidence to support his conviction.

Furthermore I urge you to protect the freedom of the Tibetan people to enjoy their own cultural traditions in freedom and safety.

Yours sincerely,

Signature .........................................................................

Print Name ......................................................................

Address ..........................................................................

See also: The E-mail Letter of December 98

China uses foreign programmes to jam Voice of Tibet broadcasts

Press release: China jamming Voice of Tibet's short wave radio broadcasts

China started jamming the Voice of Tibet short wave radio broadcasts on Thursday 17th December by putting Radio Canada Internations English programme service on VOTs frequency. Referring to a professional monitorer close to the target area providing the following monitoring report today:

“To Voice of Tibet
Today I noted Radio Canada International in English on 7465 kHz causing interference to VOT. Here VOT was SIO 433 and the Radio Canada audio was poor in strength because VOT is strong. Incidentally VOT has been very nice in the last 3 weeks.
The Radio Canada audio is used by China and this is not a mistake or use of the same frequency by Canada. Radio Canada International is relayed by China later on at 1630 UTC from Xian. RCI audio goes off suddenly after VOT sign off at 1255, Canada goes off about 30 seconds later. This is not a mistake but a deliberate China jamming effort.”

The Chinese Government also in 1996 tried to jam VOTs programmes by putting an Australian-produced programme called “Easy FM” on VOTs frequency. The Australian Tibet Council protested to the Australian company cooperating with Radio China International to produce the “Easy FM” programme, and also following up the issue to the broadcasting authorities in Beijing. Since then, and until today, the Chinese authorities has not used foreign programmes to jam Voice of Tibet.

VOT provides unbiased news and information in Tibetan language to Tibet through a 30 mins daily short wave radio service. The Chinese efforts to try to stop Voice of Tibets service is a very serious breach of international law and gives all the wrong signals just a week after celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the UNs Human Rights declaration.
Referring to article 19 it says: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Voice of Tibet is now seeking international support to stop the Chinese attempts to prevent the Tibetans in Tibet to get access to unbiased information.

From: The Foundation Voice of Tibet, Welhavensgate 1, 0166 Oslo - Norway
Tel: +47 22112700 / Fax: +47 22115474
E-mail: voti@online.no

[A strong remember of the times of "Radio Londres" jammed broadcasts, in occupied France during WW2...  France-Tibet]

The Dalai Lama   "Champion of Human Rights"

At the end of the conference, Mr Badinter greeted His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the "Champion of Human Rights" and explained that "We could not celebrate this Anniversary whithout His Holiness. This had no political aims even though some were deeply moved many kilometers away from here. The aim was at a higher level: that of Human Rights... I ought to honore such a man among the few in such a crual world, so precious by the radiance of His though and action, because He knows one become credible only if one leads ones life accordingly to ones principles."

As the audience was making a standing ovation with visible emotion, His Holiness gave a traditional long and bright white Kathag to Mr Badinter.
The Dalai Lama then answered to questions from the audience.
Answering about the situation in Tibet, the disappearance of the tibetan identity, and especially the possible negotiations with the Chinese government, he made the following statement :

Jacques Chirac meets Dalai Lama at the Elysee Palace

PARIS, Dec 8 (AP) -- French President Jacques Chirac had lunch with the Dalai Lama at the Elysee Palace today, despite China's demands to cancel the invitation to the Tibetan spiritual leader.
France defended its hospitality to the Dalai Lama but also affirmed that Tibet should remain part of China.
The exiled leader's visit to Paris to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man was "natural", the French government said.
"The Dalai Lama is a respected religious figure and respected by the international community and the French people," Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said.
"France has always recognized that Tibet has been part of China. That position is unchanged," he added.
After the luncheon, the Dalai Lama told reporters: "My position remains the same. I am trying to promote meaningful self-rule, not independence, through dialogue.
"He said he is optimistic about the future. "China is in the process of changing," the Dalai Lama said.
Earlier today, Beijing pressed Chirac to drop his plans to have lunch with the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, one of a group of Nobel laureates invited to meet with Chirac.
"We are opposed to a meeting by official figures in whatever country with the Dalai Lama in whatever form," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said in Beijing.
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has been campaigning for greater autonomy for the Himalayan region.

Dalai Lama to attend Chirac rights lunch after all

PARIS, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Tibet's exiled god-king, the Dalai Lama, will attend a lunch for Nobel prize laureates in Paris on Tuesday after initial confusion over whether President Jacques Chirac had invited him, his spokesman said on Sunday.
The Dalai Lama, who will be in Paris for ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was reported last week to have been excluded from the lunch because of concern his presence would upset the Chinese government.
But his spokesman in Europe, Kunzang Yuthok, said in a statement: "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has received a formal invitation to the lunch and the Elysee Palace which he is happy to accept."
He said the Dalai Lama, who fled Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959 and leads a Tibetan government-in-exile in India, never used his foreign visits to embarrass host countries with anti-Chinese attacks.
France seemed to split hairs last week about the invitation after newspapers reported that neither the Dalai Lama nor exiled Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng had been invited to Chirac's official reception for visiting human rights activists.
Questioned on the report, Chirac insisted all Nobel Peace Prize winners were invited but he added cryptically: "I asked him if, because of his relationship with China, he would be present or not and I am awaiting his answer."
Rights activists who will be hosting some of the hundreds of foreign personalities invited by the government and private groups said they were considering boycotting the Elysee reception if the Dalai Lama was not there.
"It's like keeping away Nelson Mandela from celebrations to mark the end of apartheid," wrote the left-wing daily Liberation.
(Source : WTN)

Transcript of White House Press Briefing by Joe Lockhart (USN)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ --

Source: USN / WTN

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