[ back ]

WORLD TIBET APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS

H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan
The Secretary General of the United Nations
The Office of the Secretary General top
The United Nations

New York Dear Secretary General,

In the light of your recent visit to China, and with regard to the USA-China preliminary agreement on entry to the World Trade Organisation, China's record on human rights remains a major issue. In view of your own affirmation of the universality of Human Rights, ( Annual Report to the UN General Assembly on the 20th. September 1999 ) it is all the more important that China, whose abuse of human rights has been virtually institutionalised under the present regime, be persuaded that it is time to move onwards from the present, deplorable position.

China always claims that human rights, far from being universal, are strictly a matter of "internal affairs," a position we do not accept. Equally unacceptable is President Jiang Zemin's recently re-iterated view that subsistence is the basic human right, and that the others must come later, in contradiction to the UN Convention China has signed. Nor indeed can we accept the Chinese view that human rights are somehow a western concept, not applicable in Asia, or with different standards for different races. As the Tibetan monk Palden Gyatso pointed out in his account of 33 years in Chinese prisons, "Fire under the Snow," eastern people feel the pain of electric shocks, beatings torture and bullets just the same as everyone else. Doubtless the victims of the recent Falun Gong suppression would feel the same.

It is sad to reflect that as long as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been in existence, Tibet has suffered under Chinese occupation. The UN Charter declares that the fundamental human right is that of self-determination. In this regard, we recall that only last year several Tibetans in exile in Delhi went on prolonged hunger strike, one even burning himself to death, followed by a second hunger strike at the UN in Geneva this year, in the desperate hope that the UN would do something to help Tibet.

In recent years the Tibetans have seen the UN intervene on behalf of Kuwait, Kosovo, and East Timor, but still Tibet is ignored and unrepresented at the UN. We recall that both the PLO and the ANC enjoyed observer status at the UN. Furthermore, the Chinese occupation of Tibet is an "unresolved dispute," and therefore as a party to that dispute China should not be eligible to vote on any Security Council motion concerning Tibet.

The Tibetan hunger strikers, with the support of the International Commission of Jurists, called for:

1. Resumption of the UN debate on Tibet based on the General Assembly Resolutions adopted in 1959, 1961 and 1965, the latter two of which specifically recognised the Tibetan people's right to self-determination.

2. Appointment of a Special Rapporteur to investigate the human rights situation in Tibet.

3. Appointment of a Special Envoy to promote a peaceful settlement of the Tibetan question, and a UN plebiscite of Tibetans to decide their future.

We would especially ask that you insist, as a matter of urgency, on personal contact between a UN representative and the young Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people, who has not been seen since he and his family were kidnapped by the Chinese authorities in May, 1995. Very recent reports have emerged from China , South China Morning Post, 5th. November ) which suggest that he may have died in Lanzhou No.1 Prison last month, and may already have been cremated. As the Chinese authorities have consistently forbidden access to the young boy and his family, it is a matter of the greatest urgency that you personally establish whether he is indeed alive, and call for his release. He is now aged 10, still officially the world's youngest political prisoner.

We understand the limitations within which your visit to China operated, but we sincerely hope, inasmuch as China is slowly opening to less totalitarian ways of being, that you will use every resource to make some substantial progress on the status of Tibet.

Yours sincerely:

Anthony OBrien, TSG Ireland, International Appeal Co-ordinator

APPEAL LETTER SIGNATURES BY COUNTRY
as of DECEMBER 10, 1999

INTERNATIONAL

International Network of Engaged Buddhists
Society for Threatened Peoples
Tibet Online International
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation

Austria
Austria Family Planning Organisation
Austrian Parliamentarians for Tibet Friends of Tibet, Austria
Save Tibet, Austria
S.O.S. Mitmensch Austria
Tibetan Community in Austria
Women in Development Europe, Austria

Australia
Australia Tibet Council
Tibet Independence Movement, Australia
Belgium Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain, Belgium
Les Amis du Tibet, Belgium

Belorussia
Zen Center Belorussian Mogilev, Belorussia

Brazil
S.O.S.Tibet, Brazil

Cambodia
Maryknoll Missionaries

Canada
Association des Etudiants de Sherbrooke, Canada
Buddhist Social Action Network of B.C., Canada
Canada Tibet Committee
Canada Tibet Committee, Edmonton, Alberta
Canada Tibet Committee, Calgary Chapter
Canada Tibet Committee, Victoria Chapter
Canadian Labour Congress
Friends of Tibet Newfoundland, Canada
Ottawa Friends of Tibet, Canada
Students for a Free Tibet, Canada
Students for a Free Tibet, Concordia University, Canada
Students for a Free Tibet, McGill University, Montreal,
Canada Students for a Free Tibet, Montreal, Canada
Tibet Committee, Edmonton Alberta, Canada
Tibetan Community of Quebec, Canada

Denmark
Tibet Support Group, Denmark

Estonia
Estonian Nyingma Centre Estonian-Tibetan
Cultural Society Finland Campaign for Tibet, Finland
Parliament of Finland Friends of Tibet

France
Alpes Tibet, Grenoble, France
Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain, France
CSPT-Midi Pyrenees
CSPT- Bretagne
CSPT - Herault
ECOTibet, France
Association France Tibet Les Verts, ( The Green Party ),France Lions des Neiges,Lyon, France
Observatoire des Libertes en Asie Orientale, France
Solidarite Tibet, France
Solidarite Tibet- Blois, France
Tibet59/62, Lille, France

Germany
Aryatara Institut eV Munchen, Germany
Bodaisan Shoboji Zentempel Hakuin Zen Society of Germany Deutsche Buddhist Union, Germany
ECOTibet, Germany
Engaged Buddhist Network, Germany
Friends of Tibet, Germany
Gelugpa Berlin, Germany
Karma Kagyu Verein, Germany
Herr Thomas Mann, Chairman, European Parliamentary Group for Tibet Rigpa, Germany
Tibet Foerderkreis eV, Germany Tibet Forum, Germany
Tibet Initiative Deutschland eV, Germany Tibet Initiative Muenster, Germany
Tibet Initiative Munchen, Germany
Tibet Information Service, Germany
Tibetisches Zentrum eV., Germany

Greece
Friends of Tibet, Greece

India
Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain, India
Friends of Tibet, India

Ireland
AFRI, Ireland
CONCERN ( International Aid ) Ireland
Earthwatch, Ireland
East Timor Solidarity Campaign, Ireland
ECOTibet, Ireland
Galway One World Centre, Ireland
Des O'Malley, TD, Chairman of Irish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee founder of Progressive Democrat Party, former Minister of Trade, Industry & Commerce, and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Ireland Irish Parliamentarians for Tibet Latin American Solidarity Centre, Ireland
Michael O'Kennedy, TD,former Foreign Minister, Minister of Finance, and EEC Commissioner, Ireland Noel Davern, TD, Minister of State, former Minister of Education, Ireland Pax Christi, Ireland
Ruairi Quinn, TD, Irish Parliamentary Labour Party Leader
Senator David Norris, Irish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commitee Senator
Joe Doyle, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland
Senator Brian Mullooly, Chairperson of the Irish Senate
Tibet Support Group Ireland

Israel
Israel Friends of the Tibetan People Karma Kagyu, Israel

Italy
Associazione Italia-Tibet
C.I.S.L. Italy
Friends of Tibet, Florence, Italy
Friends of Tibet, Italy

Korea
Stream of Free Tibet, Korea

Lithuania
Buda Jr. Lithuania Didelis Pasaulis ( Experimental Music Group ) Echidna Aukstyn ( Experimental Music Group )
Endiche Vis. Sat ( Experimental Music Group )
Ganesha Records, Lithuania

Luxembourg
Les Amis du Tibet, Luxembourg

Malta
Friends of Tibet, Malta
Tibet Information Service, Malta
Tibet Support Group Malta

Netherlands
Friends of Tibet, Netherlands
Maitreya Institute, Netherlands
Namkhai Norbu Group, Netherlands
Reflexies Management Training, Netherlands
Rigpa, Netherlands
Tibet Support Group Netherlands

New Zealand
Friends of Tibet, New Zealand
Jam Tse Dhargey Ling Trust, New Zealand
New Zealand Tibet Commitee Parliamentary Lobby Group for Tibet, New Zealand
Students for a Free Tibet, Dunedin, New Zealand
Students for a Free Tibet, New Zealand
Tibetan Community of New Zealand

Norway
Ms. Ragnhild Nystad, Vice-President, Sami Parliament, Norway Norwegian Tibet Committee Prof. Ole Henrik Magga, former President, Sami Parliament, Norway Sami Parliamentarians for Tibet, Norway
Sami T.S.G., Norway

Russia
Friends of Tibet, Russia
Kaliningrad Friends of Tibet Partnership Corporation, Moscow, Russia
Russian Buddhism on the Internet Association

South Africa
Tibet Society of South Africa
Tibet Support Group Johannesburg, South Africa

Sweden
Social Democratic Youth of Sweden
Swedish Parliamentary Group for Tibet
Swedish Tibet Committee
Swedish Tibet Projects
Students for a Free Tibet, Sweden

Switzerland
Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain, Switzerland
Friends of Tibet, Switzerland
Les Amis du Tibet, Switzerland
Swiss Parliamentary Group for Tibet
Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association
Students for a Free Tibet, Switzerland
Tibet Bureau Geneva, Switzerland
Tibet Culture Centre, Switzerland
Tibet Democratie, Geneva Switzerland
Tibet Women's Organisation, Switzerland
T.W.A.S. Switzerland

Thailand
Dhamma Park Project, Thailand
International Network of Engaged Buddhists
Maryknoll Missionaries
Overseas Mon Young ( Burmese ) Monks Union

UK
Free Tibet Campaign, UK
The Tibet Society of the United Kingdom

Ukraine
Friends of Tibet, Ukraine

USA
Alaska Communication Arts, Fairbanks, USA
Alaska Tibet Committee, USA
Capital Area Tibetan Association. Washington DC, USA
Bay Area Friends of Tibet, USA
Boston Tibet Network, USA
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, USA
Captive Daughters Citizens against Communist Chinese Propaganda, USA
Colorado Friends of Tibet, USA
Committee of 100 for Tibet
Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture, USA
Council for the Interfaith
Call for Freedom of Worship in Tibet and Universal Religious Freedom
Duckworld Travel, USA
Friends of Tibet, Seattle, USA
Friends of Tibet, USA
International Campaign for Tibet, USA
International Media Chair for the Parliament of World Religions International Tibet Independence Movement
Khawachen Dharma Center, Alaska, USA
Kashi Church Foundation, USA
Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Boston, USA
Los Angeles Friends of Tibet, USA
Loseling Institute, Atlanta, USA
Milarepa Foundation, USA
North American Representative to the Tibetan Parliament in Exile Wangchuk Dorjee
Orange County Friends of Tibet, Ca. USA
Princeton Area Friends of Tibet, USA
River Fund ( for AIDS and cancer sufferers ) USA
San Diego Friends of Tibet, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Berkeley Ca., USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Chicago, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Madison, Wisc.,USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Malibu, California, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Stanford U. USA
Students for a Free Tibet, UCF, Orlando, Florida, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, UCLA, USA
Students for a Free Tibet, Madison,Wisconsin, USA
Tibet-American Foundation, Minnesota, USA
Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, USA
Tibetan Association of Minnesota, USA
Tibet Association of Northern California, USA
Tibetan Association of Washington, USA
Tibetan Assoc. of Southern California, USA
Tibet Committee Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Tibetan Nuns Project, USA
Tibet Education Network, Gl