URGENT appel de fonds par Gaynor O'Flynn pour un documentaire sur l'hunger strike : à diffuser merci...
11.5.98
McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India.
I am making a documentary for the Free Tibet Campaign about the hunger strike.
I am an independent freelancer who has the necessary television production/direction skills
(10 years experience BBC, Granada, Channel 4
etc , the support of the tibetan youth congress, the six hunger strikers
themselves, the Free Tibet Campaign and the international campaign for
Tibet. I also have extensive personal contact and knowledge of the story as
I was present and witnessed Thupten's self immolation. I wish to attempt
to persuade broadcasters world-wide to broadcast this forty minute
documentary in association with the June march in New York which I believe
will be the largest so far and 3rd Milarepa foundation peace concert in
Washington. so I need to act quickly.
I am currently in contact with the British commissioning editors, BBC,
channel four, discovery and have interest in the project but I feel it is
imperative to maximize media coverage at this time so we are requesting
footage from the news agencies to use for the edit, obviously all rights
would be cleared for broadcast as and when we sold the documentary. I would
greatly appreciate your co operation.
I enclose the documentary proposal and a brief outline of the story so far
on which I will base the documentary script. any profit is going to the
Free Tibet Campaign. also if you could help in any way with potential
commissioners world wide we would be grateful of any e mails
I can be contacted on 00 91 1892 21733 or my hotel 00 91 1892 21559 or via
e mail mandala @ndb.vsnl.net.in
I leave you with the last words of Thupten Ngodup, self immolator, in
hospital, as I visited him one hour before his death, "may all beings live
in peace, long live HH the Dalai Lama, may Tibet soon be free"
regards, Gaynor O'Flynn
Dying for Tibet
a documentary proposal about the six tibetan hunger strikers who went for
48 days until the tragic self immolation of Thupten Ngodup on the morning
of the 49th day, who sacrificed his life to put the Tibet issue back on the
political agenda.
this is a unique story of bravery, belief and Buddhism at a time when the
interest in Tibet and tibetan Buddhism is greater than ever before. this is
not a story about the whole tibetan issue but simply an opportunity for the
Tibetans involved to speak to the world. this amazing human interest story
reflects the reality of the tibetan struggle. the six strikers feel they
represent the six million Tibetans facing mass cultural and spiritual
genocide before a world that pays mere lip service to their plight.
through desperation many Tibetans now feel they have no alternative but to
offer their own lives to their cause.
after almost forty years of non violent struggle the film reflects the deep
dissatisfaction and confusion of all tibetan buddhists including the Dalai
Lama who feels in his own words the strike, 'is like Tibet dying , with all
its cultural and spiritual heritage in front of the civilised world...I am
against all sorts of violence whether it is towards oneself or others
however I cannot offer them suggestions for any alternative method. I am in
a state of dilemma. I don't know what to do. this is very sad.'
the demands of the strikers to the united nations are purely humanitarian
based on the 1987 report of the international commission of jurists.
1. resume debate on the question of Tibet.
2. to appoint a special rapporteur to investigate the human rights
situation in Tibet.
3. to appoint a special envoy to promote a peaceful settlement and
initiate a u.n. supervised plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the
tibetan people.
I have access to the following footage ...
1. with the strikers at Jantar Mantar, Delhi from day one, 10.3.98. the
site is also the home for 600 street dwellers, it is dusty, disease ridden
swarming with flies and as the Delhi summer approaches intensely hot and
humid. these are not sanitised conditions. the footage includes the daily
routine of the strikers from the early days, chess under the shade of the
tree, showering with a jug and the help of the future self immolation
victim Thupten from one cold water pump, six calm strikers filled with hope
yet prepared to die, through the last days as they simply lay in the
plastic tent, as tibetans visited and left weeping, monks chanted deep
evocative mantras, film crews gathering like vultures circling their
potential prey to the tragic morning and the self immolation.
2. interviews with the strikers, three of whom speak english their own
personal stories of hardship torture, imprisonment and loss of those near
to them.
3. the Dalai Lama's visit with Richard Gere to the site and his speech (
extracts above) 2.4.98
4. the Dalai Lama's visit to hospital only crew inside and only interviews
with hunger strikers in hospital.
5. footage of visits of various dignitaries including most importantly
Adama Dieng, secretary general of the international committee of jurists,
on whose 1987 report the demands are based.
6. interviews with Tseten Norbu, the president of the tibetan youth congress.
7. world-wide actions demonstrations and rotational hunger strikes,
including Free Tibet Campaign and speeches by myself and John Pilger in
Trafalgar square during the visit of the chinese prime minister Zhu Rongji.
8. the cremation of Thupten 1.5.98 in Dharamsala and demonstrations
including one young tibetan carving free Tibet on his chest.
9. interview HH Dalai Lama tbc
10. the largest free Tibet march and concert will take place this June in
new York and Washington DC. Karma Sichoe may speak at these, (subject to
passport/visa) estimated 10,000 attendance and broadcast of concert which
includes rem, U2, some of worlds largest bands.
I am an experienced producer/director who has worked in a freelance
capacity on everything from, BBC's prime time documentary programme 'how do
they do that' to 'lonely planet' I believe I have the best personal
contacts of any non tibetan with the strikers and was at 06.00 at the
hunger strike site when Thupten practised self immolation I was also with
him in hospital one hour before his death.
I am currently in Dharamsala for the funeral, to research at the tyc office
and write the full script, my mobile is unavailable here but you can e mail
me at mandala@ndb.vsnl.net.in
DAY ONE TIBETAN UPRISING DAY 10.3.98
SIX STRIKERS START TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS HUNGER STRIKE IN JANTAR MANTAR,
NEW DELHI,
MR DAWA GYALPO AGE 50
WAS BORN IN TIBET AND WAS FORCED TO FLEE IN 1959 AFTER THE TIBETAN
UPRISING, HE STUDIED AT THE TIBETAN SCHOOL IN MISSORIE, THEN SERVED THE
TIBETAN COMMUNITY FOR A FEW YEARS IN DHARAMSALA AND IN NEPAL. HE ALSO
WORKED AS A TOUR GUIDE IN NEPAL FROM 1975 TO 1985 AND VISITED TIBET ONCE IN
JUNE 1985 WHERE HE EXPLORED THE SITUATION IN TIBET. HE HAS BEEN A AN ACTIVE
MEMBER OF THE TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS SINCE 1970 AND AT PRESENT IS THE
SECRETARY GENERAL OF REGIONAL TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS, SALUGARA, WEST
BENGAL. IN 1995 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST PEACE MARCH MOVEMENT OF THE
TIBETANS. HE HAS ONE SON WHO IS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TIBETAN HOMES
FOUNDATION.
MR KUNSANG AGE 70
WAS BORN IN TIBET IN 1930 AND FLED IN 1958. HE SPENT EIGHT YEARS IN SIKKIM
AS A LABOURER. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE REGIONAL TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS
PERUWALA. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN BOTH THE TIBETAN PEACE MARCH MOVEMENTS IN
1995 AND 1996/7. HE LIVES ALONE WITH HIS SON IN HIMACHAL PRADESH.
MRS PALZOM AGE 68
WAS BORN IN TIBET IN 1930. SHE HAS UNDERGONE SUFFERINGS UNDER CHINESE RULE
IN TIBET, HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED AFTER A DEMONSTRATION IN LHASA I 1987.
MANY OF HER RELATIVES DIED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CHINESE OCCUPATION. IN
1989 AFTER UNDERGOING INTERROGATION AND THREATS FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
SHE FLED TO NEPAL. SHE LIVED IN AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME FOR MANY YEARS IN
NEPAL AND RECENTLY CAME TO INDIA . SHE PARTICIPATED IN BOTH THE TIBETAN
PEACE MOVEMENTS IN 1995 AND 1996/7.
MR KARMA SICHOE AGE 25
WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 15TH 1973 HE ATTENDED THE TIBETAN CHILDREN'S VILLAGE IN
AND LATER IN 1991 JOINED THE TIBETAN ART AND METAL CRAFT CENTRE AND BECAME
FULLY TRAINED IN THANKA PAINTING IN 1993. H HE THEN ESTABLISHED ET THE
TRADITIONAL TRAINING CENTRE IN NEPAL FOR LEARNING THANKA PAINTING. IN 1995
HE PARTICIPATED IN A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY AND WAS
DETAINED FOR THREE DAYS. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS.
MR DAWA TSERING AGE 53
WAS BORN IN TIBET IN 1945. IN 1960 HE REACHED INDIA AND SPENT A FEW YEARS
IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION. HE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF REGIONAL TIBETAN YOUTH
CONGRESS, RAVANGLA. HE SERVED I THE TIBETAN UNIT OF THE INDIAN MILITARY,
THE SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE BUT AS HE COULD NOT PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY HE
DISCHARGED HIMSELF. HE SERVED THE TIBETAN FREEDOM MOVEMENT OF RAVAVANGLA
BRANCH FOR THREE YEARS FROM 1987 -1989. IN 1989, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE
TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS' PROTEST AGAINST LI-PENG'S VISIT TO INDIA AND ALSO
PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST TIBETAN PEACE MARCH MOVEMENT IN 1995.
MR. YUNGDRUNG TSERING AGE 28
WAS BORN IN 1970 AT DEHRA DUNN, NORTHERN INDIA AFTER HIS PARENTS WERE
FORCED TO FLEE FROM TIBET IN 1959. HE ATTENDED THE TIBETAN CHILDREN'S
VILLAGE SCHOOL (TCV) IN DHARAMSALA AND THEN JOINED THE TCV HANDICRAFT
CENTRE IN 1986 AND STUDIED THANKA PAINTING FOR SIX YEARS. HE THEN SERVED
THE TCV HANDICRAFT CENTRE AS A THANKA PAINTER FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS AND
NOW DOES HIS OWN PAINTING WORK. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST PEACE
MARCH MOVEMENT OF TIBETANS IN 1995.
HH THE DALAI LAMA SPEAKS IN THE MAIN TEMPLE DHARAMSALA, PRIOR TO A FREE
CONCERT FOR UPRISING DAY " THE CURRENT SITUATION IN TIBET AND LACK OF ANY
SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THE TIBETAN PROBLEM IS NO DOUBT CAUSING
AN INCREASING SENSE OF FRUSTRATION AMONG MANY TIBETANS. I AM CONCERNED THAT
SOME MIGHT FEEL COMPELLED TO LOOK FOR AVENUES OTHER THAN PEACEFUL
RESOLUTIONS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THEIR PREDICAMENT, I WISH TO FIRMLY
REITERATE ONCE AGAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF ABIDING BY THE NON-VIOLENT COURSE OF
OUR FREEDOM STRUGGLE.
DAY SIX
16.3.98
FIRST SYMPATHY HUNGER STRIKES BEGIN IN HOME OF TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE
DHARAMSALA, INDIA.
DAY 23
1.4.98
US EMBASSY POLITICAL SECRETARY VISITS THE SITE, MR DONALD LU, CALLED ON THE
STRIKERS TO END THEIR STRIKE.
DAY 24
2.4.98
HH THE DALAI LAMA VISITS HUNGER STRIKE "I ADMIRE THEM THEIR DETERMINATION
AND ENTHUSIASM. BUT I CONSIDER HUNGER STRIKE UNTO DEATH AS A KIND OF
VIOLENCE. I AM AGAINST ALL KINDS OF VIOLENCE WHETHER IT IS TOWARDS ONESELF
OR OTHERS. HOWEVER I CANNOT OFFER ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY ALTERNATIVE
METHOD...I AM IN A STATE OF DILEMMA. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO."
AMERICAN ACTOR RICHARD GERE IS ALSO PRESENT.
2,000 TIBETANS STAGE A DEMONSTRATION IN DELHI AND SUBMIT MEMORANDUM TO THE U.N.
EXTENSIVE COVERAGE IN THE INDIAN PRESS
DAY 25
ACTOR RICHARD GERE HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN INDIA ON BEHALF OF STRIKE.
DAY 27
5.5.98
THE NEWS BREAKS WORLD-WIDE WITH THE BBC, CANADIAN TV, FRENCH TV AND CNN
COVERING THE STORY.
WORLD WIDE SYMPATHY STRIKES AND DEMONSTRATIONS OCCUR, INCLUDING MARCH IN
LONDON FROM HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE, PEACE MARCH IN
MARSEILLES, FAST IN BOSTON, 2,000 TIBETANS IN KHATMANDU AND A 36 HOUR
STRIKE AND VIGIL OUTSIDE THE U.N. IN DELHI.
DAY 29
7.5.98
ADAMA DIENG, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS,
ANNOUNCES HE WILL VISIT SITE.
LETTER TO TYC PRESIDENT FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION, THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT "SHARES YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN TIBET
AND RAISES THE ISSUE WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY"
AUSTRALIAN SENATE HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION MOVED BY
SENATOR BOB BROWN, "THE SENATE EXPRESSES CONCERN AND SYMPATHY FOR THE
TIBETAN WHO ARE ON HUNGER STRIKE AND FACING DEATH IN INDIA TO DRAW
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THEIR HOMELAND."
SONIA GHANDI PRESIDENT OF ALL INDIA CONGRESS EXPRESSES CONCERN.
WORLD WIDE SOLIDARITY FASTS CONTINUE INCLUDING A 120 HOUR FAST AT RAJ GHAT,
DELHI.
DAY 31 9.4.98
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE U.S.
CONGRESS BENJAMIN A. GILMAN WRITES TO THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. BILL
RICHARDSON URGING HIM TO VISIT THE HUNGER STRIKERS DURING HIS UPCOMING TRIP
TO NEW DELHI, HE ALSO URGED HIM TO, " ASSURE THEM THAT THE UNITED STATES
WILL RAISE THE ISSUE OF TIBET AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY".
WORLD WIDE SUPPORT AND MEDIA COVERAGE CONTINUES.
DAY 32
10.4.98
MRS MARY ROBINSON, COMMISSIONER FOR THE UN HIGH COMMISSION FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS, ISSUED A STATEMENT YESTERDAY ON THE SIX TIBETANS WHO ARE ON UNTO
DEATH HUNGER STRIKE, " THE YOUNG (N.B. ACTUAL AGES OF STRIKERS!) PEOPLE HAD
DISPLAYED CONSIDERABLE COURAGE AND HAD SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THEIR ISSUES
TO THE ATTENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, I SHARE THE
CONCERNS THAT LIVES SHOULD NOT BE LOST BY CONTINUING THE HUNGER STRIKE...I
HOPE TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA AND HAVE INDICATED TO THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES MY DESIRE TO VISIT TIBET AT THAT TIME IN ORDER TO BE MORE FULLY
INFORMED ABOUT THE SITUATION THERE".
MR TSETSON NORBU PRESIDENT OF TYC REACTED IN A PRESS STATEMENT, " WE REGRET
THE STATEMENT DATED APRIL 9, 1998-TIBETAN HUNGER STRIKE-DOES NOT ADDRESS
ANY OF THE DEMANDS OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS. IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS
ANY TIBETAN ISSUES. IF THE UN IS TRULY INTERESTED IN SOLVING THE SUFFERINGS
OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE, THEIR DEMANDS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED".
SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW FROM AMONGST OTHERS, WEI JINSENG LEADING CHINESE
DISSIDENT, CANADIAN SENATOR, HN. CONSIGLIO DI NINO AND THE ALBERT EINSTEIN
INSTITUTE.
DAY 34 12.4.98
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS VISITS THE
STRIKERS. JUST BEFORE HIS VISIT, THE ICJ WRITE TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL
CALLING HIM TO APPOINT A SPECIAL ENVOY TO SEEK A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF T
QUESTION OF TIBET AND INITIATE A UN SUPERVISED PLEBISCITE TO ASCERTAIN THE
WISHES OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE.
DAY 35 13.4.98
MR ADAMA DIENG HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN NEW DELHI. "ICJ HAS BEEN ONE OF
THE OLDEST INTERNATIONAL BODIES SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS OF THE TIBETAN
PEOPLE...IT IS NOT AGAINST CHINA BUT PRO JUSTICE". MR NORBU TYC PRESIDENT
STATED, " ICJ IS A NON POLITICAL AND INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL BODY WHICH
STANDS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE. THE TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS IS ONLY DEMANDING
THE U.N. TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ICJ ON TIBET".
RICHARD GERE AND JOHN ACKERLEY DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR
TIBET VISIT THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FO EXTERNAL RELATIONS OF THE UNITED
NATIONS GILLIAN SORENSEN.
DAY 37 15.4.98
RESPONSE VIA GILLIAN SORENSEN FROM KOFI ANNAN HE WAS AWARE OF THE CONCERNS
OF THE TYC HUNGER STRIKERS, WHOSE NON VIOLENT ACTION REFLECTED THEIR
PERSONAL COMMITMENT. HE APPEALS TO THE TYC TO END THE STRIKE ON
HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.
PRESIDENT OF TYC REACTS..."THIS RESPONSE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC
DEMANDS OF THE TYC...FOR THE LAST HALF CENTURY, THE TIBETAN ISSUE HAS BEEN
THE MOST NEGLECTED ISSUE AS FAR AS THE UNITED NATIONS IS CONCERNED." THE
TYC AND SIX STRIKERS ARE DETERMINED TO PAY THE PRICE TO GAIN JUSTICE.
DAY 39 17.4.98
DELI TEMPERATURE HITS 37 DEGREES CELSIUS, STRIKERS' HEALTH AND STRENGTH
RAPIDLY DECLINES.
NGO's ATTENDING 54TH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE APPEAL IN SUPPORT OF
STRIKERS DEMANDS.
MASS MEDIA COVERAGE AND SOLIDARITY DEMONSTRATIONS AND FASTS CONTINUE...FROM
SOUTH AFRICA TO SWITZERLAND...
DAY 42 20.4.98
48 HOUR FAX JAM CAMPAIGN DIRECTED AT KOFI ANNAN AS THE STRIKERS COMPLETE
WEEK SIX.
MR JOHNATHAN SISSION DELIVERS STATEMENT TO CHAIRMAN OF 54TH UN COMMISSION
ON HUMAN RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION.
STATEMENT BY DAWA GYALPO WHO S VERY WEAK NOW...
"THESE ARE MY LAST WORDS... WE HAVE GOT MANY SUPPORTERS GOVERNMENT AND NON
GOVERNMENT, ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHO ARE WORKING JUST FOR WORLD PEACE, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE GOT A STATEMENT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL
SECRETARY, THIS LETTER IS DISAPPOINTING FOR ME IT DOES NOTHING, THERE IS
NOTHING ABOUT OUR DEMANDS, THIS IS A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME... SO IT IS
VERY SAD THAT THE UNITED NATIONS, IS ONLY WATCHING WHEN THERE IS VIOLENCE
AND KILLING AND BRUTAL POWER NOT WATCHING, NOT SUPERVISING A PEACEFUL
COUNTRY LIKE TIBET. IT MEANS NO MORE JUSTICE IN THE U.N.. THE U.N. IS
UNJUST BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY ACTING WHEN THERE IS BRUTAL POWER. KILLING AND
VIOLENCE THEY ARE RUNNING AFTER THEM BUT THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AFTER US.
THIS IS VERY SAD FOR THE WORLD. I AM EXPECTING THAT MAYBE IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS THERE WILL BE JUSTICE FROM THE U.N. AS WE ARE FOLLOWING NON VIOLENCE
FOR TIBETAN'S SIX MILLION PEOPLE. "
HH DALAI LAMA GIVES INTERVIEW TO THE BBC, " I HAVE TO EXPRESS MY ADMIRATION
FOR THESE DETERMINED TIBETANS...WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR THE
TIBETAN CAUSE."..."IF I STOP I HAVE TO OFFER SOME ALTERNATIVE BUT THAT IS
NOT THERE".
DAY 43 21.4.98
THE TEMPERATURE IN NEW DELHI REACHES 40 DEGREES CELSIUS THE STRIKERS ARE IN
CRITICAL CONDITION.
DAY 44 22.4.98
THE GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY REPRESENTATIVE, MR T. HOLTHE ISSUES A STATEMENT.
IN SUPPORT OF THE STRIKERS BUT NORWAY STILL IS NOT PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE
DEMANDS OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS DIRECTLY.
STATEMENT OF KARMA SICHOE, "RIGHT NOW WE HAVE BEEN ON HUNGER STRIKE FOR 44
DAYS BUT WE HAVE NOT GOT A RIGHT LETTER FROM KOFI ANNAN. IT IS VERY SAD
THAT KOFI ANNAN CAN NOT RESPOND TO OUR THREE DEMANDS. SO IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO RESPOND TO OUR THREE DEMANDS IF NOT WE CONTINUE THIS HUNGER
STRIKE AND WE ARE GOING TO DIE AND ALSO MANY TIBETANS ARE GOING TO DIE. "
DAY 45 23.4.98
KARMA SICHOE GETS A FEVER OF 102 DEGREES
DAY 46 24.4.98
DAWA GYALPO IS VERY WEAK AND PASSES IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS
DAY 47 25.4.98
TWO GOVERNMENT DOCTORS VISIT THE STRIKERS. AFTER EXAMINING THEM THEY STATE
THEY ARE NOW COMMITTING SUICIDE, ILLEGAL UNDER INDIAN LAW N REPORT TO THE
GOVERNMENT. THE POLICE ARRIVE AND ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR A 21.00 PICK
UP. THE WORLD'S MEDIA AWAIT THE POLICE AT 21.00. THE POLICE AGREE TO GIVE
THE TYC FOUR MORE DAYS TO DAY 50.
EU RESPONDS TO HUNGER STRIKE A DELEGATION OF EU AMBASSADORS IN BEJING WILL
VISIT TIBET, 1-10 MAY.
REPUBLIC OF POLAND WRITES TO HUNGER STRIKERS, " WE THE POLISH PEOPLE AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF MY COUNTRY ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT HUMAN,
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY VIOLATED."
AMBASSADOR APPEALS TO STRIKERS TO STOP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
DAY 48 26.4.98
12.10 THE POLICE BREAK THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE TYC AND WAIT UNTIL THE
MEDIA AND THE WESTERN SUPPORTERS HAVE LEFT THE SITE. THEY TAKE THREE OF THE
STRIKERS BY BRUTAL FORCE, DRAGGING DAWA GYALPO, YUNGDRUNG TSERING AND KARMA
SICHOE FROM THE TENT. KARMA IS THROWN INTO THE VAN AND ENDS UP IN
INTENSIVE CARE.
200 NUNS WHO ARE PRAYING NEARBY RUSH TO THE AID OF THE REMAINING THREE
STRIKERS, SURROUND THE TENT AND CHANT AND PROTECT THEM FROM REMOVAL AT THIS
TIME.
STATEMENT FROM DAWA TSERING IN HOSPITAL...
"WE WERE FORCIBLY DRAGGED FROM THE TENT AFTER THEY HAD ARRESTED ALL THE TYC
MEMBERS. THIS HAD MADE IT VERY EASY FOR THEM TO TAKE US AWAY FROM THE TENT
SINCE THERE WAS NO TYC MEMBER LEFT. WHEN THEY DRAGGED ME I TRIED TO SHOUT
BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE OF BEING VERY WEAK. THIS IS HOW THEY HAD PLANNED
EVERYTHING TO COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN THE WORLD IS SLEEPING.
YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE FORCIBLY TAKEN FROM THE HUNGER STRIKE WHEN WE HAD
REACHED THE PEAK SO IF THE U.N. DOES NOT RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE DEMANDS
WE HAVE PUT FORWARD, THREE OF OUR COMPATRIOTS WHO ARE STILL IN THE TENT
WILL CARRY ON THIS MISSION."
DAY 49 27.4.98
THE INDIAN POLICE ARRIVE AT 06.00. TO TAKE THE REMAINING THREE STRIKERS, 60
YEAR OLD ACTIVIST THUPTEN NGODUP SET HIMSELF ON FIRE. FOOTAGE OF THIS ACT
OF SELF IMMOLATION MAKES FRONT PAGE NEWS WORLD WIDE, IT IS SEEN BY OVER 70
MILLION VIEWERS IN OVER 40 COUNTRIES, VIA REUTERS, WTN, BBC, CNN...
5 NEW STRIKERS TAKE THEIR PLACE, THUPTEN BEING THE SIXTH
DAY 50 28.4.98
HH. DALAI LAMA VISITS THE SIX HUNGER STRIKERS AND THUPTEN NGODUP IN
HOSPITAL. HE IS MOBBED BY THE MEDIA AS HE ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE.
THUPTEN NGODUP'S LAST WORDS ARE, 'MAY ALL BEINGS LIVE IN PEACE, LONG LIVE
THE DALAI LAMA, MAY TIBET SOON BE FREE'
DAY 51 29.4.98
THUPTEN NGODUP DIES AT 12.05
HIS BODY IS TAKEN TO TIBETAN REFUGEE CAMP IN DELHI, MAJNU-KA-TILLA,
TIBETANS PAY RESPECT TO THUPTEN NGODUP
DAY 52 30.4.98
BODY OF THUPTEN NGODUP ARRIVES IN MC CLEOD GANJ, DHARAMSALA AS THOUSANDS OF TIBETANS PAY HOMAGE THE BODY MAKES ITS WAY TO HH DALAI LAMA'S TEMPLE.
SILENCE IS OBSERVED FOLLOWED BY SINGING OF THE TIBETAN NATIONAL ANTHEM AND
PRAYERS. PRESIDENT TYC TELLS THOSE GATHERED THEY MUST BE PREPARED TO
SACRIFICE EVEN OUR LIVES...
DAY 53 1.5.98
MORE THAN 7,000 TIBETANS ATTEND THE CREMATION OF THUPTEN NORBU BUDDHIST
CHANTS TURN INTO UNO WE WANT JUSTICE AS A MASS DEMONSTRATION FOLLOWS IN THE
TOWN CENTRE. ONE YOUNG TIBETAN CARVES FREE TIBET ONTO HIS CHEST.
communiqué transmis par Mélanie de Dharamsala (si quelqu'un pouvait le traduire en français... merci)
bienvenue en Bretagne : soutien au Tibet et mai 68
le communiqué du TYC sur la fin de la greve en Francais : Traduction effectuée par Les Amis du Tibet en Belgique et transmise par France-Tibet