French Artists for Dalai lama, & Bu

[cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: French Artists for Dalai lama, & Burma?

On the ocassion of HH Dalai Lama's visit to France (he was in Cannes, on
the sunny French Cote d'Azur yesterday and on his travels to the White
House next week) the following was posted, and we hope to get them
onboard for Burma. All in time, the sooner the better. If there are any
French people reading this, please get on it, mail me, and lets do it.

Dawn Star, paris
WORLDWIDE TOTAL BOYCOTT


Open Letter to President Jacques Chirac from Several Famous French
Singers and Musicians

Mr President,

At present, as the Secretary of the Chinese communist Party in Tibet Mr
Chen=
=20
Kuiyan announces a new wave of repression against monks and nuns in
the=20
country, we wish to express our concern regarding the situation of a
young=
=20
21-year-old girl called Ngawang Sangdrol.

According to statements by some Tibetans formerly detained in Drapchi
prison=
=20
and having recently arrived in India, Ngawang Sangdrol -- a nun from
Garu=20
nunnery who was arrested on June 17th, 1992 during a peaceful
demonstration
on the Barkhor -- has been submitted to particularly severe treatment
for
several months.

Initially condemned to 3 years of imprisonment, she saw her sentence
increased to 9 years for having sung in her cell. Several artists in
France
protested at that time. At the end of June 1996, the Drapchi authorities
convened the prisoners and ordered them to clean their cells in the
anticipation of a visit by Chinese officials; Ngawang Sangdrol had an
altercation with a guard. Sent back to her cell, she shouted several
slogans
in favour of Tibet's independance.

Since then she has been in an isolation cell where she is reported to
have=
=20
suffered from torture. Her sentence has been increased by another 9
years,
to a total of 18 years imprisonment.

We urge you to do your best to protect the physical integrity of this
young=
=20
Tibetan girl and to obtain her release, along with all political
prisoners=
 in
Tibet.

More generally, we sincerely hope that France will not remain
indifferent to=
=20
this situation and will unambiguously engage in an action in favour of
a=20
dialogue between China and the Dala=EF Lama, to allow the survival of
the
Tibetan people and the self-determination of their future.

We assure you of our continued vigilance.

Yours sincerely,
      SIGNATORIES OF THE PETITION IN FAVOUR OF NGAWANG SANGDROL
     =20
      BARBARA
      Alain BASHUNG
      Julos BEAUCARNE
      Jane BIRKIN
      Tony BONFILS (bassist of Hallyday, Jonasz, Ray Charles, Tina=
 Turner...)
      Francis CABREL
      Jean-Patrick CAPDEVIELLE
      Alain CHAMFORT
      Yves DUTEIL
      Fran=E7ois HADJI-LAZARO (Les Gar=E7ons Bouchers & Pigalle)
      Fran=E7oise HARDY
      Michel JONASZ
      Lord YEHUDI MENUHIN
      Florent PAGNY
      Serge PERATHONER
      Veronique SANSON
      Daniel SEFF
      Yves SIMON
      Hubert-Felix THIEFAINE
      TYLA (Dogs d'Amour)
      Christian VANDER      (MAGMA)
      Isabelle VANDER          "
      ZAZIE
     =20
      Bands :
      ANGE
      DJAM & FAM
      I MUVRINI
      L'ANGE VERT (Celtic rock)
      LOFOFORA
      TOURE KUNDA
      TRI YANN
     =20
      Music journalists :
      Philippe BERARD  (Inrockuptibles)
      Toper FREEMAN
     =20
      contact : csptf@xxxxxxxxxxxx
      (to the attention of Cyrille Beerens)

Submitted by:  C.S.P.T. (Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain - France)


excerpt on Washington visit
The Clinton administration hasn't confirmed any meetings yet between
the=
=20
Nobel laureate and any senior officials, said a spokesman for the=20
International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), which is organizing the visit.

   But congressional leaders who support the Dalai Lama's efforts to=
 preserve
Tibetan culture have written to Clinton to ask for a formal visit,
(ICT)=20
spokesman Bhuchung Tsering said.

   "They usually let us know about these things at the last minute,"
Tsering=
=20
said on Thursday.

   Wary of provoking China, whose official media use equally colorful=
 insults
for the Dalai Lama and Taiwan leaders, the White House has in the past
arranged for the Tibetan leader to meet formally with the vice president
--=
=20
with Clinton "dropping in" to pay his respects.

   That is the formula the White House has said it will use on Friday
when=
=20
Hong Kong Democratic Party leader Martin Lee, also a perennial thorn
in=20
Beijing's side, pays his visit.