UCS 12/05/06: Press Kofi Annan to act on Tibet

 

Ask Kofi Annan to press for Tibet solution during his visit to China

(Please take action no later than 18 May 2006)


On 19 May Kofi Annan, the UN's Secretary-General, will arrive in China on an official visit. The visit has a special significance, as it will be Annan's last visit to China as the UN's Secretary-General and a final opportunity for the personal in this capacity. Annan must urge China to stand up to its obligations under international human rights law, especially with its new responsibilities as a member of the UN's new Human Rights Council. The Secretary-General should demand the release of Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and press for substantial progress in the negotiations between the envoys of the Dalai Lama and China.


TAKE ACTION

Write to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, urging him (see sample letter below):

  • To press China to comply with UN's human rights bodies' demands to allow an independent expert access to Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.

  • To press China to fulfil its obligations under international human rights law and as a member of the UN Human Rights Council.

  • To ensure the UN facilitates practical and substantive support for a genuinely non-violent process such as that pursued by the Dalai Lama and one which seeks to resolve the long-standing injustice of China's occupation of Tibet.


Name: Kofi Annan
Email: inquiries@un.org
Salutation: Dear Secretary-General
If you wish to write a letter, the address is:
Address: Office of the Secretary-General
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
USA
Phone: +1-212-963-4475
Fax: +1-202-225-8259
SAMPLE LETTER

(Please feel free to use the text of this letter, however letters in your own words are even more effective!)

 

    Dear Secretary-General,

    I am writing to you before your official visit to China to urge you to raise the issue of human rights in China and occupied Tibet. I also urge you to press the Chinese Government to work towards a peaceful solution in Tibet and for the UN to facilitate practical and substantive support to a genuinely non-violent process such as that pursued by the Dalai Lama and one which seeks to resolve the long-standing injustice of China's occupation of Tibet.

    As the leader of the UN you must hold China accountable to its international obligation under international human rights law and as a member of the Human Rights Council. Specifically, I urge you to press China to comply with UN's human rights bodies' demands to allow an independent expert access to Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.

    Yours Sincerely,

     

(Please send us copies of any replies you receive as this helps us to monitor the situation.)