TIBET-Made Strangers in Their Own Land

Made Strangers in Their Own Land International Jurists' Report Karin Kapadia SIX ordinary people, one woman and five men, are on an extraordinarily brave undertaking in Delhi currently. They are Tibetans living in exile in India had undertaken a fast unto death to draw international attention to the recommendations of a recently published report on Tibet. This is the report Tibet: Human Rights and the Rule of Law by the Internationl Commission of Jurists (published in December 1997). In the words of the Tibetan Youth Congress (the largest and most active Tibetan NGO, which has played a key role in the life of Tibetans in exile), this report ''should serve as an eye-opener for all who respect human rights and freedoms. The ICJ report not only details the past and present situation of Tibet but also suggests in what capacity the UN can play a positive role in solving the question of Tibet. The recent ICJ report on Tibet has therefore given a new hope to the Tibetan people and their aspirations. It is in the light of this development that the Tibetan Youth Congress has resolved to organise an indefinite hunger sit-down at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, in the true spirit of a Gandhian non-violence movement, until the below- mentioned demands are fulfilled by, the United Nations; (1) To resume its debate on the question of Tibet based on its resolutions special rapporteur to investigate the situation