July 17: The Tibetan Abroad Writers PEN Centre (TAWPEN Centre) participated in the 73rd International PEN Congress held from 4-12th July in Dakar, Senegal. Two hundred writers from over 70 countries met to promote literature and to defend freedom of expression throughout the world. At the PEN Assembly the delegates, including 8 Chinese, unanimously passed the Tibet Resolution and openly supported PEN Tibet in its fight for freedom of expression for Tibetan writers in Tibet.
The Tibet Resolution calls for:
the Tibetan writers to be entitled to full freedom of expression;
to lift information and knowledge embargo on the Tibetan people;
to improve access and availability of education for all Tibetans;
to allow unrestricted operation of Tibet websites, chat sites, newspaper and blogs;
and to allow greater tolerance of writers and dissidents in Tibet and China.
The Resolution also demanded the release of six prominent Tibetan writers who are currently serving prison sentences:
Tashi Gyaltsen, Jampel Gyatso, Dawa Gyaltsen, Dolma Kyab, Ven. Ngawang Phulchung and Ven. Rinchen Sangpo.
International PEN, which holds Category A status at UNESCO and consultative status within the UN roster category, has a strong lobby at both UN and country embassies in Europe and North America. Mr. Kunthar, PEN Tibet delegate, said, ‘we want to make sure this Resolution just doesn’t remain in a file in the PEN office. I was reassured by the Writers in Prison Committee that it will be lobbied hard to the country representatives and to the UN”. Kunthar, Vice President of the PEN Tibet, said the most fulfilling part of this trip to Africa was, ‘the discussion forum on Tibet with 8 prominent Chinese writers especially those who came directly from Beijing’. At the discussion forum, arranged by PEN Tibet, the Chinese writers shared their perspectives on Tibet issues including Genuine Autonomy status for the whole of Tibet. He added, “Most of them expressed strongly that Tibet should now opt for complete independence because Beijing is deaf to Genuine Autonomy. However, Yang Lian—a poet/writer— said, ‘His Holiness is larger than life figure for not only the Tibetans but for every peace loving people and His stand on Genuine Autonomy is sincere and thoughtful which will not only benefit the people of China and Tibet but the world over’”. Kunthar also had long discussions with two participants from East Turkistan and two from Taiwan which all shared mutual concerns over Beijing’s autocratic rules.