Issued March 22, 1997

Toronto, Canada



Contacts:

Y-S Colunbus Leo (416) 512-7877

Tashi Jamyangling (416) 412-6302



His Holiness The Dalai Lama is making a historic visit to Taiwan from

March 22 to March 27, 1997. We, the undersigned, are glad to see this

visit materialized. We congratulate those who worked very hard to

overcome the hurdles which make this visit a reality.



The visit of His Holiness The Dalai Lama to Taiwan brings an oppurtunity

for the Tibetan government-in-exile, and the KMT government in Taiwan

to examine ways and means to promote better understanding and strengthen

relations. In order to acheive these, it is imperative that all obsolete

ideas and political hurdles need to be removed unconditionally. In

particular, we strongly urge the following:



1.  The KMT government in Taiwan must abolish the Mongolian and Tibetan

Affairs Commision (MTAC) as soon as possible. The MTAC, on an ongoing

basis, promotes the myth that Tibet is a part of China, and has been

conducting many subversive activities in the Tibetan communities. This

archaic institution is the single most challenged obstacle in the

normalization of relations between Tibetan and Taiwanese peoples. The

unconditional removal of this obstacle is the first step towards a

mutually beneficial relation bewteen the two peoples. We, therefore,

call upon the KMT government to abolish the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs

Commission.



2. Tibet is an independent sovereign country under illegal occupation by

China. Taiwan too is an independent sovereign country. However, China

claims that Taiwan is a renegade province and it is constantly subjected

to military threats and intimidations by China. The political future of

these two countries can only be decided, not by China, but by the

respective peoples of Tibet and Taiwan, and by nobody else. We call upon

the international community to recognize these two countries' sovereignty

and respect their right to self-determination.



At this time, His Holiness The Dalai Lama's oldest brother, Professor

Thubten Jigme Norbu, is leading an "Independence Walk" from the Chinese

Consulate in Toronto to the United Nations Plaza in New York City.

This walk is organized by the International Tibet Independence Movement,

headed by Dr. Lawrence Gerstein. The purpose of this long walk is to

demand Tibetan Independence. The group is joined and supported by East

Turkistanis, Mongolians, and Taiwanese peoples--all aspiring for freedom

and independence for their respective countries. We the signatories of

this statement also unequivicoally support the Tibetan Independence Walk,

and we encourage others to join Professor Norbu and the ITIM team.



Signatories:

Y-S Columbus Leo, World United Formosans for Independence,

    Canada Headquarters

Dr. Steve Chen, Formosan Association for Public Affairs in Canada

Dr. Harry Chen, Taiwanese Human Rights Association of Canada

Richard Tsai, Taiwanese-Canadian Association of Toronto

Taiwanese Foundation of Ottawa



Professor Thubten Jigme Norbu

Dr. Lawrence Gerstein, Director, International Tibet Independence Movement

Tashi Jamyangling, President, Chushi Gungduk, Toronto Chapter

Dorje Mentuh, President, Lindsay Tibetan Indeoendence Movement

Rinchen Dakpa, President, The Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario

Pemma Mentuh, Regional Director (Canada), Students for a Free Tibet

Jordhen Chazotsang, President, Canada Tibet Committee

Tsering D. Wangkhang, Tibetan Youth Congress (RWC, Belleville, Canada)

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