Action from Group 22 Newsletter Nov 2002
Letter to Hu Jintao, China's new leader
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
Ngawang Pekar, Tibetan Monk
Every month our group tries to do something to help our adopted prisoner
of conscience, Ngawang Pekar. (He is a Tibetan monk who has been imprisoned
since he was arrested in 1989 by the Chinese authorities for participating
in a peaceful demonstration.) This month we will march in the Doodah parade
and carry signs and distribute stickers urging "Free Ngawang Pekar!"
On Nov. 15 the Chinese Communist Party revealed its new leaders. Who's the
new leader of China? Hu, that's who. Hu Jintao, Vice President of China, was
named to the post of general secretary, the Party's top position. He is expected
to succeed Jiang Zemin to the title of President in March.
Hu was the Party leader in Tibet at the time of the 1989 pro-independence
demonstrations and became known for his tough crackdown, so one might guess
that he's not too sympathetic towards Ngawang Pekar or other Tibetan political
prisoners. On the other hand, as Orville Schell wrote in the Oct. 27 L.A.
Times, "A [peaceful] solution to the Tibet problem would greatly improve China's
global image," and Hu's familiarity with Tibet "puts him in an excellent position
to distinguish the beginning of his career by helping to untie this Gordian
knot."
Let's suggest that Hu distinguish the start of his career by releasing Pekar.
You can copy the following letter or use it as a guide in composing your own.
Hu Jintao
Vice President of the People's Republic of China
c/o Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you about a prisoner in Tibet Autonomous Region Prison No.
1. The prisoner's name is NGAWANG PEKAR. He was arrested in Lhasa in
1989 for participating in a peaceful demonstration.
I believe that NGAWANG PEKAR has been imprisoned solely for the nonviolent
expression of his beliefs, and I am deeply concerned about reports that he
has been beaten and subjected to torture and denied access to medical care.
I respectfully urge that Ngawang Pekar's case be reviewed and that his present
status be reported to international organizations.
I welcome the recent release of Ngawang Sangdrol and other Tibetan prisoners
of conscience, and I hope to hear soon of Ngawang Pekar's release.
I congratulate you upon your recent appointment as General Secretary, and
I thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
(Your name and address)