USA: ACTOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST RICHARD GERE MEETS PRO-TIBET INDEPENDENCE HUNGER STRIKERS ON DAY 12 OF FAST OUTSIDE UNITED NATIONS

Record ID: 388811

  • Title: USA: ACTOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST RICHARD GERE MEETS PRO-TIBET INDEPENDENCE HUNGER STRIKERS ON DAY 12 OF FAST OUTSIDE UNITED NATIONS
  • Date: 13th April 2004
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (APRIL 13, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS OF TIBETAN HUNGER STRIKERS TIBETANS SHOUTING "STOP THE TORTURE IN TIBET" SV RICHARD GERE ARRIVING SV GERE SHAKING HANDS WITH HUNGER STRIKERS SCU SOUNDBITE (English) GERE SAYING: "In a world that we have today that is dominated by violence and terrorism, here are three people who non- violent
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA3BCAR40E8N0IHJZ46R0M1PDD1
  • Story Text: Actor and human rights activist Richard Gere meets pro-Tibet independence hunger strikers on day twelve of a fast outside the United Nations.
    Richard Gere met with three Tibetans camped outside the United Nations in New York, on day twelve of their indefinite hunger strike.
    The Tibetan Youth Congress organized the hunger strike, which began on Friday, April 2.
    The three strikers, Ms. Dolma Choephel, Mr. Gyatso, and Mr. Sonam Wangdu are calling on the United Nations to re-open debate on the human rights situation in Tibet, appoint a Special Rapporteur to investigate religious and political freedom in Tibet, and pressure China to release several high profile political prisoners including Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, arrested two years ago.
    Gere held a press conference right by the strikers and spoke of the message being sent by the three Tibetans.
    "In a world that we have today that is dominated by violence and terrorism, here are three people who non- violently have taken it upon themselves to highlight the horrors of the situation that have gone on in Tibet and continue in Tibet," said Gere.
    In striking outside the United Nations, the Tibetans are attempting to send a message to the world body to stand up and listen to their demands for an independent and free country.
    Speaking to around a hundred supporters, Gere outlined some of the failures of resolutions passed by the United Nations in past years.
    "I believe it was the resolution of 1960 that called for self determination, for the Tibetan people. These are still open resolutions that have not been acted upon. I think again in this world that has been dealing so much with violence and terrorism, I think people trying to express their needs, those committed to non- violence are the ones we should be listening to," said Gere.
    In 1949 The People's Liberation Army of China crossed into Tibet. The human rights situation inside Tibet is the subject of much debate within the international community.
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