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Cyprus: History in the Making

News from Cyprus

Statement by the Presidential Spokesperson Mr. Hasan Ercakica

During the meeting held between President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Mr. Demetris Christofias, it was decided to launch the comprehensive settlement negotiations.
This decision of the two leaders constitutes an important milestone in the efforts of finding a solution for the Cyprus problem and it has been greatly welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot side.

It is also a positive development to establish both the working groups to assist the two leaders in the said efforts and the technical committees to work on the issues influencing the day-to-day lives of the two peoples.

With this agreement, a new era has commenced for the efforts of finding a solution for the Cyprus problem. The Turkish Cypriot side will spend efforts to implement the agreement of the two leaders with determination and good will, and to reach an early comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem.

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Tibet, something is moving at the European Parliament

Situation in Tibet : ALDE initiates a plenary session on March 26

In response to the worrying situation in Tibet , "The Alliance of Democrats and Liberals for Europe " (ALDE) has requested the President, and the Parliament's political groups, to support an emergency debate on EU-China relations. The ideal opportunity presents itself on March 26th, when an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels , held jointly between the Parliament and the Presidency of the Council, will evaluate the results of the last European Summit. On the same day, ALDE believes the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee should organise a hearing with the President of the Tibetan Parliament in-exile, Karma Chophel. Following these initiatives, ALDE would wish to see a resolution on the issue adopted during the April session.

Dalai Lama Press Statement

of 18 March 2008

ITN on Tibet

Always Listen to Radio Radicale for the Latest on Tibet

Some people do here, others can here.

Dalai Lama "to resign" if Violence Continues

Latest from Dharamasala.

A Short Break on Northern Cyprus

“LIFT THE ISOLATIONS”

Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) States and Governments Summit has ended. In the communiqué, call for ending the isolations imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots has been reiterated; and strong contribution of the international community has been called for.

In the declaration which referred to the previous resolutions of OIC concerning North Cyprus, it was pointed out that the island was bi-zonal and two sides of the island should have equal rights and it was called for that South Cyprus should also behave within the framework of the Plan of the United Nations. In the declaration, it was emphasized that the member countries of OIC should pay high level visits to North Cyprus , send businessmen delegations, and increase cultural and sportive relations.

In virtue of the resolution taken about Cyprus , TRNC will continue to attend to the sessions of OIC as an observer with the title of “ Turkish Cypriot State ”. TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat, who attended as the “President of Turkish Cypriot State”, stated that they were pleased from the resolutions taken by OIC. Talat stated that in the summit, they made a claim for full membership, and he emphasized that application to the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation had been approved. Stating that the OIC summit was very fruitful, Talat pointed out that they emphasized the injustice of the isolations during the bilateral contacts.

8 JULY IS THE PROCEDURE, ANNAN PLAN IS THE ESSENCE OF THE SUBJECT

TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat stated that in the meeting with Leader of Greek Cypriot Administration Dimitris Hristofyas, they would focus on the general vision, and they would discuss whether a solution is desired or not, and on which basis a solution was desired. Talat also stated that he thought that the negotiations in Cyprus would begin as of the end of April.

President Mehmet Ali Talat pointed out that 8 July Agreement was only a procedure concerning how the negotiations would be, however Annan plan was not a procedure, it was the essence of the subject.

RACIST ATTACK AGAINST TURKISH CYPRIOTS IN THE SOUTH CYPRUS

3 Greek Cypriot Apoel Sports Club supporters attacked three Turkish Cypriots, who work in construction sector in South Cyprus , the day before yesterday. Kamiran Babat, Özdinç Taşkeser and Musa Eryener managed to escape the attack uninjured, however their car was damaged and car glass was broken.

The three had stopped at a red light in front of the Apoel Sports Club when suddenly a group of 15 to 20 from a larger group of 200 fans gathered in front of the club building hurled insults and started throwing beer bottles and stones at the car. Kamiran Babat, who was driving the car, said that they managed to get away when the red light turned green, just after the Club supporters broke the car glass.

He said that they had complained to Greek Cypriot police at the Metehan Checkpoint but had been directed to go to another police station on the grounds that they were not responsible from such incidents.

Babat said that they didn’t dare to go back again to South Cyprus because of this dreadful event.

3G LICENSE GRANTED IN NORTHERN CYPRUS

The telecoms authority for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has granted a 3G license to Turkish operator, Turkcell last Friday. Turkcell launched its network in Northern Cyprus in July 1999. Vodafone, which through its acquisition of Turkey's Telsim also operates a GSM network in Northern Cyprus is also expected to be granted a 3G license shortly.

"Turkish Cypriot mobile phone subscribers will be able to use the new system that enables video data transfer and faster internet access in autumn, the latest," Salih Usar, TRNC Transportation Minister, told reporters at the ceremony.

According to figures from the Mobile World, Turkcell is estimated to have had some 278,000 subscribers in Northern Cyprus at the end of last September - while Vodafone had around 104,000.

Last week, MTN launched a HSDPA upgrade to its network covering Southern Cyprus.

Urgent Appeal of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile

Since 10th March 2008 there has been successive peaceful demonstrations in various parts of Tibet (inside and outside TAR), which were brutally suppressed.

The current situation in Tibet is extremely serious. The Chinese government's ultimatum is due to expire at mid-night today. Therefore, we are extremely concerned that there is every possibility of a huge massacre of Tibetans taking place after the ultimatum.

The Central Tibetan Administration urgently appeal to the international community including the United Nations, governments, parliaments, Human Rights groups and Tibet Support groups to effectively urge the Chinese leadership to immediately stop repression and to release all those who have been detained, and to provide immediate medical care to all those who have been injured.

We particularly urge the United Nations Human Rights Council to immediately send a fact-finding delegation to all the affected areas in Tibet to prevent further deteriorations of the critical situation.

KASHAG

17th March 2008
Dharamsala

Tibetan Swaraj

What's happening today in Tibet is the reincarnation of Gandhi's Swaraj, which in fact may prove to be the way to go about freeing the Tibetans from the Chinese oppression.

Spontaneismo tibetano e non

su Phayul le immagini delle manifestazioni in Tibet del 15 marzo. Mentre la BBC raccoglie le accuse dei cinesi contro il Dalai Lama. Voci non difficilmente confermabili, ma raccolte da chi e' quotidianamente in contatto anche con le zone periferiche del Tibet, dicono che le manifestazioni continuano in modo spontaneo dappertutto, anche molto distante da Llhasa, nelle regioni di Amdo e Guang Zu, malgrado la polizia, a seguito dell'ultimatum che fissava per lunedi a mezzanotte il termine entro il quale gli organizzatori delle marcie del 10 marzo avrebbero dovuto consegnarsi alla polizia, abbia imposto il coprifuoco.

Le istituzioni tibetane in esilio hanno creato un coordinamento di tutte le organizzazioni che rappresentanto i tibetani fuori dal Tibet con l'obiettivo di mantenere la lotta quanto piu' nonviolenta e pacifica possibile dappertutto. In Australia e in India si sono verificati scontri con la polizia anche a seguito delle provocazioni di agenti cinesi. Il presidente del Parlamento tibetano in esilio e' stato nominato coordinatore dei vari gruppi e fino a mercoledi prossimo sara' a Dheli alla testa di una delegazione parlamentare che si incontrera' coi deputati indiani e informera' le varia ambasciate sugli ultimi sviluppi tanto in Tibet quando a Dharamasala.

Nella capitale tibetana in eslio intanto continuano le manifestazioni di tibetani che da tre giorni hanno chiuso il loro negozi in segno di lutto e, quotidianamente, si ritrovano per pregare, marciare e condividere le poche informazioni e immagini che riescono a uscire dal Tibet. I tetti della citta' di Dharamsala sono coperti di bandiere tibetane mentre i muri sono pieni di foto degli scontri, delle vittime e delle citta' dove la mobilitazione continua spontanea e imperterrita.

Sergio D'Elia e' appena partito per un lungo viaggio che lo portera' a Roma mercoledi' mattina per preparare la riunione delle Commissioni congiunte degli esteri di Camera e Senato convocate straordinariamente grazie a una sua iniziava.

News on Tibet

17 March: Around 40 middle school students arrested in Marthang

Around 40 Tibetan middle school students were known to have been severely beaten before being arrested at around 8:30 AM (Beijing Time) following students' call for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) multiple sources within Tibet.

Around one hundred Tibetan students of Marthang Nationality Middle School in Marthang County (Ch: Hongyuan xian), Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture, "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Sichuan Province, erupted into a spontaneous demonstration inside the school compound calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet during the morning school hours. According to witnesses, the People's Armed Police (PAP) and Marthang County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials blocked and immediately crushed the students while they came out of the school premises shouting slogan calling for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet . Students were severely beaten and manhandled before being dragged into the waiting police vehicles.

According to the latest information coming out of Tibet , it indicates that around 700 students of the Marthang Nationality Middle School in a solemn gesture of solidarity with the arrested students are staging protest outside Marthang County PSB office. The conditions and identities of those middle school students could not be ascertained at the moment

16th March 2008: Reliable sources have confirmed that at least 80 people were killed on 14th March 2008 in Lhasa . One very reliable source has confirmed that many of the dead bodies have been stashed in front of a Public Security Department office in Lhasa .

16th March 2008: At 9:30am this morning at Kirti monastery (Amdo province) which has remain completely sealed off by Chinese military, over a thousand monks fled the tight security and were joined by another thousand layperson-protestors outside the Monastery compound. Tear gas was used on the demonstrators and gun shots were heard according to a reliable source. Unofficial reports have confirmed that at least one Tibetan has been shot and killed and a few others who were also shot remain in critical condition.

At least seven shot dead in demonstration in Ngaba County

According to the latest confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), at least seven people were known to have been shot dead including monks of Ngaba Kirti Monastery by the People's Armed Police (PAP) during the peaceful demonstration by thousands of people in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba) this afternoon. Hundreds of people are also known to have been injured in the incident following PAP crackdown on the protestors. The demonstration is still going on when the Centre received the information from the venue of demonstration.

The demonstration started around 11.30 AM (Beijing Time), when thousands of Tibetan monks of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba), Ngaba " Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture " ("TAP") Sichuan Province , gathered for a prayer session this morning. Shortly after the end of morning prayer session, thousands of monks erupted into spontaneous protest by raising slogans calling for " Tibet independence", "return of the Dalai Lama" and "freedom for Tibet ". The demonstration was later joined by common citizens of Ngaba County total numbering thousands of people who were heading towards Ngaba County government headquarters.

16 March, Eight dead bodies brought into Ngaba Kirti Monastery

According to TCHRD, eight dead bodies have been brought into Ngaba Kirti Monastery according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. The bodies were brought in from the protest scene in Ngaba County , Sichuan Province. Sources say at least "30 Tibetans felled" after armed troops shot indiscriminately into the peacefully protesting Tibetans. Out of the eight bodies, one has been identified as Lobsang Tashi, a former monk in his mid 20s. The remaining bodies are unidentified at the moment. The monks in Kirti Monastery are currently offering prayers for the deceased.

16th March 2008: Higher Chinese authorities have instructed Tibetan officials inside Tibet to not take part in any of the protests. Their movement has been restricted and they are required to sign in and out if they wish to leave outside their homes according to a reliable source.

16 March 2008: Mass abductions in midnight raids by Chinese security forces in Lhasa , according to Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Dharamsala , India

Hundreds of Tibetans are arbitrarily arrested in the ongoing house-by-house raid by Chinese security forces in Lhasa beginning from 15 March 2008. All former political prisoners have already been rounded off and thrown into prisons by the security forces according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

With streets filled with patrolling Chinese armed troops and tanks in Lhasa city, the security agencies comb each and every house in Lhasa and pick up all suspected Tibetans, especially youth, from their houses accompanied by severe beatings by the armed forces. In testimonies received by TCHRD, mothers and elderlies in the families helplessly plea at security forces upon seeing their sons and loved ones being beaten and dragged away.

Law enforcement authorities in the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region" had on Saturday (15 March) issued an ultimatum to the protesting Tibetans to voluntarily surrender before Monday midnight (17 March). However, the actual arrests have already begun in house-by-house raid since yesterday while the world expects it to take place from tomorrow.

Although Martial Law is not officially imposed in Lhasa , it has all the elements of the Martial Law imposed in 1989 by the then "TAR" Party Secretary Hu Jintao, currently the President of People's Republic of China .

15th March 2008: One reliable source has confirmed that a military truck full of dead bodies was seen being carried away towards Toelung county (under Lhasa municipality).

15th March 2008: In Lithang (in Karze, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture , Sichuan province) during two minor protests, at least two of the protestors were arrested and taken into custody as confirmed by a source.

15th March 2008: In Amdo, Labrang, from 5000-6000 people took part in a major protest. Among many other things, they were demanding for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

15th March 2008: In Phenpo Lhundup Dzong (under Lhasa municipality) there was a protest by monks and laypeople.

15th March 2008: Gaden Monastery (about 50 kms east of Lhasa ) remains under extremely strict Chinese military presence. The number of military personnel is so high that they are running out of tent space for their personnel.

15th March 2008: There was shooting inside the compounds of Tashi Lhunpo monastery (Shigatse) and at least 40 laypeople protesting behind the Tashi Lhunpo monasteries have been arrested as confirmed by one source.

15th March 2008: Over 500 people have been arrested in Lhasa alone; however the numbers are expected to be astoundingly larger since all those arrested are being taken to prisons all over Tibet .

15th March 2008: All media personnel (including foreign media) inside Tibet are being questioned and there are reports that their recorded materials (video footage, pictures) have been destroyed or confiscated.

11th March 2008: In Dabpa (Karze, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture , Sichuan province) we have confirmed reports that the three Tibetans shot by the Chinese Police were killed and at least ten people have been injured. Instructions were given to shoot at the protestors since they were believed by higher Chinese authorities to be engaging in "splittist activities."

China continues to disguise martial law situations

• There are reports of Chinese military and police being deployed to all parts of Tibet . Various Chinese military units have been reorganized and are being deployed even to rural areas of Tibet . Even Home Guards and Surveillance police has been called in by Chinese authorities to suppress the protests inside Tibet .
• Schools, universities and shops remain closed.
• Monasteries continue to be guarded with extremely strict surveillance and security.
• Lhasa remains completely sealed off. All exit and entry points to Lhasa have been blocked off.

Courtesi of the Tibet Bureau in Geneva

Le ultime sul Tibet si trovano su Phayul

www.phayul.com