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(Canada Regional Service, CA97-022)
ISSN 1024-9125
December 13, 1997
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Table of Contents # of Lines
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1. The Raising of the Tibetan Flag over the Graduate Student Centre ..... 99
2. A Protest Letter to the President of University of British Clumbia ... 43
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1. The Raising of the Tibetan Flag over the Graduate Student Centre ..... 99
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>From congjin@unixg.ubc.ca Wed Dec 10 11:27:19 1997
Dec 7 , 1997.
To: GSS Council and Ordinary Members of the Graduate Student Society
The Campus Community
Fr: The Executive of the Graduate Student Society
Re: The raising of the Tibetan flag over the Graduate Student Centre
In response to the many queries and communiqui the Graduate
Student Society has received regarding the decision to raise the Tibetan
flag over the Graduate Student Centre, we provide you the following
statement for clarification on this issue and the events that have
consequently transpired. Specifically, we address four points here: 1/
the purpose of raising the Tibetan flag; 2/ the GSS process involved in
raising the flag; 3/ a brief summary of the correspondence the GSS
received on this issue; and 4/ the GSS response to this correspondence.
1/ THE PURPOSE OF RAISING THE TIBETAN FLAG
Last May, GSS Council took the position to publicly oppose APEC due to the
lack of human rights on the agenda and the lack of student consultation in
the University's decision to host the APEC country leaders on campus.
As part of its APEC protest, the GSS raised human rights banners and the
Tibetan flag as a symbol of human rights abuses.
Simultaneous with the raising of the Tibetan flag, the following statement
was issued with a press package:
The flag and the banners send a clear message: we are opposed to
the APEC meeting at UBC and the lack of focus on human rights on its
agenda.
-Kevin Dwyer, President of GSS
2/ THE GSS PROCESS INVOLVED IN RAISING THE TIBETAN FLAG
GSS Council voted in favor of taking a position against APEC in accordance
with GSS policy on May 22, 1997.
Both the External Committee and the Executive Committee independently
formulated the proposal to raise the Tibetan flag to symbolize human
rights violations. Both committees then presented this objective to the
November Council during the Chair's Remarks and during Committee Reports
in accordance with GSS policy. GSS Council made no objections to this
announcement, which was subsequently carried out.
On Monday, Nov 24, the executive voted to keep the Tibetan flag raised in
protest of human rights abuses. The executive also voted in favor of
re-raising the flag until the end of November, should the RCMP lower the
flag during the APEC event, to uphold the Society's freedom of expression.
On Tuesday, Nov 25, the RCMP lowered the flag.
On Wednesday, Nov 26, the executive re-raised the flag.
3/ SUMMARY OF CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE GSS FROM GSS STUDENTS
OPPOSED
TO THE RAISING OF THE TIBETAN FLAG
At least 143 GSS members stated their opposition to the GSS's decision to
raise the Tibetan flag and requested its immediate removal and an apology
for raising the flag.
They stated that they were hurt, alienated, and angered by the Society's
decision to raise the flag.
They also request a formal apology from the President of the Society,
Kevin Dwyer, for his remarks to the media and to GSS councilors regarding
this issue.
4/ GSS STATEMENT
The GSS reasserts its decision to raise the Tibetan flag and keep it
raised for the purpose of protesting human rights abuses and upholding its
democratic decision-making process.
The GSS sincerely respects and cares for its membership and as such the
GSS acknowledges that the decision to raise the Tibetan flag has angered,
hurt, and alienated some of its constituency.
The GSS regrets this and is attempting to consolidate its relationship
with its membership by engaging in discussions and gathering information
on the issue for all its members.
The GSS thanks all its members for their peaceful protest both during APEC
and during the Tibetan flag protest. To the best of our knowledge, the
hate/ threatening mail the GSS received over raising the Tibetan flag did
not originate from our membership.
The Graduate Student Society
University of British Columbia
6371 Crescent Road
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2
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2. A Protest Letter to the President of University of British Clumbia ... 43
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>From: Quan Jia Xue Lian <fcssc@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca>
Subject: FCSPC News Release 9-1, Monday, December 8, 1997
The President,
University of British Clumbia,
Vancouver, BC
Dear Dr. Piper,
We, members of the executive committee the Federation of Chinese Students
and Professionals in Canada, have been following carefully the recent
event taking place at UBC, where the flag for Tibetan seperatists was
raised on top of the Graduate Student Center. As the organization
representing over 40,000 Chinese students, scholars and professionals
across Canada, we are deeply disturbed by the actions taken by the
President of the Graduate Student Society, Mr. Kevin Dwyer, and we are
particularly concerned with your approach to this matter.
Tibet is an inseparable part of China. This is the fact recognized by
almost all countries over the world and the United Nations. Even a
compromising attitude toward this matter will hurt the feelings of
hundreds of thousands Chineses students and scholars living in Canada and
the US. We will stand with the CSSA at UBC and demand a clear stand
regarding this matter from the UBC officials.
UBC is one of the most prestigious univeristies in Canada. Your approach
will send a signal to the rest of the country and to people living in
China. We sincerely hope that the positive image of the great university
established among Chinese students and scholars over the years will be
further strengthened, rather than diminished, by the incident. We are
looking forward to hearing your wise and clear decision on this matter.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
The Executive Committee
Federation of Chinese Students and Professionals in Canada
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