The Battalion
Thursday • April 30J
Tibetan youths seek new answers from Dalai Lama Princess Diana plot foik
NEW DELHI, India (AP) —
For decades, the Dalai Lama has
preached calm and patience to
fellow Tibetans campaigning
against Chinese rule in their
homeland.
Now, with growing hunger
strikes and the death of a man
who set himself on fire, the politi
cal and spiritual leader has admit
ted that his moderate approach
has failed in the eyes of many frus
trated, desperate Tibetans.
His response could mark a
watershed for the Tibetan inde
pendence movement: While re
iterating that hunger strikes and
suicide betray the Buddhist tra
dition of nonviolence, the Dalai
Lama admitted he was unable to
offer any alternative solutions.
“For many years, I’d been
able to persuade the Tibetan
people to eschew violence in our
freedom struggle,” he said Tues
day after visiting Thupten
Ngodup, a protester who set
himself on fire during a demon
stration Monday against China’s
rule of Tibet.
Ngodup died Wednesday, the
first Tibetan exile to die of self-
immolation.
“Today, it’s clear that a sense
of frustration and urgency is
building up among many Ti
betans as evidenced by the
unto-death hunger strike and
the tragic incident,” the Dalai
Lama said.
His followers, many of whom
believe he is the incarnation of a
Buddhist deity, may interpret his
admission as approval of more
forceful tactics such as hunger
strikes and suicides.
The Dalai Lama — a title
that means Ocean of Mercy —
has lobbied heads of govern
ments, popes and potentates to
try to push China toward more
autonomy for Tibet. But China,
which invaded Tibet in 1950
and annexed it nine years later,
has not budged.
“In that sense my efforts have
failed,” he said.
Younger militants have ex
pressed increasing impa
tience with the Dalai Lama’s
moderate policies.
“We, the people of Tibet,
need an answer,” said Tseten
Norbu, president of the Tibetan
Youth Congress, which orga
nized a hunger strike that cul
minated with Ngodup’s self-im
molation. “How long should we
wait, wait and wait?”
The Youth Congress has long
advocated more forceful steps.
It organized the hunger strike
even though the Dalai Lama
had stepped in to stop similar
protests in the past.
The Dalai Lama’s admission
was a hint that the youth should
go ahead with their approach,
said Dawa Norbu, a professor of
Tibetan studies at New Delhi’s
Jawaharlal Nehru University.
“The Tibetan youth are get
ting desperate.”
It is unlikely that any Tibetan
group would defy the Dalai
Lama’s principles to the extent of
waging a campaign of violence
to push their cause, either out
side the country or against the
Chinese in Tibet.
Many Tibetans believe he is
the incarnation of a Buddhist
deity. Although radicals dis
agree with his methods, few
challenge his authority.
Ngodup, a 50-year-old for
mer Buddhist monk, was to
have been among a group to
take up the hunger strike after
the first six were forced to stop.
Five men began fasting Tuesday.
Ngodup set himself on fire af
ter Indian police, claiming they
were acting on humanitarian
grounds, forcibly took six other
fasting Tibetans to the hospital
Sunday and Monday.
“The self-immolation is one
of the most dramatic begin
nings,” said Mahendra Lama, a
professor at New Delhi’s Jawa
harlal Nehru University.
EU nations signs treaty to reduce pollution
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — European
Union nations signed an international treaty
Wednesday to reduce “greenhouse” gas
emissions and called on the United States
and developing countries to do the same.
“There were a few other countries which
we would have liked to sign with us here to
day, especially a big one,” the European en
vironment commissioner, Ritt Bjerregaard
said.
“And I hope to see the United States sign
ing as early as possible.”
Britain’s deputy prime minister, John
Prescott, said the signing by the 15 EU mem
bers “clearly signals our continuing com
mitment to the objectives we agreed under
the resulting environmental benefits.”
Japan signed the treaty here Tuesday,
becoming the first major industrial nation
to do so.
The global warming treaty, approved last
December in Kyoto, Japan, would require 38
industrialized nations to reduce their “green
house” gas emissions from 1990 levels be
tween the years 2008 and 2001.
European Union states would reduce
them by 8 percent, the United States by 7 per
cent and Japan by 6 percent. Some would face
smaller reductions, and a few would not be
obligated for now.
Developing countries, including major
greenhouse gas emitters such as China and
India, are asked to set voluntary reduction
targets.
The U.S. Senate, which must approve
the treaty, has called on President Clinton
not to sign and Congress not to ratify the
agreement unless pollution restrictions are
extended to developing countries.
Prescott said the follow-up conference
set for November in Buenos Aires must in
crease the number of countries required to
undertake reductions.
Prescott and an EU delegation planned
to meet with ambassadors of developing
countries to discuss the issue.
He said the Europeans were confident Clin
ton would sign the treaty, but understood it
may not be sent to Congress for ratification for
some time.
“We are satisfied they (Americans) will
be signing the protocol,’’ Prescott said.
“All this is about a global solution to a
global problem.”
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — A man who
sought $15 million from Mohamed Al
Fayed for docu
ments alleging that
his son Dodi and
Princess Diana were
murdered was ar
rested in a sting in
volving the FBI and
the CIA.
The man, iden
tified only as a 67-
year-old Austrian
living in the United
States, was arrested
April 22, Interior Ministry Spokesman
Rudolf Gollia said Wednesday.
When authorities arrested him, the
Diana
man yelled threats at Al Fayed,ttitl)
daily reported.
Dodi Fayed, Diana and theii
Henri Paul were killed Aug. 31 wli®J
car hit a tunnel pillar in Paris.
Gollia said the man hadcontarj
Fayed, the owner of Harrodsdepd
store in London, and offered ton
in a hotel in Vienna fortheexcbl
Fayed alerted the FBI, CIAanditil
trian intelligence agency. Hestrif
rods’ security chief, JohnMcnangj
meet Gollia.
So far, the investigationinPaiislj
cused on the drunken conditionti
the driver, and the whereaboutsofi
Fiat that may have sideswipedtkel
cedes carrying the princess.
Nigerians sentenced!
death for coup attemil
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Opposition and
church leaders today denounced Nigeria’s
ruling military junta after an army tribunal
convicted and sentenced six people to
death for plotting against the regime.
Military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha’s for
mer right-hand man, Gen. Oladipyo Diya,
and five others were sentenced Tuesday
to death by firing squad in the closed-
door proceeding.
“The trial was conducted in the dark,
and we were only informed about its out
come,” said Ayo Opadokun, secretary of
the leading opposition National Democ
ratic Coalition.
“We have seen a manifestation of
a pre-conditioned and predeter
mined scenario.”
Tuesday’s ruling came one week after
Abacha became the only candidate for
presidential elections later this year.
Government critics denounced the
military regime, saying it was using the
courts to purge its ranks of dissidents.
Although the militarygoven
pledged to hand power over to: :j
administration later this year,^
pears to be consolidatinghispoid
a leading human rightslawyersaiq
The army tribunal’s openings
and Tuesday’s sentencing wereo]
the press, but two monthsoftestiii
was conducted behind closedd
Diya, the alleged coup masiens
has maintained his innocence.
When the trial began in Fetal
told the court he had been framed f
In all, 30 people were triedino
tion with the alleged DecanbacNfl
A newspaper editor and three otej
pie were sentenced to life in priso: 1
received jail terms of two andlH
one was sentenced to an unspecfc:
term, while 15 others were acquinei|
In Washington, White Housespi
Mike McCurry decried the verdicte
the United States was uncertaintha!'^
fondants had access t lawyers.
IT’S THAT TIME OF
YEAR AGAIN!
Fall Open House is Sunday, September 6
from 2 to 6 p.m.
Tables are now on sale! Don’t miss out!
It’s simple! Just go to the MSC Box Office in Rudder Tower
and pay $30 for your recognized student organization. We take
cash, check, aggie bucks, credit cards, or departmental accounts
(you’ll need an IDT).
. . .
Space is limited! Remember, Open House tables are limited,
and.are awarded on a first come, first served basis! Only one table
per organization.
Please come and join us! Any questions? If so call the Relations Office at 845-7627.
AL Sponsored By: MSC RELATIONS TEAM - 7tC-»c»t...so feevt
Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your
special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior
to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities.
jjr
LJr~n\sQrsity CZ}r-t\s€>
FINALS SCHEDULE
SCIENCE
MON
Mav 4
TUE
Mav 5
WED
Mav 6
THU
Mav 7
PHYS
218
2-4
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
PHYS
202
4-6
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
CHEM
101
6-8
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
CHEM
102
8-10
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
CHEM
107
10 PM-
MID
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
PHYS
208
9-11
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
PHYS
208
11PM-
1AM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
SCIENCE
SAT
9-May
SUN
1 0-May
PHYS
201
4-8
PM
PART PART
1 2
PART PART
3 4
SCIENCE
MON
May 4
TUE
May 5
WED
May 6
THU
May 7
BIOL
113
8-10
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
BUSINESS
MON
May 4
TUE
May 5
WED
May 6
THU
May 7
FINC
341
6-8
PM
PART
1
PART
2
PART
3
PART
4
ALLEN HONDA
2450 SH 6 P.O. Box GA 409-696-2424
College Station, Texas 77840
Dear Graduating Senior:
Congratulations!! We at Allen Honda are proud of
your achievement! To help celebrate your accomplishment,
we invite you to come in and pick out your New Honda!
Now that you have earned your valuable degree from Texas
A&M and are joining the business world, it can be that sim
ple. We have several financing options available - so let us
show you how easy it is to get your first new car with little
or nothing down.
Honda has been named number one import owner
loyalty for the nineteenth year in a row. Which means, year
after year, more people buy Honda after Honda. Why?
Because you get what you pay for. Why settle for anything
less?!
Very Truly Yours,
AGGIES HELPING
AGGIES
Texas A<S?M
Dance Team
Tryouts
When?
Where?
Saturday, May 2
G. Rollie White Coliseum
What Time? 9 a.m. - ?
Current A&M Students should bring a transcript
Incoming freshmen/transfer students should bring a
letter of acceptance.
Tryout attire is a black balftop/sportsbra and
black bikers/jazz pants
1 For questions please call Susie @ 696^2904
Huy, sell, trade
$5 Buy List
(all CD’s must be in perfect condition)
Sara McLachlan-Surfacing • Our Lady Peace-Clumsy
Semisonic-Feeling Strangely Fine • Metallica-S/T
Dave Matthews Band-Live at Red Rocks • Beatles-White.
Beatles-Sgt Pepper • If age Against the Machine-SfT |E\)
The Smiths-7Tie Singles • Seott Weil and-12 Bar Blues
Ani Difranco-Little Plastic Castle • Jerry Cantrell-Boggy DepolJ
Radiohead-OK Computer • Prince-The Hits/B-Sides
This offer expires 4-29-98
Used $4."-$7." New $9."-$14.
WE ACCEPT AGGIE BUCB
113 College Main (In Northgatell
846-6620 http://discgoround.myriad.netl pl
5
T 1
Sd
I
This Til show is Freudian Slip’s way to personally thank all
of its friends and fans for their support over the past five years.
Saturday, May 2>, 199S
9 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium
Tickets are $4 in advance (MSC Box Office)
05 at the door