[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON TIBET

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, today the Department of State has 
taken an important step toward recognizing the reality of the status of 
Tibet. The annual ``Country Reports on Human Rights Practices'' was 
released today and for the first time there is a separate section on 
Tibet.
  For years there has been a fundamental difference in the way Congress 
and the executive branch have viewed Tibet. While the executive branch 
has attempted to obscure the fact that at one time we did support 
Tibet, Congress has stated its determination that Tibet is an occupied 
country. By separating the Tibet section from the China section on the 
human rights report, there is finally an acknowledgement that the 
administration recognizes Tibet as distinct from China.
  This new Tibet section fulfills one aspect of a provision which I 
introduced and was later signed into law as part of the State 
Department authorization act for fiscal year 1994-95. While I do not 
agree with certain portions of the report on Tibet, it is not without 
merit, and its authors deserve respect as able diplomats.
  This will send a clear signal to those in Beijing as well as those in 
Dharmsala, India where the Dalai Lama lives in exile, that the United 
States recognizes the special situation the Tibetans face. Those in 
Dharmsala have long known Congress supports them; now they can more 
clearly gauge the sentiments of the administration. This has been 
confusing. As the eminent journalist A.M. Rosenthal, who visited the 
Tibetans in exile in 1988, wrote:

       People in Dharmsala are understandably hazy about the 
     intricacies of American government. They cannot quite get it 
     straight how the Congress can be so warm to Tibet and the 
     State Department and the White House make it clear that they 
     intend to disregard Congress and continue the sellout of 
     Tibet.

  Perhaps this marks a new chapter in United States foreign policy in 
which support for the people of Tibet will no longer be hazy.


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