[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 145 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9543-H9545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHINA
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Wolf] is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, the President of China will be visiting here
beginning this Sunday. I know that we will treat him in a very
courteous manner but I want the American people to know every time they
hear President Clinton talk about the President of China and every time
they hear the President of China speak, they should remember the
following things:
No. 1, China persecutes people because of their religious beliefs.
Catholic bishops are in jail, Catholic priests are in jail, hundreds of
them, and on October 8, Chinese authorities arrested again and again
Bishop Su who has been one of the most prominent bishops who is now
back in jail. Protestant pastors are in jail and hundreds of them have
been arrested.
No. 2, China denies its citizens basic human rights and imprisons
people for speaking out in support of freedom. Wei Jingsheng, one of
China's most important prisoners, languishes in not well conditions in
jail serving a 15-year sentence. He was detained in 1994 after meeting
with Assistant Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights John Shattuck.
So when you hear the President of China speak, remember Wei and also
Wang Dan, who has also been imprisoned for his activities in Tiananmen
Square.
No. 3, when you hear the Chinese President speak at Independence
Hall, which will be a disgrace for Independence Hall to have the
Chinese President go there where Thomas Jefferson gave the words ``We
hold these truths to be self-evident,'' but when you hear him there
remember that China is brutally repressing the people of Tibet,
destroying their culture, destroying their religion, destroying 4,000
to 5,000 monasteries and in Tibet the one growth industry is the growth
of prisons where Buddhist priests and Buddhist nuns are being put in
jail. We had testimony of a 28-year-old Tibetan Buddhist nun who told
the House Committee on International Relations how her Chinese jailers
tortured her with an electric cattle prod, putting it on all parts of
her body. You have got to remember this when you hear this Chinese
President coming to the country.
No. 4, remember also when you hear him speaking that the Chinese
government runs a gruesome trade in human organs, taking organs from
executed prisoners and selling them to foreign buyers for tens of
thousands of dollars. They shoot people, they take their blood sample,
they take their tissue sample and they sell their organs for $35,000.
So when you hear him go to Harvard and speak out, know that his
government is selling kidneys of prisoners for $35,000.
Remember also, No. 5, that China's one-child policy results in forced
abortions and sterilization of women, where they track them down in the
villages and force them to get abortions.
No. 6, when you hear President Clinton speak about our relationship
with this man and with the Chinese government, remember that China has
more gulags today than they had in the Soviet Union when Solzhenitsyn
wrote the book ``Gulag Archipelago.'' There are more gulag slave camps
in China today than there were in the Soviet Union under the worst
times.
Also know, No. 7, that China sells arms and dangerous technology to
belligerent countries which could one day endanger men and women in the
military. Some days on this floor it is almost reminiscent of 1937,
1938, and 1939, where Winston Churchill warned of the danger of Nazi
Germany and some of the things that were sold in Nazi Germany were used
against Americans. I fear for it and every Member of this body ought to
get the intelligence briefing by the CIA, the NSA, and the DIA to find
out what weapons they are selling.
No. 8, China continues to violate a range of bilateral and
international proliferation and missile technology treaties.
No. 9, China's State-owned companies sold AK-47's to street gangs in
California that could be used against American citizens. So when you
see the Chinese President standing next to President Clinton, remember
that a company connected with his government was selling assault
weapons to street gangs in California that could be used to kill
American people.
No. 10, the Chinese trade surplus with the United States approached
$40 billion last year and is getting bigger every month. In August the
United States trade deficit with China jumped 10.6 percent, the highest
of any country, driving American men and women out of their jobs.
Mr. Speaker, China's President will visit Washington, Williamsburg,
and Philadelphia, which will be a disgrace when he visits Independence
Hall and other sites in the United States. Every time he speaks, the
world should remember the men and women who are languishing in Chinese
prisons under his control and do not buy into his message. I ask him to
change his policy.
[[Page H9544]]
Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the testimony of Tsultrim Dolma
before the House Committee on International Relations hearing on
religious persecution on September 10, 1997.
The material referred to is as follows:
Testimony of Tsultrim Dolma--House Committee on International
Relations--Hearing on Religious Persecution, September 10, 1997
My name is Tsultrim Dolma. I am 28 years old. I am one of
the one thousand Tibetan refugees who came to the United
States through the Tibetan Resettlement Program, authorized
by the United States Congress in 1991.
I never imagined that I would someday testify before you
esteemed gentlemen and gentleladies. Now that I am here, I
feel it is both a privilege and responsibility to tell you
about my experiences--among the thousands of Tibetans who
flee into exile, very few have their stories heard.
I am not an educated person. I don't know about politics.
But I do know what it is to live under Chinese rule. And I
know, although I was born after the Chinese came into Tibet,
that Tibet is different than China.
I have asked my friend Dorje Dolma to read the rest of my
testimony because my English is not very good.
I was born in Pelbar Dzong, Tibet, near Chamdo which prior
to the Chinese invasion in 1949 was the easternmost
administrative center of the Dalai Lama's government. For as
long as I can remember, I yearned to become a nun. It was
difficult for me to pursue my studies because the nunnery
near my village had been completely destroyed during the
Cultural Revolution.
I took my nun's vow at age 17 and, soon after, left my home
with a small group of villagers to make the customary
pilgrimage to Lhasa, the capital and spiritual center of
Tibet, and a month's journey from my home. Once there I was
able to join the Chupsang nunnery on the outskirts of the
city.
In Lhasa it was unavoidable to feel the tension due to the
large differences between the Tibetans and Chinese living
there, and within a year, on October 1, 1987, China's
National Day, I experienced at first hand the consequences of
that tension.
On that day, monks from Sera and Nechung Monasteries
peacefully demonstrated for the release of their imprisoned
brothers. Hundreds of Tibetans gathered around in support.
Public Security Bureau Police moved through the crowd
videotaping demonstrators. Then, unexpectedly, opened fire on
the crowd. The Tibetans responded by throwing stones at the
cameras, but a number of monks were arrested and dragged to
the Police station.
I joined a large group that converged on the station. We
heard gun shots from the rooftop and tried to get inside, but
the police fired down into the crowd. Many Tibetans were
killed and many other badly injured. Outraged at the
massacre, some Tibetans set fire to the building. I watched
as Venerable Jampa Tenzin, the caretaker of the Jokhang
Temple, led a charge into the building to try to free the
monks. When he emerged about ten minutes later, his arms were
badly burned and had long pieces of skin peeling off. Two
young novice monks came out with him and were also badly
burned. Soon afterwards, Jampa Tenzin was arrested and
detained at Sangyip Prison where he is known to have
undergone severe ill-treatment.
The Great Monlam Prayer Festival which occurred the
following spring was the next occasion for major protest.
Chinese authorities had ordered the monks of all of Lhasa's
monasteries to attend, as they had invited journalists from
many different countries to film the ceremony as an example
of religious freedom in Tibet. The monks of Sera, Drepung,
Ganden and Nechung decided to boycott the ceremony, but were
forced to attend at gun point. Under guard, the monks made
the traditional cicumambulation around the Jokhang, Lhasa's
central cathedral.
After completing the ceremony, those monks joined together
in calling out loudly to Tibetan officials working for the
Chinese government who were watching the ceremony from a
stage next to the Jokhang. They demanded the release of the
highly revered incarnate lama, Yulo Dawa Tsering, who had
been arrested some months before and of whom nothing had been
heard. One of the official's bodyguards then fired at the
demonstrators, killing one Tibetan. A riot ensued and the
army proceeded to fire into the crowd. Soldiers chased a
large number of monks into the Jokhang and clubbed 30 of them
to death.
Eighteen lay Tibetans were also killed in the cathedral.
Twelve other monks were shot. Two monks were strangled to
death, and an additional eight lay Tibetans were killed
outside the cathedral. The news of the deaths spread
throughout the city.
After we saw the terror and turmoil in the streets, some
nuns from my Ani Gompa and I decided to demonstrate in order
to support our heroic brothers and sisters in Lhasa,
particularly the monks who had been arrested and are in
prison and whose cases even now have not been settled. On
April 16, about six weeks after the massacre during Monlam,
four of us demonstrated for their release and the release of
women with children. We felt the Chinese were trying to
destroy all the patriotic Tibetans in prison by
maltreating them. The Chinese government has publicized
that there is freedom of religion in Tibet, but in fact,
the genuine pursuit of our religion is a forbidden
freedom. So many difficult restrictions are placed on
those entering monastic life, and spies are planted
everywhere.
My sister nuns and I were joined by two nuns from Gari
Gompa and we were all six arrested in the Barkhor while
shouting out demands. As we stood on the holy walk of the
Barkhor, we were approached by eight Chinese soldiers who
spread out and grabbed us. Two soldiers took me roughly by
the arms, twisting my hands behind by back. Two of the nuns,
Tenzin Wangmo and Gyaltsen Loche, were put in a Chinese
police jeep and driven away. The rest of us were thrown into
a truck and taken to the main section of Gutsa prison, about
three miles east of Lhasa.
When we arrived, we were separated and taken into various
rooms. I was pushed into a room where one male and one female
guard were waiting. They removed the belt which held my nuns
robe and it fell down as they searched my pockets. While I
was searched, the guards slapped me hard repeatedly and
yanked roughly on my nose and ears.
After the search, I was led outside to another building
where two different male and female guards waited to begin
the interrogation. ``What did you say in the Barkhor? Why did
you say it?'' The cell contained a variety of torture
implements: lok-gyug, electric cattle prods, and metal rods.
I was kicked and fiercely beaten as I was interrogated until
mid-day, and then pulled to my feet and taken to the prison
courtyard where I saw the three other nuns from Chupsang.
We were made to stand in four directions. I was near the
door so that every Chinese soldier who passed by would kick
me in passing. Our hands were uncuffed and we were told to
stand with our hands against the wall as six policemen took
each one in turn, held us down and beat us with electric
prods and a small, broken chair and kicked us. Gyaltsen
Lochoe was kicked in the face. I was kicked in the chest so
hard that I could hardly breathe. We were told to raise our
hands in the air, but it was not possible to stay in that
position and we kept falling down. As soon as I fell, someone
would come and force me up. We were constantly questioned
regarding who else was involved in arranging the
demonstration.
All during the interrogation, we were not allowed to fasten
our belts and so our robes kept slipping off. We would
constantly try to lift them up and adjust them. I tried to
think of what I could possibly say to answer the questions.
``How did you choose that day? Who was behind you?'' I could
only see feet. Many different pairs of feet approaching us
through the day. We were repeatedly kicked and beaten. ``The
Americans are helping you! Where are they now? They will
never help you! Because you have opposed communism, you are
going to die!''
After some hours had passed, a large dog with pointed ears
and black and white spots was brought in, led on a heavy
chain. The police tried to force us to run, but we simply did
not have the strength. The dog looked at us with interest,
but did not approach.
Finally, as sunset approached, we were handcuffed and taken
into a building and made to walk through the hallway two by
two. Here and there were small groups of Chinese soldiers on
both sides of the corridor. As we passed, we were punched and
kicked, slapped and pulled hard by the ears. My cell,
measuring five feet by five feet, was empty except for a slop
basin and small bucket. That night, I quickly passed out on
the cold cement floor.
The following morning, I was taken to a room where three
police were seated behind a table. On its surface was an
assortment of rifles, electric prods and iron rods. I was
told ``Look down!'' Throughout my detention, I was never
allowed to look straight at their faces. While answering I
had to look to the side or face down.
One of them asked me ``Why did you demonstrate? Why are you
asking yourself for torture and beatings?'' My knees began to
shake. I told them: ``Many monks, nuns and lay people have
been arrested, but we know Tibet belongs to the Tibetans. You
say there is freedom of religion, but there is no genuine
freedom!'' My answer angered them and the three got up from
behind the table, picking up various implements. One picked
up an electric rod and hit me with it. I fell down.
They shouted at me to stand, but I couldn't and so one
pulled up my robe and the other man inserted the instrument
into my vagina. The shock and the pain were horrible. He
repeated this action several times and also struck other
parts of my body. Later the others made me stand and hit me
with sticks and kicked me. Several times I fell to the floor.
They would then force the prod inside of me and pull me up to
repeat the beatings.
For some reason I began to think of a precious herb that
grows in Tibet called Yartsa Gunbu. Tibetans believe it is a
cross between the kingdoms of plants and animals because
during the summer it gives the appearance of being a worm.
This medicine herb is quite rare. In my region, the
Chinese force a monthly quota on each monk and nun which
consists of thousands and thousands of such plants. I
shouted out: ``Before 1959, it was considered a sin for
monks to pick the Yartsa Gunbu! It was a sin, and you have
forced them to do it!''
I remained in detention for more than four months. For the
first month, I was beaten
[[Page H9545]]
every morning during the interrogations. For the first
several days, different levels of authorities came to my
cell. At first I was afraid but as time went by and I thought
about the monks, and other men and women who were imprisoned,
many of whom had families to worry about, I began to realize
I had nothing to lose. My parents could lead their lives by
themselves.
I was continuously terrified of possible sexual
molestation. But as the days went by, that did not occur.
Sitting in my cell, I would remind myself that I was there
because I had spoken on behalf of the people of Tibet and I
felt proud that I had accomplished a goal and was able to say
what I thought was right.
In Gutsa prison in the summer of 1988, there were all
together about 32 nuns and lay women. All the women were kept
in the ward for political prisoners. During that time, one of
the nuns, Sonam Chodon, was sexually molested.
Fifteen days after my release from prison on August 4,
1988, a Tibetan approached me and asked if my sister nuns and
I would like to talk to a British journalist who was secretly
making a documentary in Tibet. We all felt to appear in the
interview without hiding our faces was the best way to make a
contribution. The ultimate truth would soon be known so there
was no need to hide. We had truth as our defense.
After our release from prison, we were formally expelled
from Chupsang by the Chinese authorities and sent back to our
villages. We were not allowed to wear nuns robes and were
forbidden to take part in religious activities. We were not
allowed to talk freely with other villagers. I was forced to
attend nightly reeducation meetings during which the topic of
conversation often came around to me as ``a member of the
small splittist Dalai clique which is trying to separate the
motherland.'' I was so depressed and confused. I never told
my parents what had happened in prison. When word came of the
British documentary in which I took part, everyone began to
discuss it. Most Tibetans thought I was quite brave, but some
collaborators insulted me. It soon seemed as if arrest was
imminent. I began to fear for my parent's safety and so
decided to flee to the only place I could think of--Lhasa--to
appeal again to Chupsang nunnery for re-admission.
After arriving in Lhasa, I set out for the hour's walk to
Chupsang. I found a Chinese police office had been set up at
the nunnery. I was told to register at the office and, while
there, was told re-admission was not possible. I realized
that the police officer there would arrest me if I stayed.
Greatly discouraged, I set out to make my way back to Lhasa.
Just below the nunnery there is a Chinese police compound
the Tibetans call Sera Shol Gyakhang. As I passed, I saw
three Chinese soldiers on bicycles. They followed me a short
distance before I was stopped. One of them took off his coat
and shirt and then tied the shirt around by face, and shoved
the sleeves in my mouth to stop me from crying and yelling. I
was raped by the three on the outer boundary of the compound.
After doing that bad thing to me, they just ran away.
I remained in Lhasa for two months under the care of local
Tibetans. As expected, the release of the documentary caused
an uproar with the Chinese authorities. My sister nuns tried
to disguise themselves and wore their hair a little longer. I
had lost all hope of continuing to live in Tibet under so
many obstructions and restrictions and the ever present
possibility of rearrest. Even if I could stay, the Chinese
would forbid me to study and I feared them in many other bad
ways. I began to think of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in
India. At that time, I didn't know there were so many other
Tibetans living there as well, but I thought ``if only I
could reach him, if I could only once see his face. . . .''
Another nun and I heard of some Tibetans nomads who were
taking medicines to the remote areas and traveling to Mount
Kailash in a truck. From there we joined a group of 15
Tibetans to travel to the Nepalese border. In December 1990,
I reached northern India.
When I first met His Holiness, I could not stop crying. He
asked, ``Where do you want to go? Do you want to go to
school?'' He patted my face gently. I could not say anything.
I could only cry as I felt the reality of his presence. It
was not a dream. In Tibet so many long to see him. At the
same time, I felt an overwhelming sadness. Because I was
raped, I felt I could no longer be a nun. I had been spoiled.
The trunk of our religious vows is to have a pure life. When
that was destroyed, I felt guilty to be in a nunnery with
other nuns who were really very pure. If I stayed in the
nunnery, it would be as if a drop of blood had been
introduced into the ocean of milk.
I have been asked by esteemed persons such as yourselves
what makes Tibetan nuns, many very young, so brave in their
support of the Tibetan cause. I say that it is from seeing
the suffering of our people. What I did was just a small
thing. As a nun, I sacrificed my family and the worldly life,
so for a real practitioner it doesn't matter if you die for
the cause of truth. His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaches us to
be patient, tolerant and compassionate. Tibetans believe in
the law of Karma, cause and effect. In order to do something
to try to stop the cycle of bad effect, we try to raise our
voices on behalf of the just cause of Tibet.
____________________