[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E966-E967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON TIBET

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce with Mr. Porter, Ms. 
Maloney, Mr. Payne, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mrs. 
Lowey, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Cox, Mr. Smith, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. 
Kennedy (MA), and Ms. Pelosi, a House Concurrent Resolution expressing 
the sense of the Congress concerning the December 1997 report on Tibet 
of the International Commission of Jurists and on United States policy 
on Tibet.
  This resolution reflects our serious concern for the plight of the 
Tibetan people and our strong support for the Dalai Lama's efforts to 
enter into serious discussions with the Chinese leadership on the 
future of Tibet.
  The resolution cites a recent and comprehensive report by the 
International Committee of Jurists entitled ``Tibet: Human Rights and 
the Rule of Law.'' It is the fourth report on Tibet by this 
distinguished body since 1959 and their first since 1964. The December 
1997 report was inspired by the situation in Tibet that by all credible 
accounts, including the Department of State, remains unsettled and in 
many ways has grown more desperate.
  I understand that Tibet, and more specifically the dialogue between 
the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership, is to be an important issue 
during the upcoming visit of President Clinton to Beijing. I hope that 
progress on Tibet will be made at the summit and this resolution is an 
effort to encourage that progress. Secretary Albright presented a 
strong case for progress on the dialogue in the summit preparatory 
meetings she held in Beijing earlier this month.

[[Page E967]]

  This resolution is a sign of support by the Congress for the 
Administration's efforts to encourage a dialogue between the Dalai Lama 
and Chinese leaders and a signal to Beijing that a positive response 
from President Jiang to the Administration's proposal would be welcomed 
by the Congress. It is appropriate that the Congress which has been in 
the forefront of support for the Tibetan people should go on the record 
in support of the Administration's summit agenda in regard to Tibet. 
Positive action by the Chinese would go far to demonstrate to the 
Congress that a policy of engagement with China is productive and 
important.
  Finally, I would like to draw the House's attention to the continuing 
detention of Gendun Choekyi Nyima. Three years ago this month, the 
Dalai Lama announced the recognition of this young boy, then only six, 
as the Panchen Lama of Tibet. Within days, this child disappeared from 
his home. It was not until a year later that the Chinese Ambassador to 
Geneva admitted to a meeting of the United Nations Committee on the 
Rights of the Child that Gendun Choekyi Nyima was under the 
``protection'' of the Chinese government. Repeated requests from 
governments and private humanitarian organizations to meet with the boy 
have been denied. No one knows where he is nor the conditions under 
which he lives. It is unconscionable that in today's world a young 
child, now nine years old, has apparently become a pawn in Beijing's 
political efforts to control Tibet.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in introducing this resolution which 
calls for the release of Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of 
Tibet, and for a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Chinese 
authorities.

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