[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 39 (Thursday, April 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FREEDOM FOR THE PEOPLE OF TIBET

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2005

  Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with indignation over the 
situation in Tibet. In 1949, Tibet was invaded and occupied by The 
People's Republic of China. In the course of the invasion and 
occupation, an estimated 87,000 Tibetans were arrested, deported to 
labor camps, or killed.
  The situation has not much improved over the past sixty years. 
Tibetan freedom of choice is still not tolerated by the People's 
Republic of China and harsh punishments await any who diverge from 
Chinese mandates.
  Each year thousands of innocent people are thrown in prison or killed 
under a corrupt and cruel system. Even peaceful opposition is met with 
exacting penalties. In fact, Buddhist monks and nuns are regularly 
shipped to detention for exercising their religion.
  The people of Tibet live in constant fear they will be imprisoned, 
tortured, or killed for peacefully expressing their political and 
religious beliefs, or in the best case scenario, they will simply 
disappear in the dark of the night.
  We must help the Dali Lama and the people of Tibet in their quest to 
live free from oppression. We must all work towards a peaceful 
resolution to this situation so not one more Tibetan is carried off by 
the night.

                          ____________________