IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 116

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the treatment by

the People’s Republic of China of prisoners in Tibet, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 15, 1997

Mr. ABERCROMBIE (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. WALSH,

Mr. STARK, Mr. DELLUMS, Ms. PELOSI, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. BOUCHER,

Mr. FARR of California, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. MORELLA,

and Mr. WATT of North Carolina) submitted the following concurrent

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the

treatment by the People’s Republic of China of prisoners

in Tibet, and for other purposes.

Whereas the People’s Republic of China, as a member of the

United Nations, is expected to abide by the provisions of

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Whereas the People’s Republic of China is a party to numerous international human rights conventions, including the

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman

or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog, a Tibetan national, was arrested

in Tibet in 1987 immediately after he returned from a
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2-year trip to India, where the Tibetan government in

exile is located;

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog was arrested in Tibet for a second time in March or April of 1989 and was sentenced

to 11 years in prison and thereafter deprived of his political rights for an additional 4 years;

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog’s second arrest is believed to

have stemmed from his supplying food and tea from his

restaurant in Lhasa, Tibet, to participants in the 1988

pro-independence demonstrations;

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog, following a secret trial, was convicted by the Government of the People’s Republic of

China of espionage on behalf of the ‘‘Ministry of Security

of the Dalai clique’’;

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog’s treatment by the Government

of the People’s Republic of China violates Article 19 of

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of opinion and expression, Article 20 of

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association, and Article

10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which

guarantees a fair trial;

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog’s activities in India and in Tibet

do not constitute espionage under any internationally recognized standard; and

Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog is being held in Drapchi prison

in Lhasa and there is concern that his treatment has

been unnecessarily harsh and, if this is true, such treatment violates both Article 5 of the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights, which forbids cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and the Convention
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Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading

Treatment or Punishment: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) the United States Government, in all official

4 meetings with the Government of the People’s Re5 public of China, should request the immediate and

6 unconditional release of Ngodrup Phuntsog and

7 other prisoners of conscience in Tibet, as well as in

8 the People’s Republic of China;

9 (2) the United States Government should seek

10 access for international humanitarian organizations

11 to Drapchi prison and other prisons in Tibet, as well

12 as in the People’s Republic of China, to ensure that

13 prisoners are not being mistreated and are receiving

14 necessary medical treatment; and

15 (3) the United States Government, in all official

16 meetings with the Government of the People’s Re17 public of China, should call on that country to begin

18 serious discussions with the Dalai Lama or his rep19 resentatives, without preconditions, on the future of

20 Tibet.

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