```

[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 116 Introduced in House (IH)]

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 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 Against Torture and Other 
        Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States Government, in all official meetings 
        with the Government of the People's Republic of China, should 
        request the immediate and unconditional release of Ngodrup 
        Phuntsog and other prisoners of conscience in Tibet, as well as 
        in the People's Republic of China;
            (2) the United States Government should seek access for 
        international humanitarian organizations to Drapchi prison and 
        other prisons in Tibet, as well as in the People's Republic of 
        China, to ensure that prisoners are not being mistreated and 
        are receiving necessary medical treatment; and
            (3) the United States Government, in all official meetings 
        with the Government of the People's Republic of China, should 
        call on that country to begin serious discussions with the 
        Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, on 
        the future of Tibet.
                                 <all>
```