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 Rela-
tions
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 numer-
ous 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
•HCON 116 IH
2-year trip to India, where the Tibetan government in
exile is located;
Whereas Ngodrup Phuntsog was arrested in Tibet for a sec-
ond time in March or April of 1989 and was sentenced
to 11 years in prison and thereafter deprived of his politi-
cal 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 con-
victed 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 guar-
antees freedom of opinion and expression, Article 20 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guar-
antees 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 rec-
ognized 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 treat-
ment violates both Article 5 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, which forbids cruel, inhuman, or de-
grading treatment or punishment and the Convention
•HCON 116 IH
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 Re-
public 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 Re-
public of China, should call on that country to begin
serious discussions with the Dalai Lama or his rep-
resentatives, without preconditions, on the future of
Tibet.
Æ