TEXT: SEN. HELMS 5/13 STATEMENT ON U.S. POLICY TOWARD TIBET
(Helms calls for appointment of Special Envoy to Tibet)

Washington -- Senator Jesse Helms (Republican of North Carolina), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), called on the Administration to immediately appoint a Special Envoy or Coordinator for Tibet.

"Such an appointment would emphasize the Administration's sincerity about human rights in China and Tibet," Helms said at a May 13 hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Helms also urged the U.S. government to seek the release of Chadrel Rinpoche, a senior Tibetan monk who participated in the Dalai Lama's selection of the Panchen Lama, and other Tibetan religious and political prisoners.

Following is the text of Helms's opening statement:

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OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JESSE HELMS
HEARING ON THE SITUATION FACING TIBET AND ITS PEOPLE

TUESDAY MAY 13, 10 A.M.

I am honored to preside over this morning's hearing as this Committee begins a long-overdue assessment of the travail of the people of Tibet and their government. It is a special pleasure to welcome our former colleague, Claiborne Pell, the distinguished former chairman of this committee and a faithful friend of Tibet. You honor us, Mr. Chairman, by your presence here today.

And it is always an honor to have that distinguished American, Jeane Kirkpatrick with us. Her dedication to restoring freedom in Tibet is legendary And of course we welcome Senator Moynihan, who will join us on the dais. Pat Moynihan's dedication to the welfare of Tibet is a matter of record -- and not only that his daughter, Maura, who has done magnificent work on behalf of Tibet and Tibetan refugees, will also be testifying later.

Then there are other distinguished witnesses here this morning: Mr. Jeffrey Bader, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Professor Robert Thurman of Columbia University, and Lodi Gyari, the Personal Representative in the United States of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Committee is grateful for your being here today.

A brief overview may be useful as we proceed. For almost 50 years, China has cruelly and brutally occupied Tibet, carved up its territory, destroyed its monasteries, murdered its people, and diluted the Tibetan population to the point that Tibetans are in the minority in their own country.

China limits the number of young people who may enter religious life. Monks are forced to undergo political indoctrination and to renounce the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama himself Is the focus of virulent verbal attacks. His photograph is banned. Merely having a photo of the Dalai Lama in one's home, or in a monastery, can result in a prison sentence. The number of political prisoners has increased dramatically at least in part because of a campaign by Beijing to "limit criminal activity in the guise of religious practice."

China has interfered with the Dalai Lama's choice of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second most important religious figure. The Chinese government detained the Dalai Lama's choice, a six year old boy, and put its own candidate in place.

Last week, it was revealed that China had secretly tried, convicted and sentenced to jail for 6 years a senior Tibetan monk, named Chadrel Rinpoche, who participated in the Dalai Lama's selection of the Panchen Lama.

I again urge the U.S. government to seek the release of Mr. Chadrel and other Tibetan religious and political prisoners.

So, for almost half a century, the Tibetan have resisted Chinese occupation, both inside Tibet and in exile. In India and Nepal, Tibet's people are preserving their culture until the day they can return to their homeland. The United States is grateful to those countries for their hospitality and compassion for the Tibetans.

The United States itself provides critical support to the refugees. I hope and expect that the material aid -- including vaccinations, and support for resettlement and educational activities -- will be continued and where necessary, increased. And the American people must continue to lift their hearts in prayer for the Tibetan people.

I should emphasize that Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America also provide invaluable support to the Tibetan people. Since Radio Free Asia began its Tibetan language service last December, sales of short-wave radios inside Tibet have risen. We learned from veterans of the struggle against communism in Europe how vital our radio broadcasts were to disseminating the truth and building morale. Radio Free Asia is carrying on that tradition for the oppressed people of Tibet, as it is for the people of China, Vietnam, North Korea, Burma and other countries.

I was pleased that President Clinton met the Dalai Lama during His Holiness's April visit to the United States. The President said he would urge China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, a very welcome statement. But the President's wish to play a constructive role in Tibet can best be fulfilled by the immediate appointment of a Special Envoy or Coordinator for Tibet, followed by a serious undertaking to persuade the government of China to allow that Special Envoy into Tibet and access to prisons. Such an appointment would emphasize the Administration's sincerity about human rights in China and Tibet.

Now it's time to hear from our distinguished witnesses. First, will be the distinguished former Chairman of this Committee, the Honorable Claiborne Pell.

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