Remarks of Henry J Hyde
(USA | March 7, 2002)
Remarks of the Honorable Henry J Hyde, Hearing on 'US Policy Considerations in Tibet'
Of the many infamous episodes in the century just past, one that still echoes is the statement by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in which he publicly washed his hands of involvement in what he termed "a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing." With that statement, Chamberlain ensured that he, his country, and the world would pay a price immeasurably greater than any he was capable of imagining.
We have since learned that there are no countries that are sufficiently far enough away that we can safely ignore what happens within them, nor are there peoples so insignificant that we can rightly dismiss them from our consideration. It is with these thoughts in mind that we have convened today? hearing on Tibet.
The United States government recognizes Tibet to be a part of China. It is not the purpose of this hearing to dispute that position. But that recognition does not imply that the people of Tibet indeed, all peoples do not possess a fundamental right to live their lives as they see fit and without persecution. We and the world will continue to voice our concerns regarding conditions in Tibet and to press for the resolution of current and future disputes in a manner that promotes the interests of the people of Tibet as they themselves define those interests. To do so is not interference; it is our duty.
That being said, there are many issues regarding Tibet that evoke great concern on our part. First among these are reports of continuing and widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrest, detention without public trial, and the use of torture. Many of these acts are focused on Tibetans attempting to preserve their religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage. I note with dismay that freedom of religion remains narrowly circumscribed in Tibet. Government repression extends to the direct persecution of believers, the arrest and abuse of monks and nuns, and the outright prohibition of many religious observances. In addition to the limitations imposed on the general population, monasteries and convents have been singled out for even tighter constraints, with comprehensive political controls of their operations and functions made even more onerous by forced political indoctrination.
Unfortunately, as we have seen, these abuses are not limited to Tibet. Unapproved religious activity is severely repressed throughout China. But the situation in Tibet is particularly acute, due to the authorities·fear that free religious expression may encourage political activism and Tibetan nationalism.
Our concerns are only magnified by the lack of reliable information emerging from Tibet, a problem stemming directly from the Chinese government? long-standing policy of limiting communication between Tibet and the outside world. Deprived of direct access, we have little recourse but to believe the many credible reports coming out of Tibet of continued repression and of human rights abuses. If the Chinese government desires to refute these charges, the most effective means of doing so would be to remove these restrictions and allow unhindered access to, and communication with, Tibet.
The list I have outlined is not meant to be an exhaustive one, but it does serve as an indication of the range and depth of our concerns. To these, let me add one other subject: the plight of the Tibetan refugees in India, Nepal, and elsewhere. This unfortunate population has been estimated to number 100,000, and it is still growing as others make their way out of Tibet. We should bear in mind that even as we remain rightly concerned about the people within Tibet, we must remember our own responsibilities to those Tibetans who have been forced to flee their homeland.
How might we best use our influence? By keeping the world? attention directed to Tibet and by demonstrating our abiding interest in that region? affairs, great and small. The authorities in Beijing must be made to understand that these issues cannot be relegated to the penumbra of our relations with China but instead will always occupy a central place. Our goal is not confrontation. Instead, our efforts are entirely pacific and have as their only objective assisting the people of Tibet to secure the right to live their lives in freedom. Our hope is that we may yet contribute to a just and lasting solution.
Friends of Tibet (INDIA),
PO Box 16674, Bombay 400050
www.friendsoftibet.org