forwarded by Debra Guzman

Source: Voice of America

DATE= AUGUST 24, 1995

TITLE= AMERICANS REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT TIBET

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST AUGUST 24, 1995.

ANNCR:

THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

IN RECENT YEARS, RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE IMPROVED MARKEDLY. BUT AMERICANS CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CHINA. THIS IS ESPECIALLY THE CASE IN REGARD TO TIBET.

THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ISSUED EARLIER THIS YEAR MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO COMMIT WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TIBET. THESE ABUSES INCLUDE CASES OF TORTURE, ARBITRARY ARREST WITHOUT PUBLIC TRIAL, LONG DETENTION OF TIBETAN NATIONALISTS FOR THE PEACEFUL EXPRESSION OF THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS, AND RIGID CONTROLS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS.

IN TIBET, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS RESTRICTED IN VARIOUS WAYS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONKS WHO CAN LIVE IN CERTAIN MONASTERIES. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS SUPPRESSED TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES THAT IT DEEMS TO BE VEHICLES FOR POLITICAL DISSENT. LAST YEAR, AUTHORITIES EVEN PROHIBITED BAZAAR SHOPS FROM DISPLAYING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DALAI LAMA, TIBET'S EXILED SPIRITUAL LEADER.

LIKE MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, THE U.S. RECOGNIZES THAT TIBET IS PART OF CHINA. AT THE SAME TIME, THE U.S. HAS A LONGSTANDING CONCERN OVER THE PRESERVATION OF TIBET'S UNIQUE RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC HERITAGE. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON STRESSED THIS CONCERN AFTER MEETING WITH THE DALAI LAMA AT THE WHITE HOUSE LAST YEAR. THE U.S. HAS GREAT RESPECT FOR THE DALAI LAMA AS A RELIGIOUS LEADER AND AS AN ELOQUENT SPOKESMAN FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE.

THE U.S. URGES THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO RESUME TALKS WITH THE DALAI LAMA. AND THE U.S. CALLS ON CHINA TO END VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TIBET, RELEASE ALL PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE AND PERMIT TIBETAN BUDDHISTS TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION FREELY.

ANNCR:

THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.

23-Aug-95 1:51 PM EDT (1751 UTC) NNNN