Published by World Tibet Network News - Saturday, November 2, 1996Announcer:
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:
Ngawang Choephel ('Nah-wong 'Chir-pel) disappeared in Tibet more than a year ago. A native Tibetan, Mr. Choephel is a scholar in the field of ethnomusicology. He is affiliated with the Tibetan Institute of Performing arts in Dharamsala, India. In 1993 and 1994, he studied and taught at Middlebury College in Vermont under the United States Government's Fulbright scholarship program.
After Mr. Choephel's disappearance, thousands of Americans wrote to the Chinese Government to express their concern over his case. One was US Senator James Jeffords of Vermont. Recently, Chinese officials responded to Senator Jeffords. They admitted that they have been holding Mr. Choephel since September 1995. They claim they are investigating whether he violated China's National Security Law.
The U.S.Government shares the concern of Senator Jeffords and other Americans over Ngawang Choephel. In the absence of any evidence that he has committed a crime, the US urges Chinese authorities to release Mr. Choephel immediately. The U.S. has no information that Ngawang Choephel was involved in anything other than pursuing his professional interests in the field of ethnomusicology, which included the videotaping of traditional Tibetan dances.
As Secretary of State Warrent Christopher stressed in his September meeting with Chinese Deputy Premier Qian Qichen, the U.S. remains very concerned about the preservation of Tibet's unique cultural, linguistic and religious heritage. The U.S. continues to urge the Chinese Government to release all those held for the peaceful expression of their political or religious views.
Announcer:
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