Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, November 8, 1997

CHICAGO, Nov 5 (AFP) - US Congressman John Porter has "adopted" a Tibetan protester who has been jailed and tortured for nearly 40 years for political offenses, his office said here Wednesday.

The move by the Illinois Republican, co-chair the bipartisan Congressional Human Rights Caucus, is part of a drive to focus attention on Tibetan "prisoners of conscience" and alleged human rights abuses in Tibet, his aide Dave Kohn said.

Porter has vowed to call attention to the plight of 63-year-old Jigme Zangpo, a primary school teacher.

His office said Zangpo, who is nearly blind, weak and suffers from lung trouble, has been suspended from the ceiling for extended periods, tortured with a cattle prod, force fed after he went on a hunger strike and locked in a metal structure as guards banged on it.

Last week Porter attended a "stateless dinner" in support of the Tibetan cause in Washington as President Bill Clinton feted Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the White House.