Published by: World Tibet Network News Tuesday, November 11, 1997

U.S. Senator from Wisconsin becoming more outspoken about the repression suffered by Tibetans.

Stephen J. Siegal. Wisconsin State Journal (Nov 9th)

Washington- Sen Russ Feingold, perhaps best known for his advocacy of campaign finance reform, recently emerged among Congress' leading advocates on a hot international issue: China's occupation of Tibet.

For nearly half a century, Tibetans have suffered political and military repression at Chinese hands. Citizens of the small Himalayan nation have been slaughtered, and the country's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has been forced into exile.

Long-standing international criticism of the violence and denial of religious and other basic freedoms in Tibet in Tibet have had little effect. Chinese leaders consider the matter an internal affair. In a mixed message, the U.S. has criticized China's abuses in Tibet, but has declined to recognize Tibet as an independent country.

Citing an interest in Tibetan cause since in his election to Congress in 1992, Feingold has become more outspoken about China's behavior this year. the Middleton Democrat recently spoke out at a protest in Washington that coincided with the visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who was invited by President Clinton.

Addressing a crowd at Lafayette Park across from the White House, Feingold criticized China's human rights record in Tibet and took issue with the Clinton Administration's failure to press China to end the repression. In addition, he called for Tibet's independence.

"It's just really frightful- this persecution being perpetrated on the people of Tibet," Feingold said in an interview. "It's an attempt to destroy their religion and culture."

Feingold's interest in such matters flows from several sources, starting with his appointment to the Foreign Relations Committee, the panel that deals with such subjects. He also Sits on the committee responsible for policy for the Asia and Pacific region.

His particular interest in Tibet is spurred by Madison's sizable Tibetan refugee community. Several Tibetans from the Madison area traveled to Washington to join in protesting the Chinese leader's visit. But Feingold points to this a reflection of his broader interest.

"The larger issue is just my interest in human rights," Feingold said. "I'm trying to keep human rights alive in foreign policy at a time when it seems like everyone just wants to talk about trade."

Feingold charged that American companies' desire to tap the huge Chinese market- with its more than 1 billion consumers- drives Clinton's China policy, and keeps the president from more forcefully criticizing China's behavior in Tibet.

"Tibet is one place where money is dominating our foreign policy, not American values," he said.

Feingold wants the government to return to the philosophy articulated by former president Carter, who also sought to include human rights considerations-and not just political or economic goals-in his administration's foreign policy.

Just as he has on campaign finance reform, Feingold has reached across the political spectrum and worked with such conservative Republicans as Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and Sen. Spencer Abraham R-Mich., on the Tibet issue.

Feingold noted that Helms has been working on the Tibet issue for a long time, but he criticized the powerful North Carolina conservative, known as a fierce anticommunist, for inconsistency.

"He tends to focus only on those abuses committed by Communist countries, whereas I try to focus on abuses whether they are committed by a Communist country or not," said Feingold, who argues also for American condemnation of Indonesia for its repression of East Timor and of Nigeria, which long has waged a war on it's own people.

Feingold, Helms and Abraham have sought, without success, to impose sanctions on China and to deny it "most-favored nation" status, a guarantee of access to American markets.

A week ago, the Clinton administration appointed a special coordinator for Tibet. Feingold, however, said the appointment of a special envoy, as part of the diplomatic community, would send a stronger statement than naming a coordinator, who essentially will be an adviser.

"I'm hoping the pressure's increased now, but I can't endorse the administration policy with regard to China and Human Rights and especially in Tibet," Feingold said. "We need a lot more pressure than that."

Feingold's new emphasis on international issues stands in contrast to his first several years in Washington, when he focused mostly on campaign finance reform and the streamlining of some government programs.

That emphasis could cause him some problems among Wisconsin voters, who historically have harbored an isolationist streak that makes them wary of international entanglements and politicians who emphasize them.

Asked about that, Feingold agreed that Wisconsin voters have an isolationist tendency, especially when the use of American troops is involved. But he suggested that Wisconsinites want their elected officials to speak out against such fundamental abuses as violence and the denial of basic freedoms, especially if it doesn't take attention away from issues closer at home.

"I think they'd be disappointed," he said , "if crimes like this were being perpetrated and people didn't speak out. And, frankly, it doesn't take a lot of time to look at this and say, "This is wrong."