3rd WPCT, 23-24 April, 1997, Washington, D.C.
Discussants: Hon. Tashi Wangdi, Mr. Mark Kirk
Mr. Mark Kirk: Currently there is a bill pending before the United States Congress, H.R 1253, which is attached to the larger foreign aid bill. This bill has three main provision:
1) Humanitarian assistance to Tibetan refugees;
2) Educational Exchange program for Tibetan refugees;
3) the appointment of a special envoy for Tibet.
Tibet supporters could write to individual members of Congress in support of the Tibet provisions of the bill.
To make the Tibetan campaign in the United States Congress more effective, Tibet supporters need to study how the South African campaign was taken up in the Congress. The Tibet issue has many of those same elements as South Africa.
Hon. Tashi Wangi: The humanitarian assistance by the United States have greatly helped the recent refugees from Tibet; the young children have been getting educational opportunities in schools while those slightly older have been able to get vocational education. Similarly, the annual Fulbright scholarship to Tibetans has been very beneficial. This has enabled the different departments of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile to train their personnel.
