Letter from the Chinese Ambassador

EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
December 28, 1999
The Honorable James P. McGovern
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
416 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman McGovern,

Your letter dated December 16, 1999 asking about some inmates in China's Tibet has been duly received. The list reminds me of similar inquiries made by other congressmen in the past months.

According to information provided by the relevant department in China, all the twelve listed persons, except Ngwang Sangdrol, have since been released from prison upon completion of their sentences. Ngwang Sangdrol, now 24, was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment by the Lhasa Intermediate Court for counterrevolutionary sedition. She was later given three additional sentences for continued seditious activities aimed at splitting the country and overthrowing the government. She is expected to be released in May 2013. Ngwang Sangdrol is now serving her sentence inside Tibet Autonomous Region Prison and enjoys good health.

I trust you will find the above information useful. China is a country that is ruled by law. China's Constitution guarantees that all its citizens enjoy basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. At the same time, they are duty-bound to safeguard the people's interests, uphold the sanctity of law, maintain ethnic harmony and preserve the unity of the nation. No one, whether religious or non- religious, is above the law. As China's ambassador, I also have a duty to tell Americans and their lawmakers as such. I look forward to working with you for greater understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

Sincerely,

Li Zhaoking, Ambassador

July 1, 2000