TIBET GROUP WARNS THAT CALIFORNIA-TIBET SISTER STATE RELATIONSHIP COULD BE DISASTROUS TO TIBETANS; TIBET SUPPORTERS URGES CALIFORNIA TO POSTPONE AGREEMENT

Washington, D.C. May 24, 2002 (ICT) - The International Campaign for Tibet called on the California Senate today to postpone consideration of a sister state relationship with the Tibet Autonomous Region until the Tibetan people are able to exercise basic rights and benefit from such a relationship.

On Wednesday, May 29, the Chinese-appointed Governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lekchog (sometimes spelled Lekchoe or Leqgog), is visiting Sacramento to discuss a sister state relationship with government officials.

"Establishing a sister state relationship with an occupied territory rife with human rights abuses is more likely to consolidate China's authoritarian rule there than benefit the Tibetan people," said John Ackerly, President of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).

"Establishing a sister state relationship with Tibet would be an affront to all Californians who are concerned about human rights and Tibet," said Tenzing Chonden of Los Angeles who represents North American Tibetans in the Tibetan exile parliament.

Governor Lekchog and his delegation are visiting in an effort to build economic and political ties between California and Beijing's puppet government in Tibet. The visit is sponsored by the California International Relations Foundation, a non-profit corporation providing assistance to the California State Senate to develop ties with foreign governments.

In 2000, the California International Relations Foundation sponsored an official visit of the governor of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which resulted in the establishment of a sister state relationship with California driven predominantly by business interests.

Many of Tibet's natural resources have been exploited for the benefit large state-owned or quasi state-owned Chinese companies. ICT supports a broad array of international humanitarian and development initiatives in Tibet but has opposed several large-scale extractive industries which were unlikely to bring substantial benefit to local people.

"We encourage economic development and trade investment that benefits the Tibetan people and abides by ethical guidelines so as not to marginalize Tibetans, either economically or by bringing even greater numbers of Chinese migrants into Tibet," Mr. Ackerly said.

Within the hard-line Communist political spectrum in Tibet, Governor Lekchog is considered to be somewhat moderate as a compliant leader trusted by Beijing. His delegation will also visit an exhibit in Cupertino called "Tibet Culture and Commerce," which is being protested by a number of Tibetan rights groups.

Lekchog's visit comes amidst continuing Congressional concern over Beijing's destructive policies in Tibet. Three resolutions and a major Tibet bill - the Tibetan Policy Act - have been introduced in the 107th session, with strong support in both chambers.