By Paul Berkowitz (Ph: 202) 225-2415
Washington, DC, June 15 – Today Representative Rohrabacher, Chairman of the International Relations Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, issued a partial list of questions that need to be answered to accurately document the theft of Tibetan property and belongings by the Chinese government.
“For too long the Chinese government has gotten away with stealing precious Tibetan national assets and individual possessions,” said Rep. Rohrabacher. “These questions are intended to be a starting point into an investigation that will hold accountable any individuals, regardless of position, involved in the pillaging of Tibet .”
Congressman Rohrabacher recently announced his intention to investigate the theft of Tibetan property by officials of the Chinese government. The investigation will focus on claims that from 1949 onward the Chinese government and individual Chinese government officials profited from the sale of stolen Tibetan belongings. Thus far neither individual Chinese government officials nor the Chinese government itself have accounted for or made amends for the stolen property. Congressman Rohrabacher seeks to document the stolen property from the Tibetan government’s treasury, Buddhist monasteries, and individual Tibetans.
The investigation will also demand a response from the Chinese government and the course of action it intends to take to return or reimburse the stolen property to the Tibetans. Rep. Rohrabacher is also interested in hearing from retired Chinese military personnel or their families about who may have personally benefited from theft of Tibetan property.
In order to launch the investigation, Representative Rohrabacher is seeking specifics on the stolen property such as: exact amounts taken from the treasury, items taken from monasteries, the involvement of art galleries and museums, names of Chinese officials that were involved, and a chronology of events pertaining to the theft and sales.
“The day has come for the Chinese government to answer for their actions and for the Tibetan people to demand justice,” stated Rep. Rohrabacher.
