Former Tibetan political prisoner Takna Jigme Sangpo, currently undergoing medical treatment in Washington, D.C., met with the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor, and the Special Coordinator on Tibetan Issues.

Takna Jigme Sangpo met with Lorne Craner, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor, on August 1, 2002. He thanked Secretary Craner and the U.S. Government for its role in his release. He asked the United States to continue putting pressure on the Chinese government for the release of all Tibetan political prisoners.

Takna also met Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky, who is the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues at the State Department on August 2, 2002. He urged the United States to continue supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his endeavor to find a solution to the Tibetan problem.

On August 3, 2002, the Capital Area Tibetan Association hosted a dinner reception in honor of Takna Jigme Sangpo. Dr. Nawang Rabgyal, head of the Office of Tibet in New York, came down to attend the reception. He greeted

Takna on behalf of the Tibetan Government and Tibetans in the Americas and presented Takna with copies of messages from the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies as well as Tibetan students from India. Later, Takna joined the Tibetans as they performed the traditional circle dance, Gorshey.