Rep. Miller Calls on Chinese Government to End Repression of Tibet
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- 4/8/08 -- Tomorrow the House of Representatives will vote on House Resolution 1077. The resolution was introduced, as a response to the violent and repressive actions of the Chinese government, by Speaker Pelosi and members of the bipartisan Congressional Delegation that met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on their trip to India.
Congressman George Miller (D-CA) released the following statement on the resolution.
“As the Chinese government was repressing peaceful Tibetan protests last month, I visited Dharamshala, India - the recognized home of Tibetans in exile - with Speaker Pelosi and several of my colleagues.
“I had the honor and privilege to meet His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and I was moved by the infinite patience and courage he exudes in the face of overwhelming odds. I was touched by the large population of Tibetans in exile who worry about family members they have left behind. These are people who left their homeland due to repression of religion and language by the Chinese government and the constant violations of basic human rights and dignity in their own land.
“The Speaker, along with everyone else on our trip, was incensed at the atrocities conducted by China. Our first order of business upon returning to the United States was to draft this important resolution before the House today.
“Through this resolution, we call on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to end its crackdown on nonviolent Tibetan protestors and its continuing cultural, religious, economic, and linguistic repression inside Tibet and to begin a dialogue directly with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“The freedom of press is something we take for granted in the United States but Tibetans unfortunately do not enjoy this privilege, as all press inside Tibet, and all of China in fact, is closely monitored and controlled by the state. This resolution calls on the Chinese Government to allow independent international monitors and journalists, free and unfettered access to Tibet.
“It is clear by the conviction and sentencing of human rights activist Hu Jia, who has been an outspoken critic of the human rights record of the Chinese government and called on the international community to hold Beijing responsible for the promises it made when bidding to host the Olympic games, that China has no intention of unilaterally changing it’s human rights record. The government of China has been and continues to be an abuser of basic human rights despite the State Department decision to not include China in a list of countries that most systemically violate human rights. This resolution asks the United States Department of State to publicly issue a statement reconsidering its decision.
“The cause of the Tibetan people is a desire for freedom of religion, freedom to speak their own language, and to express their unique identity. It is a cause every American can relate to. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this resolution – to vote in support of Tibet.”
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Posted by PDP-Staff at April 8, 08 09:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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