China urged to end repressive policies on Tibet
Washington: Two influential US Congressmen today urged China to end its repressive policies on Tibet, as hundreds of Tibetan-American converged at the Capitol here to meet lawmakers to brief them on the ground realities in the Himalayan region.
In a joint statement, the chairmen of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China urged Beijing to end repressive policies against the Tibetan people and to resume a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, amid ongoing and tragic Tibetan self-immolations, which have surpassed 100.
"We hope for an end to these tragic self-immolations soon. The Chinese government can reduce tension, but not through its current policy of harsher regulations and heavier security," said Senator Sherrod Brown, the Chairman of the Commission.
"Ending policies that deny Tibetans their freedoms of expression, association, and religion, while showing greater tolerance for cultural diversity, and resuming a dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives without preconditions would go a long way toward easing tensions," he said.
In recent years, Chinese officials have tightened controls on Tibetan Buddhism and monastic institutions, used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, promoted resettlement and educational policies that have threatened and disrupted Tibetan culture and language, and closed Tibetan areas off to the outside world, alleged Congressman Chris Smith, Cochairman of the Commission.
"Reversing these policies and allowing international observers into the region would do much to alleviate the situation," Smith said.
This month marks five years since the start of mostly peaceful protests that swept across the Tibetan plateau in March and April 2008 in opposition to Chinese policies that infringe on the culture, language, religion, and livelihood of Tibetans.
Following the protests, policies that were already harsh have intensified.
Since 2009, there have been a reported 107 instances of self-immolations in which Tibetans have called for their freedom and the Dalai Lama's return, most occurring within the past year.
In a joint statement, the chairmen of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China urged Beijing to end repressive policies against the Tibetan people and to resume a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, amid ongoing and tragic Tibetan self-immolations, which have surpassed 100.
"We hope for an end to these tragic self-immolations soon. The Chinese government can reduce tension, but not through its current policy of harsher regulations and heavier security," said Senator Sherrod Brown, the Chairman of the Commission.
"Ending policies that deny Tibetans their freedoms of expression, association, and religion, while showing greater tolerance for cultural diversity, and resuming a dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives without preconditions would go a long way toward easing tensions," he said.
In recent years, Chinese officials have tightened controls on Tibetan Buddhism and monastic institutions, used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, promoted resettlement and educational policies that have threatened and disrupted Tibetan culture and language, and closed Tibetan areas off to the outside world, alleged Congressman Chris Smith, Cochairman of the Commission.
"Reversing these policies and allowing international observers into the region would do much to alleviate the situation," Smith said.
This month marks five years since the start of mostly peaceful protests that swept across the Tibetan plateau in March and April 2008 in opposition to Chinese policies that infringe on the culture, language, religion, and livelihood of Tibetans.
Following the protests, policies that were already harsh have intensified.
Since 2009, there have been a reported 107 instances of self-immolations in which Tibetans have called for their freedom and the Dalai Lama's return, most occurring within the past year.
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