McLeodganj, March 21
The USA has given a call to all freedom-loving nations of the world to condemn China for violating human rights in Tibet.
The call was given by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi who had come here with a group of nine Senators to hold dialogue with the Dalai Lama on Tibet issue.
Pelosi, who is the third highest-ranking official of the USA, said, “If freedom-loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China’s oppression in Tibet, we have lost moral authority to speak on human rights anywhere in the world.”
She described the situation in Tibet as a “challenge to the conscience of the world”. The USA was prepared to meet that challenge, she added.
Pelosi, who was instrumental in conferring the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, a top US civilian honour promised to the spiritual leader, told thousands of Tibetans gathered at the main temple complex that the US Congress would continue to support the Dalai Lama and his struggle.
She appreciated the courage of the Tibetans for fighting the freedom struggle for 50 years. She said, “Perhaps it is our karma, our fate to be with you at such a sad time. It is our karma, we know, to help the people of Tibet.”
She condemned China for levelling baseless allegations of instigating violence in Tibet against the Dalai Lama. If China was firm on that, let an independent agency probe into the matter, she
said.
After holding a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, she told mediapersons that the Tibetan struggle demanded the truth from China on the situation in Lhasa and other adjoining areas. “We insist that the world should know what the truth is in Tibet,” she said.
She accused China of resorting to violence in Tibet. “Please don’t use force and respect human rights,” she urged China. She was hopeful that violence would not continue for long.
She urged China to allow journalists visit Tibet and present a clear picture of the current situation before the world, allow outside assistance to the injured and come to terms for the ‘highest-level negotiations’ with the Dalai lama to solve the issue.
In reply to a question, she said the USA was not in favour of boycotting the Olympics being held in Beijing later this year. She, however, said the present situation of turmoil in Tibet was not in good taste.
