[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 60 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 60

     Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the fortieth 
anniversary of Tibet's attempt to restore its independence and calling 
for serious negotiations between China and the Dalai Lama to achieve a 
              peaceful solution to the situation in Tibet.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 10, 1999

 Mr. Mack (for himself, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Lott, Mr. Brownback, and Mr. 
 Wellstone) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the fortieth 
anniversary of Tibet's attempt to restore its independence and calling 
for serious negotiations between China and the Dalai Lama to achieve a 
              peaceful solution to the situation in Tibet.

Whereas during the period 1949-1950, the newly established communist government 
        of the People's Republic of China sent an army to invade Tibet;
Whereas the Tibetan army was ill equipped and outnumbered, and the People's 
        Liberation Army overwhelmed Tibetan defenses;
Whereas, on May 23, 1951, a delegation sent from the capital city of Lhasa to 
        Peking to negotiate with the Government of the People's Republic of 
        China was forced under duress to accept a Chinese-drafted 17-point 
        agreement that incorporated Tibet into China but promised to preserve 
        Tibetan political, cultural, and religious institutions;
Whereas during the period of 1951-1959, the failure of the Government of the 
        People's Republic of China to uphold guarantees to autonomy contained in 
        the 17-Point Agreement and the imposition of socialist reforms resulted 
        in widespread oppression and brutality;
Whereas on March 10, 1959 the people of Lhasa, fearing for the life of the Dalai 
        Lama, surrounded his palace, organized a permanent guard, and called for 
        the withdrawal of the Chinese from Tibet and the restoration of Tibet's 
        independence;
Whereas on March 17, 1959 the Dalai Lama escaped in disguise during the night 
        after two mortar shells exploded within the walls of his palace and, 
        before crossing the Indian border into exile two weeks later, repudiated 
        the 17-Point Agreement;
Whereas during the ``Lhasa Revolt'' begun on March 10, 1959, Chinese statistics 
        estimate 87,000 Tibetans were killed, arrested, or deported to labor 
        camps, and only a small percentage of the thousands who attempted to 
        escape to India survived Chinese military attacks, malnutrition, cold, 
        and disease;
Whereas for the past forty years, the Dalai Lama has worked in exile to find 
        ways to allow Tibetans to determine the future status of Tibet and was 
        awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in 1989;
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to support substantive dialogue 
        between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Dalai 
        Lama or his representatives; and
Whereas the Dalai Lama has stated his willingness to negotiate within the 
        framework enunciated by Deng Xiaoping in 1979: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) March 10, 1999 should be recognized as ``Tibetan 
        National Day'' in solemn remembrance of those Tibetans who 
        sacrificed, suffered, or died as a result of Chinese aggression 
        against their country and of the inherent right of the Tibetan 
        people to reject tyranny and to determine their own political 
        future, including independence, if they so determine; and
            (2) March 10 of each year should serve as an occasion to 
        renew calls by the President, Congress, and other United States 
        Government officials on the Government of the People's Republic 
        of China to enter into serious negotiations with the Dalai Lama 
        or his representatives until such a time as a peaceful 
        solution, satisfactory to both sides, is achieved.
                                 <all>