[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 41 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMEMORATION OF TIBETAN UPRISING DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2003

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite all my Colleagues to 
commemorate during this week the 44th anniversary of one of the most 
tragic events in Tibetan history. During the bloody ``Lhasa Uprising'' 
in 1959, courageous people were killed while standing up for the 
religious, political and cultural rights of all Tibetans. Throughout 
this uprising, many large Tibetan cities were destroyed by Chinese 
artillery, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced into exile for fear 
of his life and, according to Chinese statistics, nearly 87,000 
Tibetans were killed, arrested or deported to labor camps.
  The brutal crushing of the Lhasa Uprising tragically only further 
highlights the brutal suppression of the Tibetan people, which began 
with the Chinese invasion in 1948 and continues to this very day. 
Facing brave resistance after the invasion of Tibet, the People's 
Republic of China forced the Tibetan Government to accept a 17 point 
agreement in 1951 by threatening Tibet with further military force. The 
agreement made Tibet a part of China, but assured the people of Tibet 
that all political, cultural and religious institutions, including that 
of the Dalai Lama would be preserved. China has yet to stand by these 
promises. After systematic and ongoing violations of the agreement, a 
growing Tibetan rebellion began to reach a national scale.
  The Chinese blamed His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the resistance and 
rumors began to stir of plans to kill or kidnap him in reaction to this 
rebellion. On March 10th, 1959 the people of Lhasa surrounded the Dalai 
Lama's Norbulingka compound in hopes to protect their leader from an 
almost certain death, and the also demanded that the Chinese leave 
Tibet. This day is remembered by the Tibetan Community around the world 
as ``Tibetan Uprising Day.'' One week later, on March 17th, 1959, as 
feared by many, the People's Liberation Army began shelling the Dalai 
Lama's complex. Unbeknownst to the PLA the Dalai Lama had fled to India 
only a short 48 hours before the attack.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Tibet have faced persistent brutal 
oppression for nothing more than the crime of having different beliefs 
than those of the Chinese government. Since China's occupation of 
Tibet, the PRC has enforced its despotic rule with violence such as 
military occupation, population transfers and the destruction of 
Tibetan cultural and religious institutions. The people of Tibet have 
had almost every human right possible violated over the past 50 years. 
To this day, the PRC continues to violate the 17 point agreement and 
commit horrifying human rights abuses in Tibet. The citizens of this 
country suffer through arbitrary arrests, detention without trial, 
torture and persecution for speaking out peacefully on political and 
religious views.
  As an American, I am proud to defend the Tibetan right to self-
determination and recognize today as ``Tibetan Uprising Day.'' In 2002, 
under the Tibetan Policy act, which I authorized, the US Congress 
articulated our support for the Dalai Lama's attempt to attain a 
negotiated settlement through means of dialogue and not violence. The 
fact that this atrocity has gone on for so long is completely 
outrageous and unacceptable. The people of Tibet had their lives 
stripped from them; everything they knew and loved was taken in a 
appalling manner. These people not only fought and died for their own 
freedom, but for the freedom of their children and all future Tibetans. 
In 1989, the international community recognized the tremendous 
contributions his Holiness has made to a negotiated settlement through 
non-violent means by awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize. I commend the 
Dalai Lama and his people for their determination and strength 
throughout this ordeal. On this day of remembrance I hope everyone will 
take a moment to reflect on the situation to Tibet, and also consider 
what we have done and what we can still do in the future to further 
assist this country in their struggle for a peaceful resolution.