[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E344-E345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE FORTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIBETAN NATIONAL 
                                UPRISING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 2004

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, on March 10, 2000, the United States Senate 
passed a resolution (S. Res. 60) to recognize this day in commemoration 
of the Tibetans who suffered and died during the Lhasa uprising, which 
began on this day in 1959. The resolution also reserves this day as an 
occasion to renew calls by the President, Congress, and other U.S. 
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 a peaceful solution, satisfactory to both sides, 
is achieved.
  It has now been 55 years since the Chinese Army invaded Tibet, 
forcing the then free and independent country to accept the infamous 
Chinese 17-point agreement in which Tibet was incorporated into China. 
Under the agreement, China promised to preserve all aspects of freedom 
in Tibet, including the role of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Chinese 
Government continues to commit gross violations of human rights in 
Tibet as well as to show total disregard for their agreement. During 
the time of Chinese occupation, more than 6,000 monasteries have been 
destroyed and the monks and nuns who resided in these places have been 
displaced, exiled, tortured and killed. Not only are the religious 
leaders persecuted, but the people of Tibet are forced to live in fear 
of arbitrary arrest, torture and imprisonment without trial.
  I would like to use this day to ask the leaders of this country to 
unite in calling on China to end its abuses against the people of Tibet 
and to submit the statement made today by his Holiness the Dalai Lama 
for the Record.

Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the Forty-Fifth Anniversary 
                    of Tibetan National Uprising Day

       Today we commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Tibetan 
     People's Uprising of 1959. I pay tribute to the many brave 
     Tibetan men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the 
     cause of Tibetan freedom. They will always be remembered. 
     This year marks 50 years since my visit to mainland China in 
     1954 to meet with the then Chinese leaders, especially Mao 
     Tse-tung. I remember very well that I embarked on the journey 
     with deep concerns about the future of Tibet. I was assured 
     by all the leaders I met that the Chinese presence in Tibet 
     was to work for the welfare of the Tibetans and ``to help 
     develop'' Tibet. While in China I also learned about 
     internationalism and socialism which deeply impressed me. So 
     I returned to Tibet with optimism and confidence that a 
     peaceful and mutually beneficial coexistence could be worked 
     out. Unfortunately, soon after my return China was embroiled 
     in political unrest unleashed by radical political campaigns. 
     These developments impacted the Chinese policy on 
     Tibet resulting in more repression and rigidity leading 
     finally to the Tibetan People's Uprising in March 1959.
       My hope is that this year may see a significant 
     breakthrough in our relations with the Chinese Government. As 
     in 1954, so also today, I am determined to leave no stone 
     unturned for seeking a mutually beneficial solution that will 
     address both Chinese concerns as well as achieve for the 
     Tibetan people a life in freedom, peace and dignity. Despite 
     the decades of separation the Tibetan people continue to 
     place tremendous trust and hope in me. I feel a great sense 
     of responsibility to act as their free spokesman. In this 
     regard, the fact that President Hu Jintao has personal 
     knowledge about the situation and problems in Tibet can be a 
     positive factor in resolving the Tibetan issue. I am 
     therefore willing to meet with today's leaders of the 
     People's Republic of China in the effort to secure a mutually 
     acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue.
       My envoys have established direct contact with the Chinese 
     government on two trips to China in September 2002 and in 
     May/June 2003. This is a positive and welcome development, 
     which was initiated during the Presidency of Jiang Zemin. The 
     issue of Tibet is complex and of crucial importance to 
     Tibetan as well as Chinese peoples. Consequently, it requires 
     careful considerations and serious deliberations on both 
     sides before taking any decisions. It will take time, 
     patience and determination to lead this process to a 
     successful conclusion. However, I consider it of highest 
     importance to maintain the momentum and to intensify and 
     deepen this process through regular face-to-face meetings and 
     substantive discussions. This is the only way to dispel 
     existing distrust and misconception and to build trust and 
     confidence.
       Consequently, I have instructed my envoys to visit China at 
     the earliest date to continue the process. I hope that they 
     will be able to make this trip without much delay. This will 
     help in building trust and confidence in the present process 
     among Tibetans as well as among our friends and supporters 
     around the world--many of whom remain strongly skeptical 
     about the willingness of Beijing to engage in a genuine 
     process of rapprochement and dialogue.
       The current situation in Tibet benefits neither the 
     Tibetans nor the government of the People's Republic of 
     China. The development projects that the Chinese Government 
     has launched in Tibet--purportedly to benefit the Tibetan 
     people--are however, having

[[Page E345]]

     negative effects on the Tibetan people's distinct cultural, 
     religious and linguistic identity. More Chinese settlers are 
     coming to Tibet resulting in the economic marginalization of 
     the Tibetan people and the sinicization of their culture. 
     Tibetans need to see an improvement in the quality of their 
     life, the restoration of Tibet's pristine environment and the 
     freedom to decide an appropriate model of development.
       I welcome the release of Ani Phuntsok Nyidrol, even as we 
     recognize the injustice of her sentence and continue to urge 
     for the release of all political prisoners in Tibet. The 
     human rights situation in Tibet has not seen any marked 
     improvement. Human rights violations in Tibet have a distinct 
     character of preventing Tibetans as a people from asserting 
     their own identity and culture. The violations are a 
     result of policies of racial and cultural discrimination 
     and religious intolerance.
       Against this background we are encouraged and grateful that 
     many individuals, governments and parliaments around the 
     world have been urging the People's Republic of China to 
     resolve the question of Tibet through peaceful negotiations. 
     Led by the European Union and the United States there is 
     growing realization in the international community that the 
     issue of Tibet is not one of human rights violations alone 
     but of deeper political nature which needs to be resolved 
     through negotiations.
       I am also encouraged by the recent improvements in the 
     relationship between India and China. It has always been my 
     belief that better understanding and relations between India 
     and China, the two most populous nations of the world is of 
     vital importance for peace and stability in Asia in 
     particular and in the world in general. I believe that 
     improved relations between India and China will create a more 
     conducive political environment for the peaceful resolution 
     of the Tibetan issue. I also strongly believe India can and 
     should play a constructive and influential role in resolving 
     the Tibetan problem peacefully. My `Middle-Way-Approach' 
     should be an acceptable policy on Tibet for India as it 
     addresses the Tibetan issue within the framework of the 
     People's Republic of China. A solution to the Tibetan issue 
     through this approach would help India to resolve many of her 
     disputes with China, too.
       It is 54 years since the establishment of the People's 
     Republic of China. During Mao Zedong's period much emphasis 
     was put on ideology, while Deng Xiaoping concentrated 
     primarily on economic development. His successor Jiang Zemin 
     broadened the base of the Communist Party by enabling wealthy 
     people to become part of the Communist Party under his theory 
     of ``The Three Represents''. In recent times Hu Jintao and 
     his colleagues were able to achieve a smooth transition of 
     leadership. During the past decades China has been able to 
     make much progress. But there have also been shortcomings and 
     failures in various fields, including in the economy. One of 
     the main causes of the shortcomings and failures seems to be 
     the inability to deal with and act according to the true and 
     real situation. In order to know the real and true situation 
     it is essential that there be free information.
       China is undergoing a process of deep change. In order to 
     affect this change smoothly and without chaos and violence I 
     believe it is essential that there be more openness and 
     greater freedom of information and proper awareness among the 
     general public. We should seek truth from facts--facts that 
     are not falsified. Without this China cannot hope to achieve 
     genuine stability. How can there be stability if things must 
     be hidden and people are not able to speak out their true 
     feelings?
       I am hopeful that China will become more open and 
     eventually more democratic. I have for many years advocated 
     that the change and transformation of China should take place 
     smoothly and without major upheavals. This is in the interest 
     of not only the Chinese people but also the world community.
       China's emergence as a regional and global power is also 
     accompanied by concerns, suspicion and fears about her power. 
     Hosting the Olympic Games and World Exposition will not help 
     to dispel these concerns. Unless Beijing addresses the lack 
     of basic civil and political rights and freedoms of its 
     citizens, especially with regard to minorities, China will 
     continue to face difficulties in reassuring the world that 
     she is a peaceful, responsible, constructive and forward-
     looking power.
       The Tibetan issue represents both a challenge and an 
     opportunity for a maturing China to act as an emerging global 
     player with vision and values of openness, freedom, justice 
     and truth. A constructive and flexible approach to the issue 
     of Tibet will go a long way in creating a political climate 
     of trust, confidence and openness, both domestically and 
     internationally. A peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue 
     will have wide-ranging positive impacts on China's transition 
     and transformation onto a modern, open and free society. 
     There is now a window of opportunity for the Chinese 
     leadership to act with courage and farsightedness in 
     resolving the Tibetan issue once and for all.
       I would like to take this opportunity to express my 
     appreciation and gratitude for this consistent support that 
     we have been receiving throughout the world. I would also 
     like to express once again on behalf of the Tibetans our 
     appreciation and immense gratitude to the people and the 
     Government of India for their unwavering and unmatched 
     generosity and support.
       With my prayers for the well-being of all sentient beings.

                          ____________________