[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E410-E411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN COMMEMORATION OF TIBETAN UPRISING DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues and 
Tibetan communities around the world to commemorate Tibetan Uprising 
Day, and to draw attention to the continued serious human rights abuses 
committed by the People's Republic of China.
  On March 10, 1959, in reaction to rumors that the Chinese were 
planning to kill or kidnap the Dalai Lama, thousands of Tibetan 
refugees courageously surrounded the Dalai Lama's compound and began 
calling for the Chinese to leave Tibet. This marked the beginning of 
the ``Lhasa Uprising.'' On March 17, 1959, fearing that Chinese troops 
would massacre the thousands of refugees who were refusing orders to 
disperse, the Dalai Lama disguised himself and took flight to India. 
Forty-eight hours later, believing the Dalai Lama was still inside, 
Chinese troops began shelling his compound and other targets in Lhasa, 
killing thousands of mostly unarmed civilians. Chinese statistics 
estimate that 87,000 Tibetans from all parts of Tibet were killed, 
arrested, or deported to labor camps during the 1959 Uprising. Only a 
small number of the thousands who fled to India survived Chinese 
military attacks, malnutrition, cold and disease.
  Over the past 46 years, Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile around the 
world have bravely fought against tremendous odds to preserve their 
religious identity, culture, and history. It is estimated that 1.5 
million Tibetans have died as a result of Chinese occupation since 1949 
and 6000 monasteries, temples, and other cultural buildings were 
destroyed. And today, Tibetans, including monks and nuns, are 
continually persecuted for practicing their religion, and voicing their 
support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In fact, five Tibetan monks 
were jailed by Chinese authorities in February of this year for 
allegedly publishing politically sensitive poems, and were given 
sentences of two to three years.
  The U.S. government has continually supported Tibetan self-
determination, and I am proud of the dedication of the U.S. Congress to 
drawing attention to the gross human rights abuses committed by the 
People's Republic of China against the Tibetan people. We must continue 
to support the dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the 
government of China, and remain committed to a peaceful resolution to 
this tragic conflict, keeping in mind our shared values of freedom of 
religion, freedom of speech, and freedom from tyranny.
  I commend to you the statement written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama 
in commemoration of Tibetan Uprising Day, and I am honored to submit 
the statement in its entirety for the Record.

The Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the 46th Anniversary of 
                   the Tibetan National Uprising Day

       On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the Tibetan 
     People's Uprising, I convey my warm greetings to my fellow 
     Tibetans in Tibet and in exile and to our friends around the 
     world.
       During these more than four decades great changes have 
     taken place in Tibet. There has been a great deal of economic 
     progress along with development in infrastructure. The 
     Golmud-Lhasa railway link that is being built is a case in 
     point. However, during the same period much has been written 
     by independent journalists and travelers to Tibet about the 
     real situation in Tibet and not what they have been shown. 
     Most of them portray a very different picture than what the 
     Chinese government claims, clearly criticizing China about 
     the lack of human rights, religious freedom and self-rule in 
     Tibet. What has actually happened and is still happening is 
     that since the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region 
     the real authority has been solely held by Chinese leaders. 
     As for the Tibetan people, they have been facing suspicions 
     and growing restrictions. The lack of true ethnic equality 
     and harmony based on trust, and the absence of genuine 
     stability in Tibet clearly shows that things are not well in 
     Tibet and that basically there is a problem.
       Prominent and respected Tibetan leaders in Tibet have 
     spoken out on this from time to time and even suffered 
     because of their courageous acts. In the early 1960s, the 
     late Panchen Lama outlined the sufferings and aspirations of 
     the Tibetan people in his petition to the Chinese leaders. 
     Baba Phuntsok Wangyal, one of the foremost Tibetan communist 
     leaders, in his recent biography published in English dwells 
     at length on the need to meet the interests of the Tibetan 
     people. In fact, it is clear that most senior Tibetan 
     officials in Tibet deep in their hearts are extremely 
     dissatisfied.
       This year the Chinese government will mark the 40th 
     anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous 
     Region. There will be much fanfare and many commemorative 
     events to celebrate the occasion but these will be 
     meaningless when they do not reflect the ground realities. 
     For example, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural 
     Revolution were celebrated with great pomp as real 
     achievements at the time they took place.
       China has made tremendous economic progress during the past 
     more than two decades. China today is not what it was twenty 
     or thirty years ago. Much has changed in China. As a result 
     she has become a major player in the world and China rightly 
     deserves this position. It is a big nation with a huge 
     population and a rich and ancient civilization. However, 
     China's image is tarnished by her human rights records, 
     undemocratic actions, the lack of the rule of law and the 
     unequal implementation of autonomy rights regarding 
     minorities, including the Tibetans. All these are a cause for 
     more suspicion and distrust from the outside world. 
     Internally, they are an obstacle to unity and stability that 
     are of utmost importance to the leaders of the People's 
     Republic of China. In my view, it is important that as China 
     becomes a powerful and respectable nation she should be able 
     to adopt a reasonable policy with confidence.
       The world in general, of which China is a part, is changing 
     for the better. In recent times there is definitely a greater 
     awareness and appreciation for peace, non-violence, 
     democracy, justice and environmental protection. The recent 
     unprecedented response from governments and individuals 
     across the world to the tsunami disaster victims reaffirms 
     that the world is truly interdependent and the importance of 
     universal responsibility.
       My involvement in the affairs of Tibet is not for the 
     purpose of claiming certain personal rights or political 
     position for myself not attempting to stake claims for the 
     Tibetan administration in exile. In 1992 in a formal 
     announcement I stated clearly that when we return to Tibet 
     with a certain degree of freedom I will not hold any office 
     in the Tibetan government or any other political position and 
     that the present Tibetan administration in exile will be 
     dissolved. Moreover, the Tibetans working in Tibet should 
     carry on the main responsibility of administering Tibet.
       I once again want to reassure the Chinese authorities that 
     as long as I am responsible for the affairs of Tibet we 
     remain fully committed to the Middle Way Approach of not 
     seeking independence for Tibet and are willing to remain 
     within the People's Republic

[[Page E411]]

     of China. I am convinced that in the long run such an 
     approach is of benefit to the Tibetan people for their 
     material progress. It is encouraging that there is support 
     from various parts of the world for this approach as being 
     reasonable, realistic and of mutual benefit to the Chinese 
     and Tibetans. I am particularly encouraged by the recognition 
     and support that has come from certain quarters of the 
     intellectual circle from within China.
       I am happy with our renewed contacts with the Chinese 
     leadership and that the third round of meetings last 
     September shows that gradually our interactions are 
     improving. Now that our elected political leadership is 
     shouldering more responsibility in Tibetan affairs, I have 
     advised them to look into the issues raised by the Chinese 
     side during our third round of talks and to take steps to 
     address or clarify them as needed. We remain hopeful that 
     eventually we will be able to develop the necessary trust and 
     resolve this long-standing issue to our mutual benefit.
       Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express 
     the Tibetan people's gratitude and appreciation to the people 
     and Government of India for their steadfast sympathy and 
     support. I very much feel a part of this nation not only 
     because of the centuries-old religious and cultural ties that 
     India and Tibet enjoyed but also because I and most of the 
     Tibetans in exile lived in India for the past 45 years.
       I offer my prayers to the brave men and women of Tibet who 
     gave their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom.
                                                   The Dalai Lama,
     March 10, 2005.

                          ____________________