[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE TIBETAN DAY OF COMMEMORATION

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, Today I rise to commemorate the 46th 
Anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959.
  It is my sincere hope that both the Chinese government and the 
Tibetan leaders might use this opportunity to reflect on the importance 
of pursuing a viable, long-term solution that provides the Tibetan 
people the right to enjoy religious, cultural, and social autonomy as 
part of the People's Republic of China.
  This anniversary marks a sad, but important day in the history of the 
Tibetan people.
  In 1951, two years after the People's Liberation Army first entered 
Tibet, Chinese government representatives and Tibetan leaders signed 
what has been called the 17 Point Agreement.
  This agreement, among other things, included the promise of Tibetan 
religious, cultural, and social autonomy, and preserved the institution 
of the Dalai Lama.
  Sadly, the Chinese government failed to uphold these promises and 
attempted to force ``revolutionary socialist reforms'' upon the Tibet 
people and leadership. This ultimately culminated in the 1959 Lhasa 
Uprising which saw tens of thousands of Tibetans killed and forced the 
Dalai Lama and many others to flee to India.
  Today human rights abuses continue against Tibetans wishing to 
practice their religion or promote their unique cultural and historical 
identity. Hundreds have been imprisoned in Tibet, and tens of thousands 
more have had to flee their homeland.
  Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama remains steadfast in his desire to find 
a long-lasting and viable solution that will provide freedom and 
autonomy for the Tibetan people without pursuing independence.
  In a speech today to mark this 46th anniversary, he stated:

       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 of China.

  He also praised the economic progress and development that has taken 
place in Tibet over the past 40 years, including the new railroad link 
that will begin operation this year.
  I have personally worked for well over two decades to try and bring 
both the Chinese government and Tibetan leadership together in a spirit 
of cooperation and dialogue to overcome the differences that have 
impeded progress on a solution for Tibet. And after many conversations 
with the Dalai Lama, I am fully convinced that he is sincere in his 
promise not to pursue a separate path for Tibet.
  To that end, several times over the years I have carried messages 
from the Dalai Lama to Beijing and communicated regularly with Jiang 
Zemin and other Chinese officials on the importance of establishing 
dialogue on the Tibet issue.
  I have also been pleased to see that discussions between the Dalai 
Lama's envoys and Chinese officials have resumed and that a third round 
of meetings took place last September in Beijing.
  It is my hope that both sides will build upon these meetings and that 
President Hu, with his knowledge and understanding of the Tibetan 
people, will come to appreciate the international goodwill that would 
be fostered by his willingness to meet with the Dalai Lama and pursue a 
reasonable solution to the Tibet issue.
  Despite the slow pace of progress over the years, I remain confident 
that if the Chinese leadership will only sit down with the Dalai Lama 
and listen openly to his views, that a sustainable solution providing 
for the preservation of the distinctive identity, religious and 
cultural heritage for the Tibetan people can be found.

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