[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2276-S2278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF TIBET
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 347, S. Res. 356.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 356) expressing support for the
people of Tibet.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution, which had been reported by the Committee on Foreign
Relations without amendment and an amendment to the preamble, as
follows:
[Omit the part printed in boldface brackets and insert the part
printed in Italic.]
S. Res. 356
Whereas Tibet is the center of Tibetan Buddhism, and His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the most revered
figure in Tibetan Buddhism;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China
continues to enforce policies that infringe on fundamental
freedoms of Tibetans, including punitive security measures
against monasteries, mass arrests, and restrictions on
freedom to practice religion;
Whereas both the Dalai Lama and the Kalon Tripa, Dr.
Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister democratically elected by
the Tibetan exile community, have specifically stated that
they do not seek independence for Tibet from China;
Whereas, in his inaugural address on August 8, 2011, Kalon
Tripa Sangay stated that he will ``continue the Middle-Way
policy, which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet within the
People's Republic of China'';
Whereas, according to the Department of State's 2011 Report
on Tibet Negotiations, since 2002, nine rounds of talks
between the Government of the People's Republic of China and
envoys of the Dalai Lama ``have not borne concrete results'';
Whereas, despite persistent efforts by the Dalai Lama and
his representatives, the Government of the People's Republic
of China and envoys of the Dalai Lama have not held any
formal dialogue since January 2010;
[Whereas, since March 2011, at least 16 Tibetans have set
themselves on fire, and at least 12 have died;]
Whereas, since March 2011, more than two dozen Tibetans
have set themselves on fire, and at least 19 have died;
Whereas the repressive policies of the Government of the
People's Republic of China have created an environment of
despair, hopelessness, and frustration among many Tibetans;
Whereas, on November 1, 2011, the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner
Bielefeldt, expressed concern over ``restrictive measures''
implemented by the Government of the People's Republic of
China in Tibetan monasteries, stating that such measures
``not only curtail the right to freedom of religion or
belief, but further exacerbate the existing tensions, and are
counterproductive'' and affirming that ``the right of members
of the
[[Page S2277]]
monastic community, and the wider community to freely
practice their religion, should be fully respected and
guaranteed by the Chinese Government'';
Whereas, on January 24, 2012, Maria Otero, Under Secretary
for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, and United
States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, issued a
statement expressing concern about ``reports of violence and
continuing heightened tensions in Tibetan areas of China,
including reports of security forces in Sichuan province
opening fire on protesters, killing some and injuring
others'';
Whereas the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
guarantees freedom of religious belief for all citizens, but
the July-December 2010 International Religious Freedom Report
of the Department of State states that ``the [Chinese]
government's repression of religious freedom remained severe
in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas'';
Whereas, on March 10, 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
announced that he would relinquish his last remaining
governmental duties in the Central Tibetan Administration,
and would turn over political authority to the leadership
democratically elected by Tibetans in exile;
Whereas, on March 20, 2011, the Tibetan government in exile
conducted competitive democratic elections that were
monitored by international observers and deemed free, fair,
and consistent with international standards;
Whereas nearly 50,000 people in over 30 countries, more
than half of all the eligible Tibetan exiles voters,
participated in the March 20, 2011, elections;
Whereas Dr. Lobsang Sangay was elected Kalon Tripa, or
prime minister, of the Central Tibetan Administration after
receiving 55 percent of votes in the March 20, 2011, election
and was inaugurated on August 8, 2011;
Whereas Kalon Tripa Sangay was selected to study in the
United States under the Department of State's Tibetan
Scholarship Program, earning a doctorate in law from Harvard
University, and served as a Senior Fellow at the East Asian
Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School;
Whereas Kalon Tripa Sangay, while at Harvard University,
promoted dialogue among Tibetan exiles and Chinese students
and visiting Chinese scholars to enhance mutual understanding
and advance the prospects for reconciliation; and
Whereas it is the objective of the United States
Government, consistent across administrations of different
political parties and as articulated in the Tibetan Policy
Act of 2002 (subtitle B of title VI of Public Law 107 228; 22
U.S.C. 6901 note) to promote a substantive dialogue between
the Government of the People's Republic of China and the
Dalai Lama or his representatives in order to secure genuine
autonomy for the Tibetan people within China:
Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a vote
on this matter.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the question is on agreeing
to the resolution.
The resolution (No. 356) was agreed to.
Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be
agreed to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no
intervening action or debate; and any statements relating to the
resolution be printed in the Record.
The committee-reported amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, as amended, reads as follows:
S. Res. 356
Whereas Tibet is the center of Tibetan Buddhism, and His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the most revered
figure in Tibetan Buddhism;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China
continues to enforce policies that infringe on fundamental
freedoms of Tibetans, including punitive security measures
against monasteries, mass arrests, and restrictions on
freedom to practice religion;
Whereas both the Dalai Lama and the Kalon Tripa, Dr.
Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister democratically elected by
the Tibetan exile community, have specifically stated that
they do not seek independence for Tibet from China;
Whereas, in his inaugural address on August 8, 2011, Kalon
Tripa Sangay stated that he will ``continue the Middle-Way
policy, which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet within the
People's Republic of China'';
Whereas according to the Department of State's 2011 Report
on Tibet Negotiations, since 2002, nine rounds of talks
between the Government of the People's Republic of China and
envoys of the Dalai Lama ``have not borne concrete results'';
Whereas despite persistent efforts by the Dalai Lama and
his representatives, the Government of the People's Republic
of China and envoys of the Dalai Lama have not held any
formal dialogue since January 2010;
Whereas, since March 2011, more than two dozen Tibetans
have set themselves on fire, and at least 19 have died;
Whereas the repressive policies of the Government of the
People's Republic of China have created an environment of
despair, hopelessness, and frustration among many Tibetans;
Whereas, on November 1, 2011, the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner
Bielefeldt, expressed concern over ``restrictive measures''
implemented by the Government of the People's Republic of
China in Tibetan monasteries, stating that such measures
``not only curtail the right to freedom of religion or
belief, but further exacerbate the existing tensions, and are
counterproductive'' and affirming that ``the right of members
of the monastic community, and the wider community to freely
practice their religion, should be fully respected and
guaranteed by the Chinese Government'';
Whereas, on January 24, 2012, Maria Otero, Under Secretary
for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, and United
States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, issued a
statement expressing concern about ``reports of violence and
continuing heightened tensions in Tibetan areas of China,
including reports of security forces in Sichuan province
opening fire on protesters, killing some and injuring
others'';
Whereas the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
guarantees freedom of religious belief for all citizens, but
the July-December 2010 International Religious Freedom Report
of the Department of State states that ``the [Chinese]
government's repression of religious freedom remained severe
in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas'';
Whereas, on March 10, 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
announced that he would relinquish his last remaining
governmental duties in the Central Tibetan Administration,
and would turn over political authority to the leadership
democratically elected by Tibetans in exile;
Whereas, on March 20, 2011, the Tibetan government in exile
conducted competitive democratic elections that were
monitored by international observers and deemed free, fair,
and consistent with international standards;
Whereas nearly 50,000 people in over 30 countries, more
than half of all the eligible Tibetan exiles voters,
participated in the March 20, 2011, elections;
Whereas Dr. Lobsang Sangay was elected Kalon Tripa, or
prime minister, of the Central Tibetan Administration after
receiving 55 percent of votes in the March 20, 2011, election
and was inaugurated on August 8, 2011;
Whereas Kalon Tripa Sangay was selected to study in the
United States under the Department of State's Tibetan
Scholarship Program, earning a doctorate in law from Harvard
University, and served as a Senior Fellow at the East Asian
Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School;
Whereas Kalon Tripa Sangay, while at Harvard University,
promoted dialogue among Tibetan exiles and Chinese students
and visiting Chinese scholars to enhance mutual understanding
and advance the prospects for reconciliation; and
Whereas it is the objective of the United States
Government, consistent across administrations of different
political parties and as articulated in the Tibetan Policy
Act of 2002 (subtitle B of title VI of Public Law 107 228; 22
U.S.C. 6901 note) to promote a substantive dialogue between
the Government of the People's Republic of China and the
Dalai Lama or his representatives in order to secure genuine
autonomy for the Tibetan people within China: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) mourns the death of Tibetans who have self-immolated
and deplores the repressive policies targeting Tibetans;
(2) calls on the Government of the People's Republic of
China to suspend implementation of religious control
regulations, reassess religious and security policies
implemented since 2008 in Tibet, and resume a dialogue with
Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including the Dalai Lama or his
representatives, to resolve underlying grievances;
(3) calls on the Government of the People's Republic of
China to release all persons that have been arbitrarily
detained; to cease the intimidation, harassment and detention
of peaceful protestors; and to allow unrestricted access to
journalists, foreign diplomats, and international
organizations to Tibet;
(4) calls on the Secretary of State to seek from the
Government of the People's Republic of China a full
accounting of the forcible removal of monks from Kirti
Monastery, including an explanation of the pretext or
conditions under which monks were removed and their current
whereabouts;
(5) commends His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his decision
to devolve his political power in favor of a democratic
system;
(6) congratulates Tibetans living in exile for holding, on
March 20, 2011, a competitive, multi-candidate election that
was free, fair, and met international electoral standards;
(7) reaffirms the unwavering friendship between the people
of the United States and the people of Tibet; and
(8) both--
(A) calls on the Department of State to fully implement the
Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (subtitle B of title VI of Public
Law 107 228; 22 U.S.C. 6901 note), including the stipulation
that the Secretary of State seek ``to
[[Page S2278]]
establish an office in Lhasa, Tibet, to monitor political,
economic, and cultural developments in Tibet'', and also to
provide consular protection and citizen services in
emergencies; and
(B) urges that the agreement to permit China to open
further diplomatic missions in the United States should be
contingent upon the establishment of a United States
Government consulate in Lhasa, Tibet.
____________________