[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 4299-4300]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 TIBET

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to express my 
continuing concern about the current situation in Tibet.
  Before I do so, I would like to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues a recent statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 
his political future.
  In his March 10 statement marking the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan 
uprising, His Holiness announced his intention to propose amendments to 
the Charter for Tibetans in Exile, handing over his formal authority to 
an elected leader.
  Let me read a portion of his message to the Fourteenth Assembly of 
the Tibetan People's Deputies:

       The essence of a democratic system is, in short, the 
     assumption of political responsibility by elected leaders for 
     the popular good. In order for our process of democratization 
     to be complete, the time has come for me to devolve my formal 
     authority to such an elected leadership.

  I applaud His Holiness for this decision and I stand ready to do my 
part to help the Tibetan community in exile transition to a new 
political structure.
  I take great comfort in the knowledge that His Holiness will continue

[[Page 4300]]

his role as spiritual leader to the Tibetan people and will work 
tirelessly to preserve the Tibetan culture both inside and outside of 
Tibet.
  I also support His Holiness' call for fact-finding delegations to 
Tibet, including representatives of international parliamentarians, to 
see for themselves the current situation on the ground.
  As His Holiness pointed out, similar delegations visited Tibet in the 
late 1970s and early 1980s and I strongly encourage China to allow them 
again.
  I believe such delegations could increase awareness about the 
challenges facing Tibetans and Tibetan culture and enhance dialogue and 
cooperation with China on finding mutually beneficial solutions.
  Indeed, as a friend of His Holiness and as a friend of all Tibetan 
people, I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Tibet.
  In 2008, a wave of violence swept across Tibet which was met with 
violence by the Chinese government.
  Reports out of Tibet continue to paint a picture of the suppression 
the Tibetan culture and people are confronted with.
  And despite nine rounds of talks between the United Front Work 
Department of the Communist Party of China and envoys of His Holiness 
the Dalai Lama, a comprehensive solution to the Tibetan issue remains 
out of reach.
  As a friend of China and the Dalai Lama, I am saddened to see the 
situation in Tibet further deteriorate.
  The Dalai Lama has been trying to engage the Chinese leadership for 
more than 50 years.
  In the 1990s, I carried three letters to President Jiang Zemin from 
the Dalai Lama requesting a face-to-face meeting.
  In my view, the Dalai Lama's concerns are driven by the fact that the 
Chinese Government continues to suppress the Tibetan way of life.
  Yet he has made it clear that he does not support independence for 
Tibet, but rather meaningful cultural and religious autonomy for the 
Tibetan people within the People's Republic of China.
  This can only come about through meaningful dialogue and negotiation, 
not actions that would undermine Tibetan culture.
  As such, I urge the administration to support fact-finding 
delegations to Tibet and work with our friends and allies in the 
international community to call on the Chinese Government to begin a 
substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama on national reconciliation, 
respect for the Tibetan culture, and meaningful autonomy for Tibet.
  I have been blessed to call the Dalai Lama a friend for more than 30 
years. I first met him during a trip to India and Nepal in the fall of 
1978.
  During that trip I invited His Holiness to visit San Francisco--where 
I was mayor at the time--and he accepted. In September 1979, I was 
delighted to welcome the Dalai Lama to San Francisco to receive his 
first public recognition in the United States.
  During our many conversations, His Holiness often reiterates that, at 
its core, Buddhism espouses reaching out to help others, particularly 
the less fortunate. And it encourages us all to be more kind and 
compassionate.
  His teachings truly cross all religions, cultures, and ethnic lines.
  Over the decades, his principled beliefs have never wavered, yet his 
teachings have become more expansive. His message of peace and 
understanding has never been more relevant than it is today.
  In the midst of war and bloodshed, the Dalai Lama has been a champion 
for peace and nonviolence. In his quiet but undeniably firm manner, he 
challenges all of us to look beyond conflict and harmful rhetoric to 
seek positive change by embracing dialogue, cooperation, and negotiated 
solutions.
  In the face of hatred and intolerance, he has faith in love, 
compassion, and respect.
  He reminds people from all corners of the globe to move beyond our 
ethnic, religious, and racial divisions and embrace our common 
humanity. He encourages us to believe in something bigger than 
ourselves and work together for a better future.
  He sets a wonderful example for all of us, and I am proud to call him 
friend.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Dalai Lama in 
working toward a humanitarian solution to the problems plaguing Tibet 
and the Tibetan people.

                          ____________________