Tibet assumes centre stage

This week the US House of Representatives passed a resolution titled "H. Res. 697: – Affirming the significance of' the advocacy for genuine autonomy for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China and the work His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has done to promote global peace, harmony, and understanding.

The Resolution, headed by Congressman Ted Yoho, states that the House of Representatives: (1) recognizes the cultural and religious significance of a genuinely autonomous Tibet and the deep bond between the American and Tibetan people; (2) commends the 14th Dalai Lama for his commitment to global peace and nonviolence; and (3) determines that it would be beneficial to convene a bipartisan, bicameral forum, either through a Joint Meeting of Congress, a teleconference broadcast in the Auditorium at the Capitol Visitor Center, or roundtable, between Members of Congress and His Holiness the Dalai Lama to discuss peaceful solutions to international conflicts.

The US must continue to work with allies to secure freedom from oppression for the Tibetan people. The Chinese government systematically prevents US diplomats, officials, journalists and tourists from travel to Tibet Autonomous Region. In a double whammy to China, another resolution was passed simultaneously by the US House to condemn the acts by the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong for violating fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents as well as acts that undermine Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy.

Both the resolutions target Chinese authorities for its violation of human rights. US Speaker Nancy Pelosi applauded the passing of the resolutions on Twitter, The House sent a strong message with the passage of resolutions calling for the end of China's human rights abuses. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback reasserted that only Tibetan Buddhists can choose the next Dalai Lama, "[China has] no right to do that. They have no theological basis to do that. The Tibetan Buddhists have successfully picked their leader for hundreds of years, if not longer, and they have the right to do that now."

It is a crucial resolution that recognises the cultural and religious significance of an autonomous Tibet and seeks peaceful solutions to the Tibet issue. The CCP sees Tibet culture and religious heritage as a threat to its control. Just as they've done with Islam and Christianity, the Chinese Communist Party is trying to stamp out Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan way of life, even though Tibet is guaranteed autonomy under China's constitution. Despite these challenges, the Dalai Lama has stood as a leader in the promotion of human rights and of religious harmony and the preservation of Tibetan culture and religion as it is universally acknowledged.

The Resolution details His Holiness the Dalai Lama's promotion of human values, promotion of religious harmony, and preservation of Tibetan culture and religion and quotes him stating, "I remain convinced that most human conflicts can be solved through genuine dialogue conducted with the spirit of openness and reconciliation." Still, it is a long way ahead and a rogue country like China will not easily mend its ways.