Support Dalai Lama for return to Tibet: Lawmakers to Obama

From Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 19 (PTI) A group of 72 American lawmakershave asked US President Barack Obama to publicly support theright of the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and call for animmediate and unconditional release of all Tibetan politicalprisoners languishing in China. "We write to ask that you redouble efforts in support ofthe Tibetan people during your remaining months in office. Webelieve it is critically important to move beyond words toactions," the lawmakers said in a letter to Obama. "The Tibetan people view the US as their friend. It istime to honour that friendship with new, creative strategiesto encourage meaningful dialogue, protect Tibetan rights, andpreserve their unique cultural, religious and linguisticidentity," the three-page letter, dated August 17, said. The letter, organised by Congressman Jim McGovern, urgedObama to invite the Dalai Lama to every event, on everyoccasion, where his knowledge and decades of reflections wouldbe helpful for addressing the world’s problems. The letter, released yesterday, call for the US governmentto facilitate the involvement of the Dalai Lama or hisrepresentatives in the global debate on climate change and itspotential consequences given Tibet’s fragile environment,rapid warming and critically important reserves of freshwater. Urging the US government to publicly support the right ofthe Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, the letter asks Obama topublically and regularly call for the immediate andunconditional release of all Tibetan political prisoners heldby the PeopleÂ’s Republic of China whose cases have beendocumented by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. It seeks establishment of a US consular office in Lhasa,Tibet to help the US observe and address the obstacles tofreedom of movement that affect both Tibetans within China,and US citizens, including Tibetan-Americans, who seek totravel to Tibetan areas of China. The letter also seeks enforcement of norms of reciprocityto ensure that senior Chinese officials responsible forrestricting the access of US officials, journalists, Tibetan-Americans and other citizens to Tibetan areas of China arethemselves restricted in their travel when they are in the US. Prominent among those who signed the letter areCongressman Eliot Engel, Ranking Member on the House ForeignAffairs Committee Nita Lowey among others. PTI LKJ CPS ABHCPS