Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Indiana’s U.S. Senator Todd Young announced today that they introduced a bipartisan resolution in recognition of the Dalai Lama’s upcoming 90th birthday and to express support for the Tibetan people.
“The people of Tibet have an inalienable right to self-determination, and our resolution reaffirms the United States’ commitment to Tibetans by supporting their basic human rights, religious freedom, culture, and language,” said Merkley. “As the Chinese government continues to ignore the rights of Tibet under international law, we’re sending the message that we must protect these fundamental freedoms.”
“Throughout his life, the Dalai Lama has stood for peace, respect, and understanding. I’m proud to stand with the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet in their struggle for freedom and peace against the Chinese Communist Party’s continued aggression. The CCP’s status quo – both in Tibet and elsewhere – is not acceptable,” said Young.
The resolution is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Curtis (R-UT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK).
“This timely resolution expresses a wonderful, bipartisan recognition that His Holiness the Dalai Lama stands as a global icon of compassion and honors his lifelong commitment to strive for peace and justice for his homeland and the people of Tibet,” said International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) President Tencho Gyatso. “Swift passage of this resolution led by Senator Merkley and Senator Young will bring joy and inspiration to all those celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, and perhaps most critically, provide hope and inspiration to Tibetans in Tibet for whom even a simple public acknowledgement of the Dalai Lama’s birthday remains a dangerous act.”
Last year, Merkley and Young’s bipartisan Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act was signed into law to support Tibetan self-determination and promote dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama toward a peaceful resolution of the long-standing dispute between Tibet and China.
Full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.
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