Members of the Tibetan community and Tibet supporters rally at the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 10.
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today released this statement in observance of Tibetan Uprising Day, which commemorates resistance to occupation by Chinese government forces in Tibet on March 10, 1959:
“Each March 10th, we honor the determination of those who stood against the Chinese government’s brutal attack on Tibetans during the Lhasa Uprising. These people of faith, propelled by the longing to preserve their religion and culture stood defiant in the face of oppression. Refusing to be silenced by violence; they cried out for their just cause. And, around the world, we heard them and continue to hear their cause today.
“The memory of the thousands of Tibetans who have sacrificed, faced exile, and died opposing the actions of the Chinese government, and all Tibetans who have suffered human rights abuses due to their religious, political or cultural beliefs and activities or any other reason, challenges us to remember. In 2015, I led the first Congressional Delegation to Tibet in more than a decade. On this journey, Members of Congress were reminded anew that the plight of the Tibetan people is a challenge to the global conscience.
“The recently released State Department Human Rights report highlighting the continued severe repression facing the Tibetan people today challenges us to redouble our efforts to speak out and take action against injustice. We will continue to promote negotiations between the government of China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and make genuine autonomy for Tibetans a priority in the U.S.-China relationship.”
A statement by Congressman Jim McGovern on the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day can be viewed here.