Washington: Describing the vexed Tibet issue as "a challenge to the conscience of the world," US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has expressed hope that China would accept the Dalai Lama's offer of direct engagement and work towards a peaceful resolution.
"For more than 20 years His Holiness has advocated for Tibetan autonomy within the framework of the People's Republic of China. His Holiness has expressed a desire to visit China and to engage directly with Chinese officials," Pelosi said at a function held at the Capitol Hill to present the Dalai Lama with the inaugural Tom Lantos Human Rights and Justice Award.
She hoped that the Chinese government would welcome this opportunity for "a peaceful resolution" of the Tibet issue. "The cause of Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of
the world. We must not fail to meet that challenge."
"In fact, unless we speak out for human rights in China and in Tibet, we lose all moral authority to talk about human rights anywhere in the world," she said yesterday.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of separatism, even though he says he is only seeking greater rights for predominantly Buddhist people in Tibet under the communist rule since 1951.
In his acceptance speech, the 74-year-old Dalai said: "For me to receive this award is a truly great privilege, especially in that the award is named after an individual whom
I admire deeply and who made tremendous contributions to the human rights in the world."
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, October 07, 2009, 15:47