Washington: Tibetan-Americans have converged
in Washington to meet US lawmakers seeking Congressional
support for concrete legislative measures to promote a
political solution for Tibet.
"This Tibet Lobby Day demonstrates the growing political
maturity of the Tibetan-American community and their desire
for a larger political voice in Washington," said Todd Stein,
director, government relations, International Campaign for
Tibet.
"They will find open doors, given Congress' long-standing
support for Tibet," he said in a statement as Tibetan-
Americans urged Congressmen to support for the basic desire of
all peoples, including Tibetans, for universal freedoms.
More than 110 participants from across the US, will
participate in more than 100 meetings in the House of
Representatives and Senate, a media release said.
"Tibet Lobby Day 2011 will capture the momentum for Tibet
established at the January US-China Summit in Washington,
during which President Obama publicly called for a resumption
of the dialogue between Chinese officials and the Dalai Lama's
representatives," it said.
Lobby Day is also taking place less than three weeks
before the March 20, elections where the Tibetan exile
population will choose their next leaders.
"Voicing our support for Tibet in the halls of Congress
demonstrates our commitment to democracy. We look around the
world today, and we feel the same yearnings for freedoms that
our brothers and sisters in the Middle East feel," said ICT
staff Tencho Gyatso.
"That we can organise and speak up with dignity and
without fear of reprisals makes very clear the differences
between being a Tibetan in America and being a Tibetan in the
PRC (People's Republic of China).
We hope for a time when all Tibetans experience openness
and accountability from their government," he said.
The first Tibet Lobby Day was held on March 9 and March
10, 2009, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Dalai
Lama's flight into exile.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 01, 2011, 15:28