Washington, Sept 10: The Dalai Lama, who is on a visit to the united states and was received by Secretary of State Colin Powell at the State Department, has asked Congress to continue supporting the cause of a free Tibet. Addressing a crowd of dozens in the Capitol building's Statuary Hall yesterday, the exiled Tibetan leader thanked the House members for their push to improve China's treatment of Tibetans. The Senate has passed a resolution supporting autonomy for Tibet.
Dalai Lama asked the lawmakers to "please continue to help us in whatever way ... To end this serious violation". The Dalai Lama is in Washington this week as part of a us tour that began on Saturday in San Francisco.
Among congressional leaders he met was the majority leader Bill Frist.
"This is clearly not the number one item on the administration's agenda vis-a-vis China,'' Lantos said. But he added that the attention now paid to Tibet in Washington is more than that of previous administrations. The Dalai Lama told reporters yesterday after meeting with Powell that he found Powell "always sympathetic".
The ceremony at the capital marked the 20th anniversary of the Tibet Caucus which was sending a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao demanding more freedom and autonomy for Tibetans. Bureau Report