III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 686 

Honoring the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2018 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Lodi 

Gyaltsen Gyari. 

Whereas Lodi Gyari— 

(1) was born in Nyarong, Kham, in 1949; 

(2) was recognized according to Tibetan Buddhist 

tradition as a reincarnate lama; 

(3) began monastic studies at 4 years of age in 

Lumorap Monastery, which was located in what is, as of 

2018, Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province; and 

(4) fled Nyarong with his family at 9 years of age 

following the invasion and occupation of Tibet; 

Whereas, as a young man in India, Lodi Gyari began a lifelong commitment of service to His Holiness the Dalai 

Lama and to the Tibetan people by becoming— 

(1) editor for the Tibetan Freedom Press; 

(2) founder of the Tibetan Review; 


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•SRES 686 IS 

(3) a founding member of the Tibetan Youth Congress; 

(4) a civil servant in the Central Tibetan Administration; 

(5) Chairman of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile; 

(6) Cabinet Minister for the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan 

Administration; and 

(7) Deputy Cabinet Minister for the Department of 

Religious Affairs and the Department of Health of the 

Central Tibetan Administration; 

Whereas, in 1991, His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed 

Lodi Gyari as Special Envoy for the Dalai Lama in 

Washington, D.C., and, soon thereafter, Lodi Gyari was 

selected to be President of the International Campaign 

for Tibet, a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting 

the Tibetan people and the vision of His Holiness the 

Dalai Lama; 

Whereas, for 3 decades, Lodi Gyari met with leaders and diplomats of governments around the world, including successive Presidential administrations of the United States, 

and with Members of the United States Congress and 

parliaments of other nations— 

(1) to explain the Tibetan efforts to engage with 

China on finding a mutually agreeable solution to the 

issue of Tibet; 

(2) to urge supportive strategies and policies from 

governments; 

(3) to explain the significance of the ‘‘Middle Way 

Approach’’ of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which seeks 

genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the PeoVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:58 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR686.IS SR686

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ple’s Republic of China that contributes to harmony between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples; and 

(4) to promote Tibetan statecraft as senior ambassador-at-large for His Holiness the Dalai Lama; 

Whereas, during the time when Lodi Gyari was Special 

Envoy for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the United 

States Congress approved many policy and programmatic 

measures related to Tibet, including the Tibetan Policy 

Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note; Public Law 107– 

228); 

Whereas, in 1999, Lodi Gyari became a United States citizen; 

Whereas, in May 1998, His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed Special Envoy Lodi Gyari to be the principal person to reestablish contact with the Government of the 

People’s Republic of China on the issue of Tibet, and between September 2002 and January 2010, Lodi Gyari 

held 9 formal rounds of meetings with Chinese officials, 

demonstrating tireless drive and immense skill and winning the respect of the international community; 

Whereas Lodi Gyari presented the Government of the People’s Republic of China with the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People and the accompanying Note, thus detailing the vision of the Tibetan 

side for a political solution for Tibet consistent with the 

framework of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of 

China and the laws of China regarding autonomy; 

Whereas Lodi Gyari demonstrated spirit, intelligence, and extraordinary tact during the difficult task of representing 

Tibetan interests while in dialogue with the People’s Republic of China, and brought civility, reason and a measVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:58 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR686.IS SR686

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ure of mutual understanding to the Tibetan-Chinese relationship; 

Whereas, in 1999, Lodi Gyari was elected the Executive 

Chairman of the Board of the International Campaign 

for Tibet after resigning as President of that organization; 

Whereas Lodi Gyari resigned as Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, effective June 1, 2012, in the context of the deteriorating situation inside Tibet, including 

increasing incidents of Tibetan self-immolations, after expressing deep frustration over the lack of positive developments with the People’s Republic of China after nearly 

10 years, and in respect for the process of devolution of 

political power to the elected Tibetan leaders; 

Whereas Lodi Gyari retired from the position of Executive 

Chairman of the Board of the International Campaign 

for Tibet on December 31, 2014; 

Whereas Lodi Gyari has contributed significantly to strengthening the relationship between the Tibetan people and 

the people of the United States; 

Whereas, on October 29, 2018, Lodi Gyari died at the age 

of 69; 

Whereas Lodi Gyari is survived by his wife, Dawa Chokyi, 

their 6 children, Tenzing Dechen, Tenzing Choyang, 

Norbu Wangmo, Tashi Chodon, Tulku Penam, and 

Tenzing Tsering, 5 grandchildren, his mothers, 4 brothers, and 3 sisters; 

Whereas Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Leader of the House 

of Representatives and former Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, said that Lodi Gyari ‘‘built deep support 

for the Tibetan cause throughout America and around 


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the world’’ and that ‘‘Members of Congress on both sides 

of the aisle benefitted from Lodi’s insight and wisdom’’; 

and 

Whereas the Department of State— 

(1) said that ‘‘Mr. Gyari dedicated his life to serving 

as a staunch advocate for the Tibetan people, democratic 

principles, and human rights, including religious freedom’’; 

(2) offered condolences to the family of Lodi Gyari; 

and 

(3) observed that Lodi Gyari will be missed: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the life, accomplishments, and legacy 

3 of Lodi Gyari; 

4 (2) celebrates the leadership and commitment 

5 of Lodi Gyari to fulfilling the vision of His Holiness 

6 the Dalai Lama and the aspirations of the Tibetan 

7 people, including promoting freedom, human rights, 

8 and justice for the Tibetan people; 

9 (3) commends the achievements of Lodi Gyari 

10 in building an international coalition of support for 

11 Tibet that recognizes— 

12 (A) the imperative to preserve the distinct 

13 culture and religious traditions of Tibet; and 

14 (B) that the Tibetan people are entitled to 

15 their own identity and dignity and to genuine 

16 autonomy within the People’s Republic of China 


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1 that fully preserves the rights and dignity of 

2 the Tibetan people; 

3 (4) acknowledges the role of Lodi Gyari, as a 

4 naturalized United States citizen, in promoting un5 derstanding in the United States of— 

6 (A) the Tibetan people; 

7 (B) the culture and religion of the Tibetan 

8 people; and 

9 (C) the struggle of the Tibetan people 

10 for— 

11 (i) genuine autonomy; 

12 (ii) human rights; 

13 (iii) dignity; and 

14 (iv) the preservation of unique lin15 guistic, cultural, and religious traditions; 

16 and 

17 (5) strongly supports a political solution for 

18 Tibet that satisfies the legitimate grievances and as19 pirations of the Tibetan people, a cause to which 

20 Lodi Gyari devoted his entire life. 

Æ 


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