A resolution honoring the 65th anniversary of the uprising of the people of Tibet in defense of freedom.

Bill: 118-sres-619
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2024-03-22
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-03-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-03-22
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution states that the Senate stands with the Tibetan people and the Dalai Lama in their defense of their freedom and national identity.</p><p>The resolution also (1) condemns the Chinese Communist Party for its repression of the Tibetan people; (2) calls on the President to ensure that the voice, vote, and diplomatic capital of the United States are used to counter China's repression; and (3) calls on the Department of State to designate a non-concurrent appointment to the position of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 619 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2024 Mr. Cruz submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Honoring the 65th anniversary of the uprising of the people of Tibet in defense of freedom.

Whereas, on October 7, 1950, forces of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Tibet with the goal of imposing Chinese Communist rule on the people of Tibet and subjugating it to the rule of the People’s Republic of China; Whereas the Tibetan people resisted peacefully in defense of their freedom, faith, and culture and have sought to protect their national identity from the progressive encroachment by the Chinese Communist Party, and continue to do so; Whereas, on March 10, 1959, hundreds of thousands of Tibetans gathered in Lhasa to prevent a reported PLA plot to abduct the Dalai Lama; Whereas, on March 12, 1959, approximately 5,000 women joined in those demonstrations for their national identity and freedom; Whereas the Chinese Communist Party subsequently executed many of those women for their participation; Whereas, on the evening of March 17, 1959, artillery shells landed near the residence of the Dalai Lama; Whereas the Dalai Lama decided to leave Lhasa for India, where he arrived on March 30, 1959; Whereas protests continued after the Dalai Lama’s departure and spread across the city and region; Whereas PLA soldiers in central Tibet eventually killed an estimated 86,000 Tibetans; Whereas, as a result of the widespread slaughter of Tibetans in and after the Lhasa Uprising, a 1959 finding by the International Commission of Jurists found that the People’s Republic of China’s treatment of Tibetans constituted genocide; Whereas the People’s Republic of China has deepened its repression of the people of Tibet, exploits Tibet’s natural resources to advance the interests of the Chinese Communist Party, and seeks to undermine freedom of religion and conscience in Tibet by determining the spiritual succession of the Dalai Lama; Whereas for 65 years, the Dalai Lama continues to defend the cause of Tibetan freedom and national identity on the global stage; and Whereas the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 ( 22 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ) provided for a Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues in the Department of State, tasked to “coordinate United States Government policies, programs, and projects”, but the Secretary of State has not designated a non-concurrent appointment to that position: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) stands with the people of Tibet and the Dalai Lama in their continuing defense of their freedom and national identity; (2) condemns the Chinese Communist Party for its repression of the people of Tibet, its exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources, and its efforts to undermine freedom of religion and conscience in Tibet, including through efforts to determine the spiritual succession of the Dalai Lama; (3) recommits to the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 as the basis of United States engagement with Tibet and its people; (4) calls upon the President to— (A) ensure that the voice, vote, and diplomatic capital of the United States are utilized to address and counter China’s repression of the people of Tibet; and (B) include mention of the legitimate aspirations of the people of Tibet to freedom and national identity in all engagements with the People’s Republic of China and particularly in engagements that include the human rights situation in that country; and (5) calls upon the Secretary of State to ensure independent focus on Tibet by designating a non-concurrent appointment to the position of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.