32 US Members of Congress across party lines urge Trump to implement Tibet legislation/ENG

2019. május 14./Phayul.com/TibetPress

eredeti cikk

By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, May 14: 32 Members of the United States Congress from across party lines have sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging the Trump administration to implement key legislations on Tibet on Monday. It was released by the co-chairs of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ).

The letter from the group of members of Congress said that they have deep concern for the well being of the Tibetan people under Chinese rule and that legislations that have been passed in the US Congress must be promptly implemented. The US congress have passed two key legislations to guide the US policy on Tibet; Tibet Policy Act of 2002 and the 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act to guide the US policy on Tibet.

The Tibet Policy Act of 2002 urges the president of the United States to encourage dialogue between Beijing and representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the Tibetan issue.

The 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act calls for ban on access for Chinese government officials responsible for restricting access for US journalists, diplomats, tourists, and citizens, including Tibetan Americans to Tibet.

Congressman Jim McGovern said, “Strong support for human rights must always underlie America’s relationship with the government of China. There is a strong, bipartisan, and growing majority in Congress that is deeply concerned about the situation in Tibet, and we encourage President Trump and Secretary Pompeo to join us by fully implementing both the Tibet Policy Act and the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act.”

Fellow Congressmen Christopher H. Smith said, “Congress passed the Tibet Policy Act of 2002 and the 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act to advance religious and political freedom in Tibet, and the Administration must act to fully implement these laws. U.S. leadership on these issues is critical, and we must demonstrate that universally-recognized human rights, especially religious freedom, matter everywhere – especially in Tibet.”