US Representatives Nancy Pelosi and James McGovern in a collaborated opinion piece published in the Boston Globe news portal, the long time Tibet supporters from United States have called upon the Chinese leaders to let the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to his home, Tibet.
As the Tibetan spiritual leader turned 83 last week marked by celebrations across the world, the duo in their opinion explained that it would have been a wonderful birthday gift for the highly revered spiritual leader if China would treat the Tibetan people with the dignity and respect they deserve, and let His Holiness go home to Tibet, whether to visit or to stay.
“Since then, the Dalai Lama has been forced by China to remain in exile. For nearly 60 years, he has not been able to return to his homeland and the people he leads. This is wrong. Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms, “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” As American citizens, we have that right and exercise it.” said the opinion that explained His Holiness’s journey of recognized at the reincarnation of his predecessor at the age of 2 and forced into exile since 1959 after Chinese invasion of Tibet.
While explaining about the commitment made by the Tibetan spiritual leader towards the promotion of peace and non-violence even in the face of extreme aggression for which he was conferred with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and Congressional Gold Medal by the US Congress in 2007. They explained that in contrary to Chinese understanding of the Dalai Lama as a problem, he is actually a part of solution to China’s problems.
“Living within China, the Tibetan people have many grievances. Although Chinese authorities see the Dalai Lama as part of the problem, we have long believed that he is part of the solution.” they added in support of His Holiness’s ‘Middle Way Approach’ and his commitment to non-violence.
The representatives added that it is not too late for China to choose a different path. Imagine the world’s reaction if Chinese authorities were to affirm the right of the 14th Dalai Lama to return to his homeland if he so desires. Imagine if they were to afford His Holiness the respect he deserves as a man of peace. Imagine if through good-faith dialogue they sought to ease tensions, rather than implementing policies that exacerbate them. Imagine.
Finally they urged their fellow Americans to join in calling on Chinese leaders to let the Dalai Lama go home.
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