By TCHRD / February 8, 2014 /
![]() |
PM Obama with the Dalai Lama |
On
Thursday morning just before Max Baucus was
confirmed by the US Senate to be the next US Ambassador to the
People’s Republic of China (PRC), President Obama addressed the annual National Prayer
Breakfast. Obama recognized the National Prayer Breakfast as an
opportunity to set aside labels of party and ideology. He used the opportunity
to discuss the importance of religious freedom abroad. Obama said that freedom
of religion is necessary for peace and human dignity.
Tibetans
know the truth of those words all too well. In Tibet, Buddhism is strictly
controlled by the Chinese government. After the destruction of almost every
monastery, nunnery, and religious, historic or biographic text in Tibet in the
first 25 years of Chinese rule the Chinese government still violently denies
Tibetans religious freedom. Tibetan Buddhists are prevented from freely
exercising their religious beliefs. Monks and nuns are subjected to Patriotic
Education Campaigns, which require monks and nuns to denounce the Dalai Lama or
be kicked out of their monasteries or nunneries. By February 1998, 3,993 monks
and nuns were kicked out of their monasteries and nunneries. According to
official Chinese figures 1,200 monks were expelled from monasteries near Lhasa.
Lay
Tibetans are arrested and tortured for possessing photographs and
recordings of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan
Buddhism. The religious repression in Tibet has reached such a level that a
considerable number of current or former monastics have committed
self-immolations. Many called for freedom and the return of the Tibetan
spiritual leader Dalai Lama to Tibet.
In
this context, Obama’s words on freedom of religion in the People’s Republic of
China were disappointing. He stated that the US does business with the PRC and
US’ relationship with the PRC is important for the world. He also said that he
tells the Chinese leadership that recognizing universal human rights is in
their interest. However, if, as Obama said, promoting religious freedom is a
key objective of US foreign policy, more must be done by the US to protect and
promote religious freedom in the PRC. He cannot rely on the benefits of
business with China to “trickle down” and benefit Tibetans or help them achieve
human rights. In fact, Pope Francis,
who Obama called inspirational, heavily criticized such an approach.
An
important first step would be for President Obama to nominate a new ambassador
at large for international religious freedom. This position has been empty
since Suzan Johnson Cook stepped down in October 2013. He must also ensure that
the Office of Religious Freedom has the support it needs at the State
Department to promote and protect religious freedom internationally.
Nominating
a new ambassador at large for religious freedom would also give president Obama
an opportunity to work on an achievable, bipartisan goal with Congress.
Protecting human rights, including religious freedom, in Tibet has
traditionally been a non-partisan issue for Congress. In April 2012 the US
Senate unanimously passed a bill calling upon
the
PRC to end its repressive politics in Tibet. On 25 July 2012, the US House of
Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee heard Tibetans testify
at a hearing on torture and human rights abuses in China.
President
Obama should build upon the opportunity to set aside the partisan politics he
recognized at the National Prayer Breakfast to work with Congress to promote
and protect religious freedom in Tibet and elsewhere.
While I understand TCHRD's point, the freedom of Tibetan people in Tibet to practice Tibetan Buddhism freely from Beijing's control. However, advising Obama that he should dictate to a foreign nation how they should conduct themselves? I dont know, that seems condescending especially when one considers that exile democracy, the very controlling exile Tibetan Buddhist throne holders of Gaden Phodrang, is not something a secular Tibetan sees as the very best of Democracy or Justice.
ReplyDeleteAt least, at the same time that we Tibetans, we who seem to just love lecturing other countries and their leaders to go against their own self interests time and time again, shouldn't we also, in the interest of fairness, in the interest of being taken seriously, fix our own social and political spheres from the total domination that is Tibetan Buddhism and its clerics?
Now I hope that by freely expressing myself I didn't violate any precepts of the universal declaration of human rights freedom of religion.
Ithink the world need to see just how China tortures Tibetans and then wants us to do business with them.I never will, nor go to their country. I don't buy any products made in China, I even bough Acer as they're made in Taiwan.
ReplyDeleteSince Tibet was invaded by China over 150 countries have found freedom from oppression,when will the Tibetans?
I would remind all Americans and anyone who values freedom to help, and remember what oneof the greatest men in history one said:
Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world - Abraham Lincoln