US urges China to respect human rights of Tibet

The United States has urged China to respect the human rights and religious freedom of Tibet. A resolution in this regard was passed by the US Senate yesterday, which among other issues, addresses the right of the Tibetan Buddhists to determine their own leadership, without any interference from the Chinese government. 

The resolution was introduced by Senators Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. The US Senate unanimously affirmed its support for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights and freedoms, including their right to self-determination and protection of their distinct identity. It said the Tibetan



Buddhist religious leaders should be determined solely within the Tibetan Buddhist community.

The Senate also commemorated the 59th anniversary of Tibet's 1959 uprising against the Chinese rule as "Tibetan Rights Day", and called on the US Secretary of State to implement fully the provisions of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002.

Meanwhile, the United States called on China to immediately release the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who has not appeared in public since he was reportedly abducted two decades ago by the Chinese government at the age of six.