Raising Support in the US

By Agnes Kugler / May 30, 2017;

Dr Lobsang Sangay with Republican Senator Cotton at Washington D.C
Photo: tibet.net

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile – the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) – was in Washington DC in America for the first visit under the new United States’ Administration. Dr Sangay met members of the Congress from both parties.

The CTA’s President spoke at the Heritage Foundation to over fifty scholars and intellectuals and met scholars at the American Enterprise Institute which is dedicated to defending human dignity. “China should grant genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese Constitution. If the Chinese government implements their own laws listed in the Constitution and minorities nationalities act we could take that as genuine autonomy”, said Dr Sangay.

He also attended a meeting with US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi who visited Dharamshala with a US delegation earlier this month. Sikyong updated the US representatives and officials on the current situation inside Tibet as well as the status of dialogue with Chinese officials and spoke of what the US Administration can do to support the Tibetan issue. He also spoke about the 149 self-immolations, saying they are a form of protest against the “grim political situation prevailing inside Tibet”. He continued, “Reporters without Borders [launched] a report which again stated that going to Tibet is more difficult than gaining access to North Korea”. US leaders, as well as members of the public, expressed support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the cause of Tibet.

Dr Lobsang Sangay in a meeting with leader of the US house of representatives
Photo: Tibet.net

Sikyong called on US President Donald Trump to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “We [Tibetans] remain hopeful that President Trump will continue the tradition of US Presidents meeting His Holiness … If he can meet all leaders of major traditions, I think it’s just logical that he meet with the most prominent Buddhist leader”, he said.

On his last day he met Senator Cotton, the youngest senator of Arkansas and one of the closest allies of President Donald Trump. Cotton is known as a supporter of the Tibetan cause and assured Dr Sangay of his assistance.