April 9 – The Capital Area Tibetan Association (CATA), representing the Tibetan community in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, has decided not to organize public demonstrations against Chinese President Hu Jintao when he visits the American capital later this month. The decision to do so is one time only. CATA will still make their members’ voices be heard during Hu’s visit through letters to Chinese and other leaders.
Following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s call in his recent March 10 statement to engender an atmosphere conducive to the negotiation process and a strong second appeal made by the Kashag urging Tibetans to desist from organizing such activities, CATA members discussed the issue at length in an emotionally-charged meeting today. Many felt that despite the re-establishment of contact between the Tibetan Government and China, the situation in Tibet still remains dire with no visible improvement in policies from the Chinese side. The natural and visceral reaction of every Tibetan in the free world to a visit by the Chinese leader to their country of exile is to protest most vociferously. It is not an easy decision to make when one is called upon to forego this valuable “right” available to them in freedom, especially when many see this the as the only available option for action. Nevertheless, the members also felt that given the numerous calls by our leaders, and developments being such, and as an organization bound by its charter to the “the guidance and direction of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile”, it should respect the appeal of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Accordingly, CATA resolved not to organize any public demonstrations for this one time when the Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Washington, D.C. It is hoped that other organizations will co-operate with us on this.
CATA and its members, like all Tibetan exiles, will never stop taking actions to highlight the plight of our brethrens inside Tibet and struggle for the cause of Tibet. “We want to reiterate our commitment towards working to regain the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people,” said Lhundup D. Amdo, President of CATA.
