By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, May 30: In response to China’s objections against the US Congressional Delegation meeting with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala earlier this month, Representative Eliot Engel said that it was ‘negative and narrow minded’ and called for more openness on China’s side.
“If they have nothing to hide, then they shouldn’t mind us going. We can’t let the Chinese through political pressure or economic pressure make us forget about the plight of the Tibetan people, or make us forget about human rights and religious freedom issues,” said Congressman Engel, who was part of the delegation led by Minority leader Nancy Pelosi.
Arguing how His Holiness the Dalai Lama is viewed as threat by Beijing given their ‘strong government’ and ‘strong military’, the congressman reminded China that the Tibetan spiritual leader is seeking genuine autonomy and not separation from China.
Soon after the official felicitation ceremony in honor of the visiting delegation in Dharamsala, China expressed their dissatisfaction by calling it Washington’s attempt to ‘violate its commitment not to support Tibet’s independence’. Despite the Dalai Lama clearly stating that the gathering did not represent an act of protest against China.
“We are firmly opposed to that and have lodged solemn representation with the American side. We urge the relevant Congressmen of the US to properly deal with the Tibetan related issues and stop all kinds of contacts with the Dalai Lama and take immediate measures to remove the negative impact,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.
The Pelosi-led delegation of Congressmen visited the seat of Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamshala from 9th to 10th May.
