By Tenzin Tsering
Dharamsala, July 30 – US Congressman Frank Wolf called on the Obama administration to place more priority on the Tibetan issue and to “find its voice” on human rights, according to the official website of the Tibetan government in exile.
Speaking to the US House of Representatives on July 23, Mr Wolf highlighted the delays, gap, and inadequacy on the part of the Obama administration in carrying forward the commitment towards the Tibetan issue.
Reminding the Congress of its “Tibet Policy act of 2002”, he said that Office of the Special Coordinator for Tibetans is currently understaffed. “Tibet Policy act of 2002” approved the Office of the Special Coordinator for Tibetans to “consist three professional full-time staff members and additional support staff, as needed, in addition to the special coordinator”.
Wolf, a long time human rights advocate and co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, also reported the delay in submission of the “congressionally mandated Report on Tibet Negotiations” to Congress as on 31 March every year.
While he mentioned the US government’s role in promoting and protecting human rights in countries such as Sudan, China, Vietnam and North Korea, he drew attention to the struggles of Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists in realising their basic human rights and religious freedom.
He emphasized that it will be dark day for millions around the world if the United States of America cannot be relied upon to speak out on behalf of the vulnerable and oppressed.
“America must stand up for the ideals upon which our own experiment in self-governance was founded. America must strike out against injustice, whatever form it takes. America must believe that even the mightiest walls of oppression can tumble and work toward that end” he added.
