Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama delivers teachings in the Indian Buddhist holy city of Bodh Gaya in January 2020. File photo/AFP/Suman
AFP
ON THE WEB, 29 January 2020
The US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to authorize sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere in the process of determining the Dalai Lama’s successor, raising pressure as the Tibetan spiritual leader approaches 85.
Under the legislation, Washington would freeze any US assets and ban travel to the United States of Chinese officials found to be involved in “identifying or installing” a government-approved Dalai Lama
A total of 392 lawmakers voted for the bill with 22, all of them Republicans plus one conservative independent, opposed.
The act still needs approval from the Senate, where Republican Marco Rubio has promised to lead efforts, before heading to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The law would also prohibit China from opening any further consulates in the United States until Washington can open a mission in Lhasa, the Himalayan territory’s tightly restricted capital.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime advocate for Tibet, said that the bill aims to encourage Beijing to resume dialogue with envoys of the Dalai Lama that broke off a decade ago.
“We are supporting the Tibetan people’s right to religious freedom and genuine autonomy by formally establishing a US policy that the Tibetan Buddhist community has the exclusive right to choose its religious leaders, including the 15th Dalai Lama,” Pelosi said.
It is the latest human rights bill passed in the US Congress, including an act in support of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters that angered China.
The 14th Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has won a global following through his good-humoured discourses on peace and compassion, helping fuel interest in his push for greater Tibetan autonomy.
Beijing, while officially atheist, has signalled that it could try to stage-manage his succession — a ritualistic search in which monks look for clues in a young boy — with the presumed goal of grooming a pliant Dalai Lama.
While brushing aside any worries about his health, the Dalai Lama has said he is open to breaking tradition by choosing a successor before he dies, including potentially a girl, or even declaring the institution finished with him.
In 1995, Beijing selected its own Panchen Lama — another influential Tibetan Buddhist position — and detained a six-year-old identified for the role, whom rights groups described as the world’s youngest political prisoner.
Tibet Policy Support Act of 2019:
1. No new Chinese consulate in US without US consulate in Lhasa
2. Sanctions for Chinese officials who interfere in Dalai Lama succession.
3. Multinational effort to protect water resources in Tibet.
4. Expands power of Special Coordinator for Tibet.
Thank you America. Let’s make America great again.
The overwhelming support on the Tibet Bill by the US Congress is most welcome. This is a life and death issue for the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama is the linchpin in the Tibetan struggle. The people of TIbet have immense devotion for the Dalai Lama and his authenticity is therefore paramount in order to keep that burning devotion alive for the survival of the Tibetans as a people and nation with its distinct culture, religion and language. The Tibetan people repose their future and national sovereignty in the person of the Dalai Lama. The reason to get the next Dalai Lama firmly ensconced among the Tibetan people is therefore extremely vital not because of the person himself per se but because of the overwhelming support of Tibetans inside which is absolutely crucial for the success of failure of the Tibetan struggle. No person gamers such phenomenal support from the Tibetan people like the present Dalai Lama. It is a great credit to the 14th Dalai Lama that he single handedly challenged communist China to put the TIbet issue firmly on the international map of conflicts. His charisma, charm and wisdom have won him numerous accolades and genuine admiration from people across the world. This was therefore crucial in eliciting support for Tibet. He is therefore the greatest asset TIbet has in its struggle against Chinese colonial occupation. The CCP wants to crush this leadership by diluting it by peddling a candidate of their own. We have to be wary of Chinese machination in dividing us by cultivating a counter group which would throw their support on the Chinese candidate. It has happened with the Panchen candidate and will happen with the Dalai Lama candidate as well. We have to prepare for this Chinese ploy and educate our people not to fall into the Chinese trap.