Raise Tibet issue with Hu Jintao: Tibetan Americans to Obama

“President Obama understands the Tibet problem as a trespass against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a challenge to China’s peaceful rise,” said Mary Beth Markey,President of the International Campaign for Tibet.

“He should use the opportunity of this summit to tell President Hu that a peaceful solution for Tibet is not only possible,but a prerequisite for China attaining the status and legitimacy it seeks,” he added.

The International Campaign for Tibet also joined nine other rights groups and China-specialist groups in calling Obama to use the upcoming State visit by Hu Jintao as an opportunity to demonstrate America’s commitment to human rights in China.

“As you are aware,for the past six decades,the Tibetan people have been denied their fundamental human rights,” the letter said.

“President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington is a unique opportunity to engage him meaningfully on the Tibet issue and showcase the ideals and values cherished by Americans,including openness,democracy and individual liberty.

“These principles underlie your remarks about rights that are universal to all human beings,” it said.

Observing that Tibet is an integral part of the US-China relationship for moral,historical and strategic reasons,the letter said the position the US has adopted on Tibet,creates an incumbent duty on this administration to continue to raise the issue with Chinese leaders at the highest levels.

“Tibet must be on the agenda of your summit with President Hu,” the US-based Tibetan organisations demanded.

They also asked Obama that the administration should continue to press China’s leadership for results-oriented negotiations to achieve a political solution for Tibet and engage China in topical areas,including education policies pertaining to Tibetans and regional discussions on water security.

“Your proactive approach will demonstrate to the Chinese government that Tibet is an integral part of the US-China relationship as are basic universal values of human rights and dignity,” the letter said.

Arguing that China’s “failed policies” in Tibet have consequences far beyond the borders of the People’s Republic of China,the letter cited Chinese dams on upper reaches of rivers that originate in Tibet and flow into neighbouring countries as a potential source of regional instability.

It also referred to the recent student protests against an official Chinese policy to subordinate instruction in the Tibetan language to Mandarin.