Submitted by Bhuchung Tsering, ICT

Published by: World Tibet Network News, Saturday - April 26, 1997

THE WASHINGTON STATEMENT ON TIBET - April 23 and 24, 1997

The III World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet held in Washington, D.C.

on 23 and 24 April 1997 notes with dismay that despite the ever growing

demand by parliaments and government leaders of many countries that

negotiations take place between the government of the People's Republic of

China and the Tibetan government in exile, such negotiations have not taken

place. Instead, the Chinese government has intensified its repressive policy

in Tibet. In particular, reports and observations of the UN Special

Rapporteurs, international human rights organizations and parliamentary

delegations in the last two years, indicate that the Chinese authorities have

escalated moves to erase the very identity of the Tibetan people as evidenced

by:

- renewed assault on the religious freedom and cultural heritage of the

Tibetan people;

- increased torture, imprisonment and death of those asserting their

Tibetan identity and political aspirations;

- marginalization of the Tibetan language through measures such as the

closing down of Tibetan language middle schools and imposition of

Chinese language in higher institutions of learning, including the

Tibetan University in Lhasa;

- attacks on monasteries and nunneries in the name of political

re-education which have resulted in the expulsion, imprisonment and

death of many;

- continuing transfer of Chinese citizens to Tibet and the forced abortion

and sterilization with the purpose of reducing the Tibetans into an

insignificant minority in their own country as the key component of

China's "final solution" to the question of Tibet; and

- interference in the religious process for the recognition of the Panchen

Lama and the detention of eight-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,

recognized according to Tibetan tradition and belief as the 11 Panchen

Lama, at a secret location.

The Convention deplores these attacks on the life, religion and culture of

the Tibetan people and demands that they be stopped forthwith. It further

demands the immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama from captivity.

The Convention reaffirms the resolutions adopted at the first and second

World Parliamentarians Convention (in New Delhi, March 18-20, 1994 and

Vilnius, May 26-28, 1995), including the explicit recognition of Tibet's

historical independence and the inalienable right of the Tibetan people to

self-determination.

The Convention emphasizes its recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and

his government as the sole legitimate representatives of Tibet and the

Tibetan people.

The Convention is convinced that a lasting solution to the question of Tibet

can only be achieved through earnest negotiations between the People's

Republic of china and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan

government-in-Exile, without preconditions.

The Convention applauds the statesmanship of the Dalai Lama and his efforts

to initiate dialogue and negotiations with China in order to find peaceful

solution tot he conflict.

The Dalai Lama has repeatedly stated that despite the historical reality of

Tibet's sovereignty he is prepared to hold negotiations on genuine

self-government for Tibet and the demilitarization and transformation of

Tibet into a zone of Ahimsa (non-violence), without raising the independence.

The Dalai lama formally and publicly reiterated his position, as stated in

the previous paragraph, at the Convention on 23 April 1997.

Therefore, the Convention believes that the stand publicly taken by the

government of the PRC that the Dalai Lama's stand on independence is the

obstacle to negotiations is unfounded.

Consequently, the Convention once again calls upon all governments to use

their influence at all possible levels, including in the United Nations, to

persuade the government of the People's Republic of china to accept the Dalai

lama's fair and reasonable offer to open negotiations with its leaders. In

this context, the Convention records its appreciation of the message sent by

President Clinton to the Parliamentarians Convention.

The Convention requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to

appoint a special representative to contact all relevant parities in order to

seek ways to facilitate the initiation of negotiations between the government

of the People's Republic of china and the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan

Government in Exile.

The Convention calls also on corporations, non-governmental organizations and

individuals doing business or working in Tibet or China to use their

influence to support efforts to reach a peaceful solution through

negotiations. It also calls on all government and non-governmental

organizations supporting projects in Tibet to do so only in accordance with

the guidelines prepared by the Tibetan government-in-exile in order to ensure

that it is the Tibetan people in Tibet who will benefit from such projects.

The Convention commends the United States Congress, the European Parliament

and a number of governments for providing financial support for Tibetan

refugees and their social and economic development. It recommends that other

parliaments and governments also consider providing financial support.

The Convention salutes the Tibetan people who have, in the face of grave

adversities and suffering, consistently maintained their non-violent policy

in efforts to protect their fundamental rights and regain their freedom.

Successful negotiations are the only way to prevent the escalation of

tensions.

The participants at this III World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet and

the thousands of like-minded parliamentarians in at least fifty countries

assure His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people everywhere of their

continued support. To this end, the Convention has adopted the III World

Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet Action Plan.