Pelosi: 'We are Hearing the Call to the Conscience of the World'

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi
spoke on the House floor tonight to urge the passage of her resolution in
support of Tibet, H.R. 1077. Below are the Speaker's remarks, as prepared:
"Thank you Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana Ros Lehtinen
for your bipartisan support in bringing this resolution to the floor this
evening.
"This resolution on the situation in Tibet calls on the Chinese government
to end the crackdown in Tibet, enter into a substantive dialogue directly with
the Dalai Lama, allow independent monitors, journalists and medical personnel
into Tibet, and release all Tibetans who were arrested for non-violently
expressing their political views.
"It is my hope that the House of Representatives will send a clear message
that we support the fundamental freedoms of the Tibetan people and a peaceful
solution to the instability in Tibet.
"In March, I had the privilege of joining Mr. Markey and Mr. Sensenbrenner
on a delegation visit to India to discuss the issues of energy and global
warming.
"When we planned our trip, we didn't realize what would be happening in
Tibet following the March 10th anniversary. When we arrived in Dharamsala,
the roads were lined with thousands of Tibetan monks, nuns and children.
"Their bright Buddhist robes made a beautiful maroon and yellow backdrop
as they waved American flags and thanked us for supporting their non-violent
cause.
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama told us that he has always seen America as
not just a superpower, but the world's champion for liberty, freedom and
democracy.
"The Tibetan people have accumulated legitimate grievances from six
decades of repressive Chinese government policies. They have been economically
marginalized in their own land, imprisoned for peacefully expressing their
views, and barred from practicing their religion independently of government
officials.
"So powerful is the image of the Dalai Lama that Tibetans are imprisoned
for even owning pictures of him.
"The more Beijing tightens its grip, the more the hearts and minds of the
Tibetan people will slip through its fingers. It is in this repressive
context that the protests began last month.
"There is a better way. The Dalai Lama is unequivocal in his position
that he does not seek independence for Tibet. Chinese leaders are missing an
historic, and perhaps last, opportunity for engagement.
"Last year, President Bush presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the
Dalai Lama for his 'many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace,
non-violence, human rights and religious understanding.'
"It is long past time for Beijing to reassess its failed policy to attack
and demonize the Dalai Lama and show the world it can have civilized
discussions as a responsible world power.
"During our visit to Dharamsala, we had the opportunity to hear first hand
accounts of beatings, electroshock and other grotesque techniques Chinese
authorities use to punish political prisoners.
"Freeing political prisoners in China and Tibet has been a priority for me
throughout my congressional career. The stories about the conditions inside
the Chinese labor prisons are very familiar.
"These heroes who are thrown in prison have the courage to speak out for
freedom and the determination to withstand years of imprisonment and
unspeakable horrors.
"Last week, I had a meeting with my friend Harry Wu, who spent 19 years in
Chinese prison camps. We talked about how one of the worst forms of torture
is when prison guards tell the prisoners that no one knows or cares that they
are imprisoned.
"We call on the Chinese government to release political prisoners
including Hu Jia, sentenced last week for speaking out on human rights and the
Olympics; Shi Tao, sentenced to 10 years in prison for reporting on the
anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre; Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer
who exposed the truth about China's one-child policy; the 11th Panchen Lama
who was kidnapped as a young child and has not been heard from since; and
countless others . . . the list is too long to name . . . .
"The Olympic Charter states that the Olympic games should promote 'a
peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity,' along with
'respect for universal and fundamental ethical principles.'
"The Chinese government has failed to live up to the commitments it made
before being awarded the Olympic games.
"I believe the I.O.C. made a mistake in awarding the Olympics to China. I
sponsored a resolution at the time expressing that view.
"However, I believe a boycott at this time would unfairly harm our
athletes.
"Instead, I have asked President Bush to keep the option of not attending
the Opening Ceremony, on the table, unless progress can be made.
"For the next four months, the I.O.C. and Chinese officials will parade
the Olympic torch through dozens of countries and even through Tibet.
"The torch will be met by politicians and heads-of-state from all over the
world along a 'journey of harmony.' Make no mistake: it is the Chinese
government that is making the Olympic torch relay a political event.
"Tomorrow the Olympic torch comes to my district in San Francisco, which
is blessed by a large and vibrant Chinese American community. As San
Franciscans, we embrace the diversity of our community and we value the
contributions made in every corner of our great city.
"We also value peaceful free expression, and tomorrow, many will exercise
this right by meeting the Olympic torch in protest.
"They will protest the human rights situation in China; they will protest
the crackdown and repression in Tibet; and they will protest China's support
for the genocidal regime in Sudan and the military junta in Burma.
"I commend those who participate in these nonviolent and respectful
demonstrations for their commitment to meeting the causes that challenge the
conscience of the world.
"They are making a significant statement that the Olympic ideals of peace
and harmony should apply to all people, including in China, Tibet, Darfur and
Burma.
"Today the Congress is showing that it has not forgotten the people of
China and Tibet in their struggle for freedom.
"I look forward to the overwhelming passage of this resolution and sending
a clear message that we are hearing the call to the conscience of the world."
SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House

Brendan Daly or Drew Hammill, +1-202-226-7616, both for the Office of the
Speaker of the House