China's protest redoubles the celebration of US Medal: Kalon Tripa

Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 1:00 p.m.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche addressing a gathering yesterday at Hotel Dhauladhar in celebration of the US gold medal award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama(Photo: Sangjey Kep)

While addressing the gathering yesterday at Hotel Dhauladhar, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said, "The strong lobbying from Chinese officials in urging each members of US Congress to vote against the resolution to award the gold medal prompted the majority of members to vote in favor of the bill."

Kalon Tripa added that the People's Republic of China had contributed to the success of this historic event and their efforts have redoubled the joy of celebrating the occasion.

He further said, without an initial plan to celebrate the event in exile Tibetan community, the wide media coverage of the award ceremony around the world culminated in a grand celebration.

Divisional Commissioner, Mr B K Aggrawal addressing the gathering

On my arrival in Washington D C, ambassadors of many countries told me that they received official letters of protest from Chinese government not to attend the award function. Notwithstanding the protest, many ambassadors decided to participate in the event, despite time constraint, Kalon Tripa said.

Kalon Tripa said, the event gained major importance due to wide media coverage in US, South America and Canada.

The Congressional Gold Medal is in recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's steadfast endeavor to the principles of non-violence and his sense of the value of humanity, adding, the honor given by US Congress is non-partisan without an intention to denigrate the People's Republic of China, said Kalon Tripa.

Kalon Tripa conveyed the gratitude to the people of Dharamshala for their contribution to wide international recognition attained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Secretary for International Relations, Mr Sonam N Dagpo briefing on the events related with the US Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

In his brief address, Divisional Commissioner, Mr B K Aggarwal said, the US gold medal award to His Holiness will be a source of encouragement and strengthened the struggle of Tibetan people.

He said, His Holiness was honored with the prestigious award for following the footsteps of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr Sonam N Dagpo, Secretary for International Relations of the Department of Information and International Relations gave a briefing on the US Congressional gold medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Full text of the briefing:

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso was awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honour by the United States Congress at the Capitol on October 17, 2007. President George Bush attended the award ceremony becoming the first sitting US President to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in public. Tibetans inside and outside Tibet and friends all over the world celebrated the day with joy and festivities.

Last year both the Houses of US Congress--the House of Representative and Senate-- have voted by overwhelming majorities to award the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

387 Senators and Representatives, more than two-third of the total strength of the US Congress, came forward to sponsor the resolution to confer the award on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The resolution was passed by the Senate in May 25 and by the House of Representatives on September 13, 2006. The US President signed the resolution on September 27, 2006.

The award is in recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's advocacy of religious harmony, non-violence and human rights throughout the world and for his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Tibet issue through dialogue with the Chinese leadership.

Past recipients of the Gold Medal include the first US President, George Washington, Sir Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II and other Nobel Peace Laureates such as Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Elie Wiesel.

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act was introduced as S.2782 by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Craig Thomas (R-WY) and as H.R.4562 by Representatives lleana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Tom Lantos (D-CA).

Senator Feinstein called His Holiness the Dalai Lama "a shining light to all those fighting for freedom around the world". Senator Thomas called the award a recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his lifelong aim "to do what is most needed -bring people together". Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called His Holiness the Dalai Lama "a unifying voice for global peace".

Representative lleana Ros-Lehtinen, (principal Republican sponsor in the House, member of the International Relations Committee, called His Holiness the Dalai Lama's "moral courage and unifying vision" an example for all peace-loving people. And Representative Tom Lantos, principal Democratic sponsor in the House, ranking member of the International Relations Committee, founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama had "provided exceptional service to humankind" through his prolific writings and in his addresses to audiences in every corner of the earth.

China strongly opposed the US Congress awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It accused the US of "blatant interference with China's internal affairs" and charged His Holiness the Dalai Lama of being "a political exile bent on engaging in activities aimed at splitting the motherland under the rope of religion".

However, President Bush at the award ceremony said, "Americans cannot look to the plight of the religiously oppressed and close our eyes or turn away. And that is why I will continue to urge the leaders of China to welcome the Dalai Lama to China. They will find this good man to be a man of peace and reconciliation".

He praised His Holiness as a "universal symbol of peace and tolerance."

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosy, said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Middle-Way Approach seeks real autonomy for Tibetans within the framework of the PRC. This was a historic moment because His Holiness was relinquishing his goal of independence in favor of a compromise solution.

Congressman Mr. Tom Lantos said His Holiness accepts the sovereignty of China. He is not a "splittist." He merely wants religious and cultural autonomy for his own people that they so richly deserve.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his acceptance speech said he is not seeking independence. "I am seeking a meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people within the People's Republic of China".

The Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan Parliament welcomed the award as a source of hope and encouragement to the Tibetan people. Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche in a letter of 18 September to the leaders of the two houses of the US Congress said "The US Congress' recognition of the tireless efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the issue of Tibet within the constitutional framework of the PRC and his wider efforts to promote peace, dialogue, non-violence and environmental protection will come as a huge encouragement to the Tibetan people whose devotion to him is total and unbreakable. The solid support for the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the US Congress will never be forgotten by the Tibetan people."

The exile Tibetan parliament said the award came at a time "when the Chinese leadership is engaged in tightening their hold in Tibet and stepping up their tirades against His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

  (www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)

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