DHARAMSHALA: US President Barack Obama has asked China to respect fundamental rights of minority nationalities in China, including Tibetans, in his remarks to legislators, officials, and clergy from all faiths and political ideologies at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, on 6 February at the Washington Hilton Hotel in the nation’s capital. (Watch video)
“There are times when we work with governments that don’t always meet our highest standards, but they’re working with us on core interests such as the security of the American people. At the same time, we also deeply believe that it’s in our interest, even with our partners, sometimes with our friends, to stand up for universal human rights. So promoting religious freedom is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy. And I’m proud that no nation on Earth does more to stand up for the freedom of religion around the world than the United States of America,” President Obama said.
“When I meet with Chinese leaders — and we do a lot of business with the Chinese, and that relationship is extraordinarily important not just to our two countries but to the world — but I stress that realizing China’s potential rests on upholding universal rights, including for Christians, and Tibetan Buddhists, and Uighur Muslims.”
“History shows that nations that uphold the rights of their people — including the freedom of religion — are ultimately more just and more peaceful and more successful. Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the bitter seeds of instability and violence and extremism. So freedom of religion matters to our national security,” he said.
President Obama’s statement is a reiteration of consistent concerns raised by the US Congress and administration about deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet with systematic suppression of political and religious freedom of Tibetans and assimilation of their language and culture.
Since 2009, 125 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government. 107 of them have died. They have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans. (Self-immolation Fact Sheet)
