Montpelier, Vermont
Senate Resolution
By Senators Miller, Ashe, Ayer, Bartlett, Campbell, Carris, Choate, Cummings, Doyle, Flanagan, Giard, Hartwell, Illuzzi, Kitchel, Kittell, Lyons, MacDonald, Maynard, Mazza, McCormack, Mullin, Nitka, Racine, Scott, Sears, Shumlin, Snelling, Starr and White,
S.R. 8. Senate resolution condemning the repression of the Tibetan people and urging Congress to take forceful action to end this denial of human rights and to extend diplomatic recognition to Tibet.
Whereas, the people of Tibet lived in peace and harmony for centuries, and
Whereas, they harbored no ill will toward anyone or desire to extend their mountainous territory beyond its historic boundaries, and
Whereas, with absolutely no provocation from the Tibetan people, on March 10, 1959, the army of the People’s Republic of China illegally invaded this peaceful Himalayan Mountain kingdom, and
Whereas, it has been reported that over one million Tibetans have perished as a direct result of the Chinese occupation, and
Whereas, the Tibetan people have been deprived of any right of self determination, and it is now nearly impossible for them to continue their distinctive cultural practices and religious observances, and
Whereas, despite the assertions of the government of the People’s Republic of China, the Tibetan people pose no threat in any manner to the security of that government, and
Whereas, Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in no uncertain terms that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” and
Whereas, the cruelty and repression that the People’s Republic of China has inflicted on the Tibetan people during a half-century of occupation is a serious violations of human rights, and
Whereas, the International Convention on Human Rights states that contempt for human rights deserves condemnation on the part of the international community when it results in barbarous acts that outrage mankind, and
Whereas, on March 10, 2008, large numbers of Tibetans protested against their occupiers from the People’s Republic of China, and hundreds of Tibetans were killed, and many remain missing or are in prison, and
Whereas, March 10, 2009, marked the 50th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China’s invasion of Tibet, and protests around the world, also known as Tibet Solidarity Walks, sent a message of outrage and an unmistakable demand to the government of the People’s Republic of China that it is way past time for Tibetans to be treated with respect and human dignity, and
Whereas, the plight of the Tibetan people must be an urgent matter of the highest priority for Congress and the international community, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate of the State of Vermont condemns the continuing repression of the Tibetan people and expresses its solidarity with the individuals who participated in the protests that occurred around the world on March 10, 2009, and be it further
Resolved: That the Senate of the State of Vermont urges Congress to:
1) Take forceful action to end the People’s Republic of China’s repression of human rights in Tibet;
2) Recognize Tibetan political autonomy;
3) Ask China to sincerely negotiate with representatives of His Holiness the Dali Lama to solve the Tibet problem, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Ambassador to the United States of the People’s Republic of China, the Office of the Representative of the Dalai Lama in New York City, Students for a Free Tibet, and the Vermont Congressional delegation.
