United States
Congressional Resolution S. Con. Res. 129 (1988) [251]
UNITED STATES CONGRESS
S. CON. RES. 129
WASHINGTON, DC
SEPTEMBER 16, 1988
The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 129) expressing the support of the Congress for the Dalai Lama and his proposal to promote peace, protect the environment, and gain democracy for the people of Tibet, was considered and agreed to.
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Congress has previously expressed its concern regarding the policies of the People's Republic of China in Tibet, including the violation of Tibetan human rights, and has called on the Chinese Government to ameliorate the situation.
(2) The Dalai Lama presented a five-point peace plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet during his visit to the Congress in September 1987. This peace plan has received considerable international support.
(3) The Dalai Lama has now prepared a proposal for a democratic system of government for the people of Tibet founded on law, by agreement of the people of Tibet, for the common good and protection of themselves and their environment.
(4) The proposal of the Dalai Lama recognizes that the primary responsibility for the conduct of the foreign affairs, and the exclusive responsibility for the defense, of Tibet will remain with the Government of the People's Republic of China, in order to fulfill its defense responsibility, will be permitted to maintain a restricted number of military bases in Tibet, but these bases must be located away from population centers.
(5) The proposal of the Dalai Lama contains important measures to ensure and enhance the human rights of the Tibetan people to include the following:
(A) Specific steps will be taken to fulfill the goal of transforming the Tibetan plateau into a peace sanctuary. These steps include convening a regional security conference to determine ways to reduce regional tensions and eventually to demilitarize the Tibetan plateau and bordering regions.
(B) Tibet will be founded on a constitution, or basic law, which will provide for a democratic form of government, with an independent judiciary, and a popularly elected chief executive and legislative assembly. The basic law will contain a bill of rights which will guarantee individual human rights and democratic freedoms as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
(C) The basic law of Tibet will ensure the protection of the natural resources of the plateau by requiring the passage of strict laws to protect wildlife and plant life and by effectively converting almost the entire area of Tibet into national park lands or biospheres.
(D) During an interim period, following the signing of an agreement based on the proposal, Tibet will be governed according to a transitional agreement providing for a gradual reorganization of the administration of Tibet, the restoration of human rights to Tibetans, and the return of the People's Republic of China of Chinese recently settled through inducement and involuntary placement by the People's Republic of China in Tibet.
(E) In order to create an atmosphere of trust conducive to fruitful discussions, the Government of the People's Republic of China should respect the human rights of the people of Tibet and not engage in a policy of transferring Chinese persons to Tibet.
(F) Before ratification of any agreement, the proposal will be submitted to the Tibetan people in a popular referendum.
(6) The Dalai Lama has asked the Government of the People's Republic of China and other concerned governments to study carefully, and respond constructively to, the substance of the proposal.
SECTION 2. EXPRESSION OF CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE DALAI LAMA AND HIS PROPOSAL FOR TIBETAN DEMOCRACY.
The Congress-
(1) Commends the Dalai Lama for his past efforts to resolve the problems of Tibet through negotiation with the People's Republic of China, and for dissuading the Tibetan people from using violence to regain their freedom;
(2) Commends the Dalai Lama for his new proposal in his continued quest for peace, and expresses its support for the trust of his proposal;
(3) Calls on the leaders and the Government of the People's Republic of China to respond positively to the proposal of the Dalai Lama, and to enter into earnest discussions with the Dalai Lama, or his representatives, to resolve the question of Tibet along the lines proposed by the Dalai Lama; and
(4) Calls on the President and the Secretary of State to express the support of the United States Government for the thrust of the proposal of the Dalai Lama, and to use their best efforts to persuade the leaders and the Government of the People's Republic of China to enter into discussions with the Dalai Lama, or his representatives, regarding the proposal of the Dalai Lama and the question of Tibet.