Dalai Lama's rep asks Lithuanian parliament to adopt resolution on Tibet

VILNIUS – Sonam Tsering Frasi, the Dalai Lama's representative for Northern Europe, Poland and the Baltic states, on Monday asked the Lithuanian parliament to adopt a resolution on Tibet in support of an initiative being considered by US lawmakers.

"What we would like to ask the Lithuanian parliament is whether it is possible to have a resolution passed in the support of the US bill that is already in the Senate, recognizing that Tibet's conflict is an unresolved international conflict and an international resolution is necessary," Frasi said at a news conference in Vilnius.

"A Lithuanian resolution of this kind will get more countries to have the guts to help Tibet," the representative said.  

"The support and love of the Lithuanian people for Tibet has always been appreciated," he added.  

Youdon Aukatsang, a Tibetan parliamentarian in exile, said that China and like-minded countries want to change the international world order based on democracy, as shown by Russia's war against Ukraine, now in its ninth month.

"Not very far from here where we've gathered today, Ukraine is facing an all-out war with autocratic Russia, which is now in its ninth month. We Tibetans faced China's invasion in 1950 and continue suffering from its oppressive authoritarian regime," Aukatsang said.

"The two countries are strong allies and with similar views, and the views are against liberal ideals of freedom, human rights and rule of law and democracy. China wants to change the international global order and usher in a new world order with like-minded countries like Russia, dictating the terms of engagement," she said.

Three members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile are taking part in a discussion on Tibet and human rights hosted by the Lithuanian parliament on Monday.

Tibet lost its autonomy from China back in 1951 after the Chinese army invaded the territory that had declared independence. Beijing maintains that it "peacefully liberated" the mountainous region, but many Tibetan expatriates accuse the central government of religious and cultural oppression.

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, and his followers have been living in exile in the Himalayan town of Dharamsala in India since they fled Tibet after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

China does not recognize the Tibetan government-in-exile, and has not held any dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives since 2010.