3rd WPCT, 23-24 April, 1997, Washington, D.C.
It was our honor and privilege to have been asked to co-host the III World Parliamentarians Convention for Tibet here in Washington, D.C, with the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies. The two days of hectic discussions and strategising has resulted in a series of action plans, which are outlined in this report. The personal presence of H.H. the Dalai Lama was a source of tremendous inspiration.
In the last ten years or so, the Tibetan movement has reached a distinctly higher level of activism. I still remember those early years following our people's exodus to India in 1959 when we, with the help of ardent parliamentarian friends in India, organized street activities to garner support for the Tibetan people. Today, the Tibetan issue has become a serious agenda of bilateral discussions between China and different countries of the world. It is normal, now, for leaders of the world to raise the Tibetan issue whenever they meet with Chinese leaders. A significant contributing factor for this development is the growing support for Tibet within the parliamentarians community.
Efforts of our parliamentarian friends have resulted in passage of resolutions in parliaments, which in turn have forced the governments to take a more active role on the issue of Tibet.
But our task is not over. The situation inside Tibet has become worse since the Chinese authorities renewed their campaign of repression. This has lead to a situation where very existence of the Tibetan identity is threatened. The Tibetan people need the support of the international community now more than at any time.
Through the publication of the proceedings of the Parliamentarians Convention, including its Washington Statement and the Action Plan we hope to create greater awareness in the world community, particularly among the parliamentarians. We hope they can all contribute in saving a unique culture, which has contributed greatly in the development of the world civilization.
We are indebted to the United States Congress, particularly the House International Relations Committee, for its assistance in making the Convention a success. We take special pride in releasing this report on Tibetan Democracy Day, which falls on September 2, 1997.
Lodi Gyari
President, ICT
