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Updated Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:56 am TWN, AFP and AP

U.S. lawmakers, Gere lead support for Tibet

Actor Richard Gere hugs House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the International Campaign for Tibet reception on Capitol Hill in Washington Monday, March 9. (AP)

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U.S. lawmakers, Gere lead support for Tibet

Ma also described critical comments by Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as “lies” and insisted the Himalayan region had enjoyed profound democratic reforms under Chinese rule.

“I will not respond to the Dalai Lama's lies,” the spokesman said following his comments that the Chinese authorities had brought “hell on earth” to Tibetans.

Actor and activist Richard Gere, meanwhile, lobbied members of Congress to speak out about Tibet. China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is visiting Washington this week.

Gere, a Buddhist, said on the eve of the anniversary he hoped Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “misspoke” last month when she said that human rights would take a back seat to Washington and Beijing working together on fighting the economic crisis and other issues.

“For the good of America — for Americans as well as the rest of the world — you have to say what you stand for,” Gere told AFP.

Also Tuesday, Tibetans and their supporters rallied across the Asia-Pacific region demanding an end to Chinese rule in their homeland.

Thousands of young Tibetans marched through the streets chanting “China Out!” and “Tibet belongs to Tibetans!” in Dharmsala, the Indian town where the Tibetan spiritual leader set up his base after fleeing the Himalayan territory.

The Dalai Lama earlier told a throng that had gathered near a temple that Chinese rule had killed hundreds of thousands of people and pushed Tibetan culture and identity almost to extinction.

In the Australian capital, a handful of protesters scuffled with police outside the Chinese Embassy after about 300 had marched from Parliament House.

Police arrested four people after they broke through temporary fencing bordering a designated protest area, a police spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity. One woman appeared to attempt to strangle herself with a Tibetan flag, according to Australian Broadcasting Corp. television footage.

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Comments

March 18, 2009 KKay2000@

These anti-China right wingers and some do-gooder American Democrats are naive or 'ostrich heads in the sands.'

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

March 19, 2009 ilovetibet@

As president, Ma Ying-jeou is doing the right thing. The Dalai Lama still clings to his dream of regaining his throne like the "Last Emperor" Pu Yi. Fat chance!

U.S. welcomes stable cross-strait ties: AIT head

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2009/03/19/200695/U.S.-welcomes.htm

March 19, 2009 dlamacookies@

Sure of course, not only America but those western countries will also certainly close their eyes and BLINDLY support Dalai Lama of Tibet. Do you know why? They want to paint China as a Villain. Anybody who has the time should go to You Tube and see the video on the 7 lies of the DALAI LAMA. The video speaks louder than DALAI LAMA’s words of NONSENSE preaching.

March 20, 2009 myatthwin62@

Two wars in progress and not successful; economy in meltdown, unemployment at 25-year high, $1.4 trillion government bailout and still these busybodies are encouraging separatists and traitors and meddling in other countries' affairs!

"Physician, heal thyself first!"