Nancy Pelosi accuses China of waging human rights assault in Tibet

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has blamed China for waging what she termed “dangerous assault” on human rights in Tibet for decades.

Pelosi said the Chinese government has time and again demonstrated that it has no regard for Tibetan autonomy, identity or faith.

She was speaking at the 8th World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet. "This morning, it was a great honor to join leaders from Tibet and around the world for the 8th World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet, reaffirming the United States' commitment to the Tibetan people," she wrote on her twitter handle.

"For decades, the Chinese government has waged a dangerous assault on human rights in Tibet, clearly showing that it has no regard for Tibetan autonomy, identity or faith. This forum is crucial, bringing together leaders from all over the world to advance real autonomy for Tibet," she added.

Pelosi said that the world has a moral duty to speak out with one voice against Beijing's abuses and stand up for the Tibetan people. "If we do not speak out against human rights abuses in China because of commercial ties, we lose all moral authority to speak out against human rights, anywhere."

The eighth World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet (WPCT) was held in Washington, DC. this week and brought together leaders in expressing concern over human rights violations and religious repression in Tibet.

More than 100 participants from 26 countries, including from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, attended it both in-person and virtually. This convention, organized by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, is in continuation of the previous seven sessions of WPCT aimed to strengthen and coordinate support by parliamentarians from different countries to resolve the Tibet issue.

The first WPCT was held in New Delhi (1994) honoring the foundational role India has played in the survival of the Tibetan identity after the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet. Subsequent conventions have been held in cities like Vilnius, Washington D.C, Edinburgh, Rome, and Ottawa.

Despite decades of repression by the Chinese government in Tibet, Tibetans strive to preserve their religion, culture, identity, and environment and continue to advocate for human rights and freedom in Tibet through non-violence all over the world.

"By holding the 8th WPCT in the United States, a country with fundamental values of democracy and equality, we honour the important role played by the United States Congress in formulating policy initiatives on Tibet, including institutionalizing support through several legislations," an official release read.

"We also draw attention to our exile government's commitment to democratic norms and values. With the farsighted vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in exile, we have a democratic and popularly elected leadership that is accountable to the Tibetan people through the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile," it added.

The meeting saw panel discussions and briefing sessions on various issues facing Tibet by the honourable members of parliament of different countries, experts and activists. The highlights of the 8th WPCT will be a video message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the speech by Pelosi.

The main objectives of holding the WPCT is for parliamentarians to take a leading role in the international area on the question of survival of the Tibetan identity and its rich cultural heritage which has the potential to contribute for a more peaceful world.

The Parliamentarians are also expected to consider initiatives in their respective countries to support early resumption of dialogue between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and China, for a negotiated solution on Tibet.