Tibetan National Uprising (1959) Anniversary Statement - 2007

Remarks by
Doug Sibley
March 10, 2007
San Francisco, CA
representing the California-Nevada Annual Conference,
The United Methodist Church

The California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted a resolution in June 2006 to recognize the independence of the land and people of Tibet, the Dalai Lama as the spiritual leader and political head of State of Tibet, and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamsala, India as the legitimate government of the people and land of Tibet. This resolution is to be presented to the 2008 worldwide General Conference of the United Methodist Church.




We support the Dalai Lama’s vision of a free and independent Tibet as described in His Holiness’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance lecture and within the territorial limits of Tibet prior to the 1949 invasion of Tibet by Chinese military forces. We urge the Beijing government to enter into official discussions with the Dalai Lama or his representatives. We also support the Dalai Lama’s current position for internal autonomy for Tibet.


We support the efforts of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues who is also the Under Secretary for Global Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. The Special Coordinator's central objective is to promote substantive dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama with a view to resolving differences, consistent with the overall U.S. goal of promoting the protection of human rights and in preserving the distinct religious, cultural and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people.


The California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church actively lobbied for H.R. 4562, known as “The Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act.”


We pray for the early release of the Panchen Lama and his parents, Tenzin Delek, and all other political prisoners still in custody.


We are in frequent contact with local Tibetan community leaders and the Office of Tibet in New York to ensure that our support is continuing and consistent with the aims of the Tibetan people and in the interest of world peace and brotherhood.

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