CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
P R O C L A M A T I O N
Declaring March 10, 2023 as Tibetan Uprising Day
WHEREAS, on March 10, 202 3, Tibetans throughout the world will commemorate the 6 4th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising against the brutal occupation of their country and pay tribute to the more than one million Tibetans who lost their lives in their struggle for the freedom of Tibet; and
WHEREAS, the occupation and ongoing suppression of human rights and freedom in Tibet and the intentional marginalization of Tibetan language, culture, and identity should continue to be a concern for all freedom-loving people everywhere; and
WHEREAS, in December, 2018, the United States Congress passed, a nd the President signed into law, the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, that called for an end to China’s isolation of Tibet and providing American citizens, including Tibetan Americans in Richmond, with the same opportunity of access to Tibet as enjoyed by Chinese citizens visiting our country; and
WHEREAS, in December, 2020 the United States Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Tibet Policy and Support Act, that makes it official US policy that the Dalai Lama’s succession is a strictly religious issue that only he and his followers can decide on and strengthens the landmark Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, addresses the issue of water security and environmental destruction in Tibet, provides humanitarian assistance for Tibetans in Tibet and in exile, and pushes China to negotiate with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan leaders without preconditions; and
WHEREAS, the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by the US Department of State, on the subject of Tibet, says that “(s)ignificant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings by the government; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment by the government; arbitrary arrest or detention; politi cal prisoners; politically motivated reprisals against individuals located outside the country; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including censorship; serious restrictions on internet freedom including site blocking; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; severe restrictions on religious freedom, despite nominal constitutional protect ions voided by regulations restricting religious freedom and effectively placing Tibetan Buddhism under central government control; severe restrictions on freedom of movement; the inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; restrictions on political participation; serious acts of government corruption; coerced abortion or forced sterilization; and violence or threats of violence targeting indigenous persons.”; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, a bipartisan and bicameral Bill, Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet -China Conflict Act, was introduced in the U.S. Congress to advance US’ interest in peacefully resolving China’s occupation of Tibet and pressures the Chinese government to resume negotiations with the Dalai Lama’s envoys, asserting that the United States views the Tibet -China conflict as unresolved and that the Tibetan people deserve a say in how they are governed by recognizing their right to self-determination; and
WHEREAS, the principal commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are: promotion of warm - heartedness, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, and self -discipline; religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions; preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Tibet; and the study of ancient Indian knowledge of understanding and training of mind; and
WHEREAS, in 1989 His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his longstanding commitment to nonviolence, peace, and willingness to compromise and seek reconciliation despite China’s brutal occupation of Tibet; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was conferred the US Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards, in recognition of his contribution to Tibet and humanity; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond is home to a vibrant community of Tibetan Americans who have contributed to the diversity of our culture and tradition and is the location of the Tibetan Association of Northern Cal ifornia’s community center, serving the third largest Tibetan community in United States; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond has long supported the Tibetan people, having welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he visited the Tibetan community center in 2014 and renaming a part of Huntington Avenue to Dalai Lama Avenue in honor of his 84th birthday; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond stands in solidarity with the Tibetan people and their just, peaceful, and non -violent movement to remind the world of the occupation, suppression, and degradation of culture, religion, land, and identity of the Tibetan people by China; and
WHEREAS, on March 9th, 2023 at 9AM, community members will gather at the steps of Richmond City Hall to raise the Tibetan flag for a week , as they have been doing for the last over five years, and commemorate the 6 4th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising against the Chinese Communist Party’s invasion and occupation.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Eduardo Martinez, and the Richmond City Council do hereby declare March 10, 2023 as Tibetan Uprising Day in the City of Richmond.