Tibet

The Jewish people, based, upon our own historic experience are especially, sensitive to repression of the right of ethnic or religious groups. Thus, it is with grave concern that the NJCRAC has followed reports of continuing oppression of the Tibetan people by the present Chinese government. After thirty-one years of domination of Tibet by China, it is clear that the Chinese have persecuted and brutalized the Tibetan people resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans. Hundreds of thousands have been forced into exile with the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader. Thousands of Buddhist monasteries were destroyed, along with religious artifacts- of, the thirteen-hundred year old Tibetan civilization. Only 17 functioning Buddhist monasteries remain. Millions of Chinese have been relocated into Tibet in a systematic campaign to transform the Tibetans into a minority in their own country. Tibet’s natural resources are threatened as the Chinese have begun to use Tibet for disposal of toxic waste from China and other countries. Consistent with the Jewish community relations field’s commitment to human rights, NJCRAC recommends that its member agencies should:

• Request the dissemination of this statement to the NJCRAC constituency and members.

• Seek to form coalitions wherever possible, with other organizations concerned about human rights violations in Tibet and work with them to: 

1. Request the U.S. government to place the issue of Tibet and the protection of religious freedom on the agenda of discussion between the U.S. and China;

1. Raise the Tibet issue, in appropriate international fora; and

1. Encourage Americans to meet with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders

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