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INSIDE: • His Holiness in Washington, DC • ICT Announces New President • Petition to Secretary Clinton SUMMER 2010 A publication of the TibetPRESS WATCH International Campaign for Tibet Ea rthqquua ke in Tibet Become a Friend of Tibet When you become a Friend of Tibet and pledge to contribute just $10 a month or more (that’s just 33¢ a day) to the International Campaign for Tibet, you give us a reliable fund that allows us to act immediately and strategically to benefit the people and culture of Tibet. You’ll be working for justice and compassion with just the spare change in your pocket. Can we count on you to be a Friend of Tibet ? To establish a Friend of Tibet monthly gift, please visit us online at savetibet.org/friendsoftibet or use the enclosed envelope to request more information. Should the need arise, you can change or cancel your pledge at any time. Thank you! Did you know you can change a life for only 33¢ a day? Find out how at savetibet.org/friendsoftibet 2 From th e Board of Directors We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Mary Beth Markey, formerly our Vice TIBET PRESSWATCH President for International Advocacy, as ICT’s new President. The Board of Directors has been through a comprehensive search for the next president of the International The International Campaign for Tibet Campaign for Tibet, and we’ve been inspired by the extraordinary quality of the works to promote human rights applicants. At the end of the process, we know we’ve made the ideal choice by turning and democratic freedoms for to one of our own. the people of Tibet. For fourteen years, Mary Beth has focused on U.S. government relations and interna - Founded in 1988, ICT is a non-profit tional advocacy at ICT and holds within her mind and spirit a realistic understanding membership organization with offices in Washington, D.C., Amsterdam, of how international support can help and should help in the mission to support His Berlin and Brussels, Holiness the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. Her history in governmental circles, and field offices in including a tenure working under then Chairman Claiborne Pell (D-RI) on the Senate Dharamsala and Kathmandu. Foreign Relations Committee, means she’s well versed with respect to U.S. policy and capabilities. Not only are her credentials excellent, but Mary Beth is a dedicated, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS capable leader. Outside of ICT, Mary Beth is held in high esteem by others in the Richard Gere, Chairman international Tibet movement and the Tibetan exile community. Moreover, Mary Beth’s Lodi Gyari, Executive Chair heart connection to this issue is obvious to those who have worked with her. Mary Beth Markey, President Bhuchung Tsering, V.P. Special Programs As Mary Beth formally assumes the reins, we know we’re in excellent hands. She is only the fourth president in ICT history; succeeding Tenzin N. Tethong (one of ICT’s founders), ICT Executive Chair Lodi Gyari, and past president and current board BOARD OF DIRECTORS member John Ackerly. We know that with Mary Beth’s appointment, we enter a new and John Ackerly exciting phase in our organization’s history, and invite you to share in our pride. Ellen Bork Richard Gere The work we do together is essential to inspiring international support for Tibet — and Lodi Gyari until human rights and democratic freedoms are no longer being brutally suppressed Jim Kane Tony Karam and Tibetans are allowed to practice their ancient religious and cultural heritage, our role Melissa Mathison as advocates remains critical. Joel McCleary Keith Pitts We thank Mary Beth for serving as our president — and thank you for standing with Steve Schroeder us, and with the people of Tibet. Gare Smith Grace Spring CONTACT INFORMATION International Campaign for Tibet 1825 Jefferson Pl, NW Washington, DC 20036 202-785-1515 www.savetibet.org [email protected] Newsletter Design: Wm. Whitehead Design Editorial Support: Pru Bovee and Mal Warwick Associates Cover photo: REUTERS/Donald Chan Mary Beth Markey at the Tibetan Children’s Village School in Dharamsala, India. 3 Ti bet Press Coverag e News from around the World When His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets with a U.S. President, of cooperation, at least on Tibet, and has taken a seemingly China is an unseen but clearly-felt presence in the room. This more intractable position than ever. The Chinese political lead - fact is understandable as both parties are engaged and invested ership has elevated Tibet to a so-called “core concern” of sover - in China’s cooperation on fundamental issues. eignty and territorial integrity, which signals that they want it off the table as an issue for discussions with world leaders. The Obama Administration has from the outset made its interest clear in a cooperative , comprehensive and positive U.S.- Nonetheless, the Dalai Lama’s discussions with President Chinese relationship, and both the President and Secretary of Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in February went well. State made visits to Beijing an early priority . Of course, the The Dalai Lama himself said “the administration is fully Dalai Lama continues to seek genuine autonomy for Tibetans supportive of our middle way approach: very clear, very within the People’s Republic of China, and his envoys have had specific .” Far from stepping away, the President and Secretary nine rounds of dialogue with Chinese officials . It is rather ironic of State have demonstrated that Tibet remains on the table. then that China appears to have removed itself from the realm The Dalai Lama’s Well- Traveled Road: Democracy by Carl Gershman The Washington Post, February 16, 2010 Now that the White House has announced that President the moral integrity of the Tibetan struggle and the possibility Obama will receive the Dalai Lama, it is important that he be for an eventual reconciliation with China. By demonstrating welcomed not only as a moral and religious leader respected moral courage and self-assurance in the face of China’s brute throughout the world but also as a fellow democrat who shares force and abusive insults, he has given hope against hope not America’s deepest values. just to his own people but to oppressed people everywhere. This is not an aspect of the Dalai Lama that is well understood, especially by those who see him as the spiritual leader of a traditional people. Yet he is a devoted democrat who has defended the universality of the democratic idea against the “Asian values” argument of various autocrats and who has tried, even before he fled Tibet in 1959, to modernize Tibet’s system of government. The Dalai Lama has given the world a model of how to pursue g n a democracy and live according to its values. By refusing to s k o relinquish the principle of nonviolence despite the terrible Z m a violence that has been inflicted on Tibetans, he has preserved n o S © o t o h P His Holiness the Dalai Lama with NED President Carl Gershman and NED Vice Chairman Dr. Judy Shelton. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) presented His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the Democracy Service Medal in recognition of the Tibetan spiritual leader’s commit - a ment to advancing the principles of democracy and human z u o dignity on February 19, 2010 in the Coolidge Auditorium at the S e t e Library of Congress. The Dalai Lama addressed an audience P © of approximately 500 at his only public appearance during his o t o h Washington visit. P 4 Talking about Tibet An Open Dialogue between Chinese Citizens and the Dalai Lama New York Review of Books Blog, May 2010 Question : I want to ask you about the re - ligious leadership of Tibet in the future. The main problem is that the Chinese government Dalai Lama: In 1969 I issued a formal continually insists that there declaration that the question of whether the Dalai Lama system should continue is is no Tibet problem, only a a question for the Tibetan people to Dalai Lama problem. decide. In 1992 I issued another declara - tion, making clear that as soon as Tibet might gain formal autonomy, I would methods. They repeatedly stress “stability” hold no official position in a Tibetan in Tibet. My belief is that true stability government and that all Tibetan affairs comes from inner confidence and trust. would continue to be handled by officials serving in their posts inside Tibet. Then, Question : If the regime were to allow in 2001 the Tibetan government in exile you to return to Tibet, and were to grant g n a s adopted a system to elect leaders to five- self-rule to Tibet, what kind of political k o Z year terms of office by popular vote of system would you like to see in Tibet? m a n the Tibetan community in exile. In view o S of these developments, I have come to Dalai Lama: This question will be for © o t o feel that the Dalai Lama system is no Tibetans inside Tibet, especially intellec - h P longer very important. I am going to tuals, in a spirit of “seeking truth from Wang Lixiong at the 2009 ICT Light of continue to do my best in my role as long facts,” to decide for themselves. Our Truth Award ceremony. as my health holds up, but as for the Tibetan society in exile, for the past 50 Dalai Lama system, I have to say that the years, has already achieved democratiza - Chinese government cares more about tion in its social system.