Members of V-TAG and Tibetan association of Washington urge representative Susan DelBene to support US Tibet bill

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Tibetan Association in Washington (TAW) conducted a second round of public relations building with the United States’ local representatives in the Seattle area by bringing together eight delegation members from the Seattle Tibetan Community, including three members of the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG), virtually to meet with Kelly Marquardt, District Director for Representative Susan Delben in the First District on Thursday, 22 June 2023. It was led by Passang Bhuti, TAW’s Advocacy Coordinator and a V-TAG member, followed by Jamyang Dojee, Tenzin Chokey, Lobsang Tsering, Chime Ohdon, Chime Dolkar, Tenzin Sherab Gongpa, and Ryan Daly.

Passang Bhuti introduced the group members to Kelly Marquardt and urged Representative Susan DelBene to support HR 533 – Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act, which was introduced into Congress on 26 January 2023 by Representative Jim McGovern (D) and Representative Michael McCaul (R) of Texas (R).

At the meeting, Jamyang, a constituent of Congressional District 1, disclosed that approximately ten family members reside in the district. He also expressed his appreciation to the United States government for its continued support of Tibet and thanked Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for highlighting the Tibet issue during his recent visit to China. Additionally, he provided Kelly with information regarding the Tibetan community in Washington and the 400 families that reside across the state from Everett to Vancouver.

Lobsang Tsering, a member of the V-TAG, emphasised that the US-Tibet bill – Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act – will result in modifications to certain criteria in the Tibet Policy Act of 2002. Furthermore, he stated that the passage of this bill would give China hope of resuming dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama or with the representatives of the Central Tibetan Administration. Tibet has been in a deadlock with China since 2010 for more than 13 years, with China blocking access to Tibet for the rest of the world.

Chokey, a member of the V-TAG, detailed how this bill would give Tibetans the right to self-determination provided by Article 1 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which China has ratified and signed. She also expressed that the bill will prevent China from interfering with Tibet’s selection of the next Dalai Lama, which she said is an exclusively religious matter.

The group member Chime Ohdon, who considered herself the true voice and representative of her Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet, strongly advocated for Representative Susan DelBene to support the bill, hoping that the bill would provide new hope to Tibetans living in Tibet.

In conclusion, Passang Bhuti thanked the officer for her time and provided an overview of the Tibetan Association of Washington’s programs and events. Also, she extended an invitation to the district officer to attend Tibet Fest in August.

Meeting in May with Andrew Hays, Field Representative for Congressman Adam Smith
The Seattle Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG) members and members of the Tibetan Association of Washington met with Andrew Hays, Field Representative for Congressman Adam Smith, on 26 May 2023, Friday afternoon.

During their meeting with Andrew Hays, the group members shared their experiences and struggles as Tibetan refugees and how those hardships have impacted their lives and identity.

They also emphasised the importance of the resolution H.R.533 – Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act, and urged Hays to support and seek the support of Congressman Adam Smith in the passage of the resolution that will solidify the United States support for Tibet.

“The success of this very first advocacy project carried out by the Tibetan Association of Washington (TAW) and local V-TAGers was the result of the teamwork put forth by everyone involved in this project since its conception”, Passang Bhuti, a V-TAG member, said regarding the first-ever Tibet advocacy by the V-TAGers in the United States.

Their first advocacy campaign was considered a success, and the Tibetan group encouraged more similar campaigns in the future. There are 13 members in the group, including two children. Among them were six members of the V-TAG – Passang Bhuti, Lobsang Tsering, Tsering Chokey, Thinlay, Tenzin Lodoe, and Tenzin Chonyi. As well as the V-TAG’s members, the group also includes former Presidents of the Tibetan Association of Washington (TAW), the founding, director, and teachers of the Tibetan Language and Culture School (TLCS), former and current TAW board members, and the current Advocacy and Green Book coordinator.

Washington Tibetan Association advocacy members will continue building public relations with United States local representatives in the Seattle area in the upcoming weeks through in-person meetings at Washington State District Representative offices.