October 6, 2022: Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues gave a speech entitled “Human Rights Implications of the Dalai Lama’s Succession” at a side event of the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council on the occasion of the launch of the report by the International Tibet Network: “Tibet, the Dalai Lama, and the Geopolitics of Reincarnation.”
Excerpts from Under Secretary Zeya’s remarks:
“My friends, we are gathered here today at a critical moment for Tibet and the survival of its distinct religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage. PRC authorities continue to wage a campaign of repression against the Tibetan community. There is perhaps no better issue that exemplifies the ramifications of these policies than the Dalai Lama’s succession. PRC authorities have made clear they have every intention of co-opting the succession process of Tibetan Buddhist lamas, including His Holiness.”
“The United States will continue to call out PRC authorities for their repression against the Tibetan community. What is occurring in Tibet cannot be separated from PRC abuses throughout the country, including the atrocities in Xinjiang and the undermining of protected rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. We will shine a light on this issue within our broader human rights concerns with the PRC, bilaterally and jointly with international partners in multilateral fora.”
