The United States Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms Nancy Pelosi in a rare gesture of what can be read as solidarity with the Tibetan cause visited His Holiness The Dalai Lama at McLeodganj near Dharamsala in India on March 21 2008. While it was given out that the visit of the US Speaker had been scheduled much before the present revolt in Tibet broke out on March 9 2008, the fact that Ms Nancy Pelosi did not cancel the visit against the backdrop of China’s strong denunciation of HH The Dalai Lama for inciting the current revolt in Tibet, further reinforces the solidarity of the US Speaker with the Tibetan cause. The visit of the US Speaker all the way to India and have meetings with HH The Dalai Lama carries great symbolic value and significance not only for the Tibetan Nation but also for a vast majority of Indians who strongly support the cause of Tibetan independence in marked contrast to the timid official stands of the Government of India on this issue.

That the expression of solidarity with the Tibetan cause comes from the Speaker of The US House of Representatives who happens to be the third highest and powerful official personage in the United States political hierarchy makes it that much more noteworthy even though official statements by US Administration officials may have been measured and politically correct so as not to ruffle China’s feelings which is hyper-sensitive on its continued military occupation of Tibet.

The US Speaker may not have openly condemned China by name in her interaction with the media at Dharamsala after her meeting with HH The Dalai Lama but in whatever she said there was no doubt left that China cannot continue to brutally suppress the people in Tibet and that China would be well advised to open a dialogue with HH The Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet as he is the only one now still holding on to the “middle path” as a political stance.

The US Speaker would have also witnessed at first hand the strong demands for full independence by the younger generation of Tibetans in their massive demonstrations in Dharamsala, in New Delhi and elsewhere and the storming of the Chinese Embassy by young Tibetans. The younger generation of Tibetans are getting more and more convinced that China will never respond positively to the “middle path” espoused by HH The Dalai Lama.

The US Speaker also is said to have indicated that a fair number of US Congressmen are seriously concerned at China’s brutal suppression of the Tibetan people and the denial of human rights and personal liberties in Tibet. There was a strong possibility of a Resolution on the Tibetan issue being moved in The US Congress calling on China to resolve the issue.

Surprisingly, the Government of India seems to have been in no position to prevent the visit of the US Speaker to meet HH The Dalai Lama at such a sensitive time especially when the Indian Government traditionally bows to Chinese pressures in not allowing political activity or political demonstrations by Tibetan exiles in India. One would not be surprised that the Indian Government may have tried back-channel diplomacy for cancellation or postponement of the US Speaker’s visit to Dharamsala which happens to be the Headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

Had it been another dignitary from some other country, it could be fairly said that such a visit would have not been allowed. But since it involved the visit of the third most powerful US politician the Indian Government seems to have been left with no choice but to go along with the US Speaker’s visit to HH The Dalai Lama. By doing so the Indian Government could gain some mileage that it has an independent stance on this issue and also send some subtle political signals to China.

At the moment of this writing the Indian TV channels are giving out that the US Speaker has indicated that the United States stands firmly behind HH The Dalai Lama on the issue of Tibet. Surely, the significance and the timing of this statement coming from the top echelon of the United States cannot be missed by China.

The US Speaker, Ms Nancy Pelosi has made a signal contribution to the Tibetan cause by resolving to visit the Tibetan spiritual leader in exile in India at this critical juncture. This Columnist and many others in India who wish that Tibet re-emerges as an independent nation would like to salute Ms Nancy Pelosi for drawing global attention by her visit to the plight of the hapless Tibetan people under Chinese rule and their dreams for freedom.

March 23, 2008

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