Top Republican Congressman urges Trump to meet His Holiness

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Dec 9: A Senior Republican Congressman has urged President-elect Donald Trump to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin’s 5th congressional district, in a letter to the President-elect Donald Trump on Dec 6, urged him to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader, reports thehill.com, a top US political website.

“As you meet with various world leaders in preparation for assuming your role as President, I would like to take the opportunity to suggest that you meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” the report quoted Congressman as saying in the letter.

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Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner

The Republican Congressman has praised the Dalai Lama as a strong and persistent advocate of peaceful resolution of the Tibet-China issue. The congressman who has backed Trump for his presidential run has also urged the later to maintain a strong relationship with Tibet.

“Throughout the course of the last half-century, America has had a strong and stable relationship with the people and government of Tibet. I hope you will continue this strong relationship with Tibet, as well as promote peace between Tibet and the People’s Republic of China,” the Congressman added.

Emphasizing on the Tibetan people’s right to preserve their culture, heritage, language, and religion, Sensenbrenner made a case of the Tibetan people’s constant struggle to free themselves from the Chinese government and to preserve these basic freedoms.

“The People’s Republic of China continues to refuse to acknowledge the autonomy of the Tibetan people, and have cracked down on protests and demonstrations by Tibetans,” the Congressman said and added that a meeting with the Dalai Lama would send Beijing a strong message about US support for Tibet.

After Donald Trump was declared the 45th president of the United States on Nov 8, Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence has spoken to more than 50 world leaders including a 10-minute phone conversation with the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen which has shattered decades of U.S. protocol.