Protesters March From Philadelphia To Protest Chinese Occupation Of Tibet

By Rob Sanna-Talk Radio News

On Tuesday, a collection of American and Tibetan congregated in front of the Chinese embassy in Washington D.C. to make a statement about China’s occupation of Tibet. A handful of those present marched from Philadelphia in a 10 day trip that spanned nearly 140 miles.

One activist who made the cross-state march commented that the response has thus far been positive.

“Mostly Americans have been really supportive,” he said. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to walk with these Tibetans.”

Larry Gerstein, President of the International Tibet Independence Movement, said the organization sent a letter the to embassy asking China to remove all military and political figures, release all political prisoners.

Tibet has been under Chinese control since the 1950s. 

The Dalai Lama Says Chinese Communist Party Should 'Retire with Grace'

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

The Dalai Lama stated Friday that China's communist party should "retire with grace" due to its lack of support and solid ideology.

The Tibetan religious figure's remarks came after meeting with President Barack Obama Thursday at the White House, during a trip to the Library of Congress Friday for the Democracy Service Medal presented by The National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

[In] any country, the real change must come to people, to individual creativity," said the Dalai Lama. "[Under] the totalitarian system, without freedom, that opportunity to utilize individual creativity stops."

The Democracy Service Medal was created in 1999 "to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the progress of democracy around the world," said NED vice chairman Judy Shelton.

The Dalai Lama has been proceeding to develop and promote democracy system around the world. In the early 1950s, the Dalai Lama sought democratic reform in Tibet's system of government; in 1963, a democratic constitution was promulgated in India shortly after his departure.

The Dalai Lama explained that he views elections as an important symbol of democracy since "that gives people have some sort of power to control to change, and that also give them some kind of sense of responsibility and involvement."

Obama Aims To Tighten Asian Alliances During Upcoming Visit

By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

President Obama’s inaugural visit to Asia was postponed due to the his and First Lady Michelle Obama’s participation in the memorial service on Tuesday for those killed in the Fort Hood tragedy.

Still, the President intends to tell Asian countries when he visits later this week that the U.S. is engaged and committed to strengthening alliances with Asia and helping Asian nations achieve prosperity and security, according to Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications.

Jeffrey Bader, Senior Director for East Asian Affairs for the National Security Council, said that the President plans to raise the issue of human rights while in China.

“I think the kinds of issues that are on our minds are the freedom of expression, access to information...and certainly Tibet. I have every reason to believe that the issue of Tibet will come up on the trip,” Bader said.

Bader did not foresee discussions with the Japanese government on the realignment of Futenma Air Base, which houses 47,000 U.S. military personnel on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. The base is set to relocate to a smaller facility in 2014.

“I don’t see the Okinawa base issue being a dominant or essential issue on this visit,” Bader said. “The new Japanese government is reviewing how it wishes to move forward on [the base issue].”

The President is scheduled to leave for Japan on Thursday, followed by visits to Singapore, China and South Korea.

Dalai Lama Honors Activists

By Marianna Levyash-Talk Radio News

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, arrived at the Light of Truth Awards Wednesday to honor and present awards to activists Julia Taft and Wang Lixioung.

The International Campaign for Tibet recognizes and salutes individuals or institutions that have contributed to the needs of Tibet.

The late Julia Taft was praised for her active involvement in Tibetian issues and in playing a crucial role for Tibetian human rights.

Wang Lixioung, who bravely risked himself and defied China to help organize the petition "Twelve Suggestions for Dealing with the Tibetian Situation", in which more than 300 Chinese signed. All of these signatures represent people in the Republic of China that wanted to support Tibet and mark the Chinese policies in Tibet as "mistakes".

The Dalai Lama was quoted as saying "I always say our supporters are not pro-Tibetan but pro-justice, pro-nonviolence."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and actor Richard Gere also participated in the ceremony.

Dalai Lama Received By McCain And Pelosi, Not Obama

by Julianne LaJeunesse- University of New Mexico

The 14th Dalai Lama was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to receive a Lantos Foundation award for his human rights service, and despite a missing President Obama, the religious leader still offered kind words and advice for "America... the greatest democratic country."

"I think American weapons, military forces, of course, is to some people... you can take seriously," the Dalai Lama said. "But the real greatness of America is your ancestors, or the principles. These are, at any cost, you must preserve these principles. That is important."

Some of those principles could be in question with the Obama administration's decision not to receive the Dalai Lama this week. The White House says Obama will meet with the leader after a November session with China's President Hu Jintao in Beijing, a decision which the Dalai Lama says he understands.

At the Lantos Foundation ceremony, which was created to further late Rep. Tom Lantos' work on human rights and justice issues within U.S. policy making, John McCain (R- Ariz.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised the work of both Lantos, who died in 2008, and the Dalai Lama's humanitarian efforts. McCain called the Dalai Lama "an example of a moral leader."

McCain called the Dalai Lama, who won the Noble Peace Prize in 1989, a father to Tibet, despite the tensions between the exiled ruler and the Chinese government.

"For over half a century, he has led their struggle, petitioning governments and people of conscience throughout the world to lend their voice to the just demands of Tibetans," McCain said. "He has endured the long trying years, and every setback for their cause, with an unyielding determination that is singular because of the patience, humility, and kindness that are his most admirable qualities."

If Obama and the exiled leader don't meet this year, it will mark the first time in 14 years that a U.S. president has not received the Dalai Lama. In 2007, the Dalai Lama received the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, a ceremony attended by President George W. Bush.