The worldwide protests against China ignited by the Olympic torch has landed President George W Bush's proposed trip to attend the Beijing Games opening into a hot political controversy.
Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama on Thursday joined rival Hillary Clinton in calling Bush to boycott the opening event over China's human rights record, especially the recent crackdown in Tibet.
Bush, on his part, has asked China to "begin a dialogue" with representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve the Tibet issue.
"We both agree that it would stand the Chinese government in good stead if they would, you know, begin a dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama," Bush said as he met Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Wednesday.
"They'll find - if they ever were to reach out to the Dalai Lama, they'd find him to be a really fine man, a peaceful man, a man who is anti-violence, a man who is not for independence but for the cultural identity of the Tibetans being maintained," he said.
Goh echoed his view, saying it would "better still if they can, to talk directly to the Dalai Lama."
Among the US presidential contenders, Hillary Clinton was the first to come out openly to ask President Bush to boycott Olympics opening.
Obama and presumptive Republican candidate John McCain were seen as trying to skirt the issue.
Clinton praised British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to attend the ceremony and urged Obama and McCain to join her in asking Bush not to go there.
US House passes resolution against China
The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution asking China to end its crackdown on non-violent protests in Tibet, release the Tibetans imprisoned in peaceful demonstrations.
And allow unfettered access to international monitors and journalists there.
The resolution, sponsored by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was adopted by a vote of 413-1.
The resolution cited growing resentment in Tibet against Chinese laws and policies that have "severely eroded the ability of Tibetans to preserve their distinctive language, culture and religious identity."
"Most insulting of all is that China insists that the torch go through Tibet... The world should not allow that to happen," Speaker Pelosi said.
A similar Resolution has been introduced in the Senate stressing that opening of further Chinese diplomatic missions in the United States should be contingent on Beijing allowing America to establish an office in Lhasa.
The resolution has to be seen amidst protests worldwide, including in the US, against China's poor human rights record to the staging of the summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
Demonstrations over Tibet have been held along the path of the Olympic torch in Paris, London and in San Francisco and several international leaders have suggested a possible boycott of the opening ceremonies.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condolezzaa Rice has said that Washington wants to open a consulate in Tibet in order to gain full access to developments there.
"We are looking at the possibility of a consulate in Tibet," Rice told a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing.
"We pressed for consular access for diplomats into Tibet," she said, adding we had some limited access. Frankly it wasn't good enough.
Source: DDNEWS
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
