The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) reported the first interviews of US Under Secretary of State for
Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya as US Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues.
In separate interviews on Radio Free Asia, Tibet TV, and Voice of America, Uzra Zeya said the US
government’s stance on the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics can help shine a light on China’s human
rights abuses in Tibet. She addressed the Biden-Harris administration’s increasing efforts to combat China’s
“transnational repression” of Tibetan exile communities. She further discussed her work with Congress and
other partners, and her desire to meet with the Dalai Lama. She said, “I think that our decision with respect
to the Olympics was also to show that we would not treat these Games as business as usual, and that we
would not be contributing to the fanfare of the Games in such a way that obscures the reality of human rights
abuses occurring as we speak in the PRC". She added that “On the question of access, this is an absolute
priority. We have a legislative mandate as well that we intend to uphold. I think there is an opportunity in
our stance with respect to the Olympics to show our commitment to promoting human rights and to shine a
light on the reality of the situation in Tibet and elsewhere.” Zeya also spoke in her interviews about the
Chinese government’s attempts to intimidate Tibetan communities living in exile in the United States and
across the world.
|