Dharamsala, January 29: A resolution on Tibet adopted at the 27th World Congress of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) reaffirms Tibet as an independent State and condemns the illegal occupation of Tibet by China.

The resolution reaffirms the 5-point resolution passed during the IUSY Asia Pacific Committee Meeting held last year and, which, among others, accepts Tibet as an independent State and condemns the illegal occupation of Tibet.

The three-day World Congress of the IUSY was concluded on Sunday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Over 150 delegates from 68 countries, including Tibet attended the World Congress. The Congress was inaugurated on January 25 by Miguel Vargas Maldonado, one of the top candidates of the Presidential election of the Dominican Republic to be held on May 16, 2008.

Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest Tibetan non-governmental organisation in exile, represented Tibet at the IUSY’s World Congress.

The agenda of the Congress was "People in Movement". Accordingly, a six-page report titled, "Tibet: The need for a Greater Movement" was presented to the Congress by Mr Tsewang Rigzin.

Following resolution on Tibet was passed by this World Congress with the support by an overwhelming majority:

While reaffirming the 5-point resolution adopted during the IUSY Asia Pacific Committee Meeting held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, last June, XXVII IUSY World Congress further:

1. Demands the abandonment of China’s population transfer policy in Tibet (that violates the UN Atlanta Charter), which threatens the very survival of the Tibetans and promotes ethnic assimilation in Tibet.

2. Strongly condemns China’s sinister marginalization policy in Tibet that results in the eventual forced eviction of the Tibetan people from their land, house, job and the hometowns.

3. Urges upon the government of Nepal to revoke the policy of repatriation of the Tibetan refugees fleeing Tibet and provide a safe passage for the Tibetans fleeing prosecution and repression from the Chinese Government in accordance with UN Refugee Conventions.

4. Calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China for the immediate withdrawal of the so-called Order no 5, China’s new regulatory measures for recognition of reincarnations of Living Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism and stop violation of religious freedom in Tibet.

5. Calls on the PRC government to immediately cease all practices of sending 'work team' to the religious institutions for carrying out the ' Patriotic Re-education Campaign'.

Resolution 1 on Tibet was objected to by one of the delegates who said Chinese should be allowed into Tibet and also stated, “Dalai Lama wants a monastic state”. However, the objection was clarified by the Tibetan delegate saying the objection was unsubstantiated and further informed the Congress of the fact that “Tibetans already have a democratic government in exile in India, and will have a democratic government when Tibet regains its Independence from China”.

IUSY was founded in August 1907. It is an international movement of youths struggling for democratic socialism, freedom, human rights, equality, democracy and international solidarity. IUSY World Congress is held every two years and, IUSY World Council and IUSY Asia Pacific Committee Meeting are held annually.