Sikyong Penpa Tsering with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, the original sponsor of the Resolve Tibet Act at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C.: On 5 May 2025 (EDT), Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration met with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, a longstanding advocate for Tibetan rights and lead sponsor of the bipartisan Resolve Tibet Act of 2024. Senator Merkley reaffirmed his commitment to the Tibetan cause and stressed the importance of renewed and peaceful Sino-Tibetan dialogue. He also expressed concern over the worsening human rights conditions in Tibet, specifically referencing China’s colonial boarding school system, which he said remains a focus of Congressional human rights hearings.

In response, Sikyong highlighted reports of military style training and colonial boarding school imposed on Tibetan children as part of China’s effort to erase Tibetan identity. Senator Merkley assured that Tibetans inside Tibet are not forgotten. Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), also attended the meeting and invited the Senator to the Capitol Hill celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on 25 June this year. Following this, Sikyong held informal discussions with Bob Ankerson and Nyima of The Tibet Fund and Anjali Kaur of USAID.

On 6 May, Sikyong met with eight senior officials from the U...