Yesterday the US Government presented its highest civilian award, The Congressional Gold Medal, to the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
The ceremony went ahead in spite of warnings issued by the Chinese government that this decision could seriously damage relations between the two countries.
The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese who had invaded and occupied Tibet in 1950. He is widely respected the world over and has already been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Despite the efforts of the Chinese government he continues to be hugely popular in Tibet.Although he has stated in recent years that his aim is not independence from China but only greater autonomy within it, the Chinese Government remains deeply suspicious of him.In order to completely destroy Tibetan identity the Chinese government has flooded Tibet with ethnic Han Chinese migrants.Moves are also afoot to appoint official Lamas or Tibetan priests as well as to appoint a successor to the present Dalai Lama.The Chinese government claims that the aim of the Dalai Lama is to obtain total independence for Tibet. China opposes any form of self determination for Tibet by claiming that historically Tibet has always been a part of China. It also suggests that while Tibet was independent, its peasantry was exploited and lived in poverty while the ruling classes led luxurious lives.Restoring Tibet to its erstwhile rulers therefore does not find favor on ideological grounds as well.
There are reasons why the US government on its part has chosen to honor the Dalai Lama at this point in time.The US is facing increasing criticism over the way it has handled Iraq.Therefore it wants to be seen as a nation which honors men of peace.It also hopes to send a message that it is not opposed to rulers who govern on the basis of religion.Most importantly championing freedom and democracy has been an important theme of the Bush Presidency. The US sincerely believes that by such actions as well as by continuous economic engagement with China, that country could be persuaded to improve its human rights record and move towards granting greater individual liberties.
As far as the award itself is concerned it was first given to George Washington in 1776. Each proposed recipient has to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives
and in the Senate. Once the award is approved the US Mint is commissioned to produce a unique design based on the achievements of the individual.So no two awards will ever be alike.