LEGAL REFERENCES:

If you would like to learn a little more about what the international community is doing for (or against) Tibet, here are a few references. Below are copies of documents from different levels of international government. (Special thanks to Tibet Online)

THE WORLD BANK

INSPECTION PANEL'S REPORT AND FINDINGS ON THE QINGHAI PROJECT
This report was smuggled out by a concerned World Bank insider to the media. It addresses the controversy regarding the now defunct Western Poverty Reduction Project.

TIBET

FIVE POINT PEACE PLAN (1987)
This was the focus of an address made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to members of the United States Congress.

CHINA

SEVENTEEN-POINT PLAN FOR THE PEACEFUL LIBERATION OF TIBET (1951)
An agreement which Tibetan officials were forced to sign at gunpoint. Despite having used force to make the Tibetan Officials sign this, the Chinese government has since then violated this agreement many times.

UNITED NATIONS

THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948)
The People's Republic of China, being a member of the United Nations, must respect the conditions set forth in this declaration. This is the basis for many legal arguments that countries can make against the People's Republic of China concerning Tibetan matters.

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 1353 (XIV) ON TIBET (1959)
The first realization of the United Nations that the situation in Tibet was one that was depriving the people of their civil liberties. Although there doesn't seem to be a strong resolution here, just the fact that the international community was paying attention is significant.

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 1723 (XVI) ON TIBET (1961)
A resolution that states quite clearly that Tibetans are being deprived their right to self-determination, implying that foreign Chinese occupation is unjust.

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 2079 (XX) ON TIBET (1965)
Further decries the oppression of the Tibetan people as in contradiction to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, and therefore both unjust and illegal. This Resolution is the last piece of legislation in the U.N. to directly deal with the Tibetan issue.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SENATE RESOLUTION 271 (March 1992)
States the Senate's opinion that the US government should denounce in all international forums China's illegal occupation of Tibet.

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD 119: STAFF TRIP REPORT (August 1992)
A lengthy but informative account of a Congressional fact finding mission on Tibet. Concludes that the U.S. government should develop a more aggressive and coordinated effort to ensure Tibetan rights and should denounce China's illegal occupation of Tibet. Also makes a case for refusing China the Most Favored Nation Trading Status.

CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION S. RES. 169 (1995)
A formal Congressional welcome of the Dalai Lama to America, along with the statement that the Dalai Lama should let the Tibetan people know of the support of Congress and the American people in the Tibetan struggle for freedom.