By Greg Reilley, New Cannan Advertiser, 2 December 2015.
When longtime resident Sandra Ross turned 80 years of age this past summer she was recognized as a “tireless advocate for the people of Tibet” by the Connecticut Chapter of the U.S. Tibet Committee. She received citations acknowledging her work for the Tibetan people also from the Connecticut General Assembly, U.S. Congressman Jim Himes and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.
Her work on Tibet issues continues today as a member of the board of U.S. Tibet Committee.
“I was too young to help with the Holocaust,” Ross told the Advertiser, “but the Tibetans suffered like the Jews suffered.”
“They’ve been slaughtered or tortured to death by the Chinese,” because Tibetans want independence, she said.
“If it’s Kosovo, it’s genocide; if it’s Darfur, it’s genocide,” Ross said, “but Tibet is considered an internal Chinese problem and the U.S. is not allowed to intervene.”
Just last month, Ross was pleased to pass along that The UN Committee against Torture “directly and publicly” confronted and questioned China’s torture record in Tibet. A victory for advocates of the Tibetan people.
Inspired from a young age to help the Tibetans, Ross has raised money, helped move resolutions through Congress, raised awareness in the Connecticut State Senate, picketed the United Nations five times, helped to settle refugees, and helped some individuals as a psychologist.
Tibetans “have given the world inspiration and guidance, spiritually and culturally,” Ross said.