The
opening ceremony of the
Second Special Meeting
of Tibet Support Groups
in session at the
TCV School hall
in Dharamshala
on November 16, 2012.
Second Special Meeting
of Tibet Support Groups
in session at the
TCV School hall
in Dharamshala
on November 16, 2012.
DHARAMSHALA, November 16:
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people,
today presided over the Second Special International Tibet Support
Groups Meeting in Dharamshala.
Around two hundred members of Tibetan Support Groups from 43 countries are attending the meeting aimed at “exploring ways to press the Chinese government to end its repressive policies” in Tibet.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sikyong Dr Sangay said the meeting “gives hope” to Tibetans inside Tibet.
“Tibetans in Tibet are doing all they can and more by giving up their lives with the hope and belief that exile Tibetans and friends will stand up with them,” Sikyong said. “Even if they get tortured, even if they die, their lives will not go in vain because their friends outside will stand up for them.”
The de facto Tibetan Prime Minister dismissed accusations made by the Chinese government of labelling Tibetan self-immolators as terrorists and blaming Tibetans in exile for instigating the protests. He called them “absolutely baseless”.
“Of the 74 self-immolators, not even one of them harmed a single Chinese person or a Chinese restaurant or a Chinese hotel or a Chinese house. How can this be a terrorist act?” Sikyong argued. “Yes, Tibetans are harming themselves but even at that painful phase when one is burning, they are not running towards Chinese people. They are dying a painful death for themselves.”
Around two hundred members of Tibetan Support Groups from 43 countries are attending the meeting aimed at “exploring ways to press the Chinese government to end its repressive policies” in Tibet.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sikyong Dr Sangay said the meeting “gives hope” to Tibetans inside Tibet.
“Tibetans in Tibet are doing all they can and more by giving up their lives with the hope and belief that exile Tibetans and friends will stand up with them,” Sikyong said. “Even if they get tortured, even if they die, their lives will not go in vain because their friends outside will stand up for them.”
The de facto Tibetan Prime Minister dismissed accusations made by the Chinese government of labelling Tibetan self-immolators as terrorists and blaming Tibetans in exile for instigating the protests. He called them “absolutely baseless”.
“Of the 74 self-immolators, not even one of them harmed a single Chinese person or a Chinese restaurant or a Chinese hotel or a Chinese house. How can this be a terrorist act?” Sikyong argued. “Yes, Tibetans are harming themselves but even at that painful phase when one is burning, they are not running towards Chinese people. They are dying a painful death for themselves.”
Sikyong
Dr Lobsang Sangay
addressing the opening ceremony
of the Second Special Meeting of
Tibet Support Groups at
the TCV School hall in Dharamshala
on November 16, 2012.
addressing the opening ceremony
of the Second Special Meeting of
Tibet Support Groups at
the TCV School hall in Dharamshala
on November 16, 2012.
He
went on to blame China’s “continued occupation of Tibet, its failed
policies in Tibet, including the economic marginalisation of Tibetans,
environmental destruction, cultural assimilation, and denial of
religious freedom” for causing the self-immolation protests.
Buoyed by the sweeping calls for democracy and freedom in many countries, Sikyong Dr Sangay said: “It is the time for Tibet, it is the time for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet.”
The three-day meeting is being convened by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India and facilitated by the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Sarias, a participant from Brazil told Phayul that the Tibetan cause is “important for the entire human kind.”
“We came all the way from Brazil to support Tibetans. The Tibetan cause is not just about Tibetans, it is about humanity. So, we are here to discuss human rights and non-violent actions,” she said.
Tod Stein, Director of Government Relations at the Washington based International Campaign for Tibet said the meeting needs to “express solidarity and understanding with the Tibetans who are taking these dramatic acts in Tibet.”
“Hopefully the central message out of this will be that the Tibetan supporters and Tibetans who live around the world are committed to act on their behalf to try to change the situation.”
Delegates at the meeting are scheduled to have an audience with Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama tomorrow.
Buoyed by the sweeping calls for democracy and freedom in many countries, Sikyong Dr Sangay said: “It is the time for Tibet, it is the time for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet.”
The three-day meeting is being convened by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India and facilitated by the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Sarias, a participant from Brazil told Phayul that the Tibetan cause is “important for the entire human kind.”
“We came all the way from Brazil to support Tibetans. The Tibetan cause is not just about Tibetans, it is about humanity. So, we are here to discuss human rights and non-violent actions,” she said.
Tod Stein, Director of Government Relations at the Washington based International Campaign for Tibet said the meeting needs to “express solidarity and understanding with the Tibetans who are taking these dramatic acts in Tibet.”
“Hopefully the central message out of this will be that the Tibetan supporters and Tibetans who live around the world are committed to act on their behalf to try to change the situation.”
Delegates at the meeting are scheduled to have an audience with Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama tomorrow.
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