Washington DC: The first day of the 22nd North American Tibetan Associations (NATA) Conference was held at the NED Conference Hall on 8 December 2024 in the gracious presence of Sikyong Penpa Tsering. With more than 50 participants from 26 different Tibetan Associations in the United States, the proceedings began with Sikyong Penpa Tsering offering a ceremonial white scarf to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This was followed by members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Tenzing Jigme and Thondup Tsering, along with Representative Namgyal Choedup.
In his opening address, Representative Namgyal Choedup highlighted the significance of the conference, particularly in light of the profound changes in the U.S. political landscape. With the momentous occasion of His Holiness’s 90th birthday approaching, he underscored the pivotal role of NATA participants in collaboratively designing and implementing programs and projects for the Goton celebration.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for generously providing the venue for the conference. He commended NED for its longstanding support and friendship toward Tibet and the Tibetan cause.
Sikyong also touched upon the upcoming event organised by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) to honour Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her unwavering support for Tibet. He recalled an instance when Pelosi, deeply revering His Holiness the Dalai Lama, remarked how fortunate everyone in the hall was to breathe the same air as His Holiness. This, Sikyong stated, is a testament to the profound respect and admiration His Holiness commands among global leaders and dignitaries. He emphasised how Members of the Tibetan Parliament and Sikyong himself are treated with the same respect and recognition as representatives of sovereign nations, a testament to the grace and stature of His Holiness.
Sikyong stressed the importance of adhering to the guidance and teachings of His Holiness, reiterating the need to honour his vision and values in all endeavours. Sikyong emphasised the critical importance of accurate numbers and data, particularly when engaging with foreign dignitaries. He noted that one of the most common questions posed by such officials is, “How many Tibetans reside inside Tibet and in the diaspora?” Sikyong referenced a recent meeting with the heads of the Departments of Home, Health, Finance, and Tibet Fund regarding household listings, highlighting how collaborative efforts across these departments can produce reliable data, especially concerning Tibetans in India.
For Tibetans residing abroad, Sikyong underscored the crucial role of regional Tibetan Associations, whose familiarity with their communities positions them uniquely to assist in data collection for household listings. He stressed that in the modern world, evidence and documentation are indispensable, and he appealed to representatives of Tibetan Associations in the United States to voluntarily issue formal statements on two significant matters: first, that the issue of the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama lies solely in his hands; and second, that the Gaden Phodrang institution must remain intact.
In addition, Sikyong addressed reports regarding the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama’s potential visit to Nepal in mid-December. Sikyong highlighted China’s persistent efforts to legitimise their appointed Panchen Lama among Tibetans by sending him to Tibet for extended periods, aiming to cultivate reverence for him within the Tibetan community. He further emphasised that similar, if not more aggressive, measures could be anticipated in the case of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s succession in the near future. Regarding the 90th birthday celebration (Goton), Sikyong elaborated on the Goton Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary of Kashag and includes representatives from each department of the Central Tibetan Administration. For the United States, he highlighted that the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has already planned several programs. With Tibetan Associations across various regions preparing their own initiatives, Sikyong suggested that it would be beneficial for all associations and organisations to submit their program details to the CTA in Dharamsala. This would enable the creation of a comprehensive calendar of events for Goton (90th birthday celebration).
