DHARAMSHALA: Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, today testified before the Italian Senate’s Extraordinary Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang requested the Italian Senate to urge the Chinese government to engage in dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s envoys to resolve the Tibet issue on the Middle Way Approach.
She urged the Italian government to engage with the Chinese government on the issue of regional autonomy. “We see in new Chinese leadership of President Xi Jinping, an opportunity for countries like Italy, with extensive experience with regional autonomy, to engage with China and share its successful experience.”
Kalon Chhoyang called for an immediate end to repression in Tibet, including suspending the forceful resettlement of Tibetan nomads and guaranteeing Tibetan language as the medium of instruction in schools.
Speaking about the wave of self-immolation protests in Tibet, she said that the self-immolations result from decades of Chinese misrule in Tibet. “The self-immolations are Tibetan people’s protest against misguided policies. Beijing has the power to change the situation on the ground by reviewing its policies in Tibet to reflect the wishes of the people and responding peacefully to civil expression of discontent,” she said.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang said the Chinese government should respect the Tibetan people’s right to learn and preserve their own language, religious freedom as well as Tibet’s environment and end the forced resettlement of Tibetan nomads.
She reiterated the Tibetan people’s firm commitment to non-violence and dialogue. However, she expressed deep concern over the ongoing political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation and environmental destruction in occupied Tibet.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang spoke on the devolution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s political responsibilities to the elected leadership of Central Tibetan Administration. “This achievement sends a clear message to Beijing that leadership of the Tibet freedom movement has been entrusted to the younger generation of Tibetans.”
“The Tibetan political leadership is determined to finding a peaceful resolution to the situation in Tibet through the Middle Way Approach which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution,” she added.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang thanked Italy for their long-standing support for Tibet and the Tibetan people.
She concluded her testimonial by urging the Italian senate to help in realising the aspirations of the Tibetan people. “As we see justice prevail in different parts of the world, so it should be for Tibet with your support.”
