Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) celebrated the 63rd Tibetan Democracy Day earlier today at Tsuglagkhang in Dharamshala with the gracious presence of a group of Swedish Parliamentary Delegation-led by honourable Margareta Elisabeth Cederfelt, a member of Swedish Parliament from the Moderate Party, and the representatives of distinguished international donor organisations who were part of CTA Donor Conference.
The Swedish Parliamentary Delegation consist of honourable MPs Margareta Elisabeth Cederfelt, Johanna Hornberger, Marie Charlotte Nicholson, Maria Viktoriam Stockhaus, Alexandra Anstrell, Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage, John E Weinerhall from the Moderate Party; Hon. MPs Richard Johannes Jomshof and Björn Söder from the Sweden Democrats Party; Hon. MP Gudrun Margareta Brunegard from the Christian Democrats Party; Hon. MP Janine Sofia Alm Ericson from the Green Party and Carl Mattias and Kristina Eva Maria Bjornerstedt of Swedish Tibet Committee. The delegation were accompanied by Representative Sonam Tsering Farsi and Secretary Lobsang Choedon Samten from the Office of Tibet, London.
Also in attendance was leadership of the CTA led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel (17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile), Sikyong Penpa Tsering (16th Kashag), Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok (Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission), Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra (Department of Education), Kalon Dolma Gyari (Department of Security), Kalon Norzin Dolma (Department of Information and International Relations), members of the Tibetan Parliament’s Standing Committee, Election and Public Service Commissioner Wangdue Tsering Pesur, Secretaries along with representatives of Tibetan NGOs and students from Dharamshala-based Tibetan schools.
The assemblage began the anniversary by singing a ceremonial Tibetan Democracy Day song followed by orations on Tibetan democracy from four students representing Upper Tibetan Children’s Village and Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen school.
Honourable Margareta Elisabeth Cederfelt, a member of Swedish Parliament from the Moderate Party, addressing at the 63rd Tibetan Democracy Day as chief guest. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Expressing her honour of being part of the celebration, chief guest MP Margareta Elisabeth Cederfelt lauded the CTA’s Middle Way Approach policy after Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Sikyong Penpa Tsering read the statements of Tibetan Parliament in Exile and Kashag respectively. She said, “This is a pragmatic solution to safeguard the vital interests of both parties. For Tibetans, it offers the protection and preservation of the identity and dignity of the Tibetan people. For China, it means maintaining the territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China.”
“We are here to learn more about Tibet and its people and to show our solidarity and support with the Tibetan people”, said MP Margareta Elisabeth Cederfelt as she acknowledged the existence of an active Swedish Tibet Friendship Parliamentary group that aims to develop, maintain, and strengthen parliamentarian relations between Swedish and Tibetan parliaments. “We could see an increased number of Swedish MPs who mention Tibet in debates and also write bills in support of Tibet,” she added.
“I would also like to mention what China do against Tibet and its people is not acceptable.” She continued, “We, as MPs in other countries, we are obliged to raise this situation. Tibet belongs to its people, and the Tibetan people should have the right to (maintain) the Tibetan culture, the tradition and the Tibetan lifestyle”.
Before concluding her address, the chief guest from the Swedish Parliament commended the Tibetan democracy in exile that was envisaged and initiated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama while she condemned China’s violation of Human Rights in Tibet that resulted in unimaginable numbers of self-immolation inside Tibet. She stressed, “They have used their last power to protest against the violent authoritarian Chinese communist regime.” She also disapproved of Beijing’s policy of assimilating Tibetan children through government-run boarding schools that have forcibly separated approximately one million Tibetan children from their families and traditions.
During the celebration, Sikyong Penpa Tsering proclaimed the absence of cultural performances on this important occasion is to express solidarity with the government and people of Himachal Pradesh for the colossal loss caused by incessant rain. He declared a day’s salary of all the CTA staff would be contributed to the Chief Minister’s relief fund to show support and gratitude to the Himachal government and people.
As part of the ceremony, Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok conferred awards and certificates to the recipients of this year’s class 12 Gaden Phodrang and Excellence awards for their academic distinction, while Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel bestowed honorary awards to six Tibetan PhD students. A staff from the Department of Education was also presented a milestone award by the Speaker for her 25 years of service.
At the same time, Sikyong Penpa Tsering launched a book by Ven. Jigme from Kirti Monastery that explores the political life and achievements of the 11th Kirti Rinpoche, who served as the Kalon of Department of Religion and Culture from 1997 to 1999 at CTA (then called Gaden Phodrang). Sikyong also presented ceremonial scarves (khatag) and mementoes to the members of the Swedish Parliamentary Delegation and representatives of CTA’s donors as a token of appreciation on behalf of the CTA and Tibetans.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering reading the Kashag’s statement. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel reading the statement Tibetan Parliament in Exile. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok presenting certificate to a recipient of Excellence Award. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel presenting an honorary award to a PhD student from Varanasi. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Sikyong Penpa Tsering launching the book on Kirti Rinpoche’s political life and achievements by Ven. Jigme. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Sikyong Penpa Tsering presenting an emblem of CTA as token of souvenirs to chief guest MP Margareta Elisabeth Cederfelt. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
Sikyong Penpa Tsering presenting a memento to Marilia Bellaterra, the President of AREF International Onlus. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / DIIR
