Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration addressed the Tibetan community in Southern California on Thursday, 12 October 2023 as part of his ongoing official visit to North America.
Following the successful completion of his maiden official engagements in Latin America, Sikyong Penpa Tsering arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon to a rousing reception from the Tibetan community led by the Tibetan Association of Southern California. Later in the evening, Sikyong addressed Tibetan residents of the region.
In his keynote address, Sikyong talked about the recent Chatrel (voluntary contribution to Central Tibetan Administration) exemption that has been offered under the unanimous resolution adopted during the 5th session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile. He stated that the main motivation for the change was to make it easier for Tibetans living abroad to fulfil their obligations while mentioning similar amendments pertaining stipulation of Chatrel payment in the charter that were performed during the tenure of Former Kalon Tripa Samdong Rinpoche and Former Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay.
Sikyong further spoke about other key priorities of current Kashag’s political and administrative endeavours, including its compliance with the policy of the Middle Way Approach for resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict; Kashag’s firm stand on Tibet’s past independent status; drafting a proper demographic figure of exile community to facilitate future plannings; and establishing suitable administrative structure within CTA to ease future management and operations.
Sikyong also briefed his post-pandemic official visits and engagements since assuming the office to underline 16th Kashag’s efforts in understanding the needs of the general Tibetan public in order to facilitate secure decision-making.
In addition, Sikyong briefed the gathering about his recent engagements in Latin America and acknowledged the Mexican Parliamentarian including the President of the Group of Legislators Friends of Tibet, Deputy Salvador Caro Cabrera, for bolstering support towards the Tibetan freedom struggle in Mexico, along with other lawmakers and officials in Latin America for strengthening the support in recent years.
Before concluding his talk, Sikyong succinctly shed light on contemporary international politics concerning China and the domestic political struggles of the People’s Republic of China.
