Brussels; Lithuanian MEP Mr. Leonidas Donskis organized an event in the European Parliament to screen Dhondup Wangchen’s documentary film ‘Leaving Fear Behind’ on 21 January.
The screening was attended by MEPs, assistants to MEPs, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brussels, representatives from NGOs, representatives of ICT and executive members of the Tibetan community in Belgium.
At the screening, Kate Saunders, director of communications ICT, former political prisoner Ms. Gyaltsen Dolkar and a couple of local Tibetan residents belonging to Driru county were invited to speak.
Mr. Donskis, in his opening remarks, welcomed the speakers and the invitees to the film screening. He remarked that the purpose of organizing the event was to draw attention of the European Union to the plight of the Tibetan people and to reiterate his and his fellow MEPs commitment to continuously work for the cause of Tibet’s freedom and dignity of its people. He urged the European Union not to compromise on its fundamental ideals of freedom, democracy, justice and equality in the face of its strategic partnership with China.
After screening of the film, Ms. Kate Saunders spoke on the background of the film and how Mr. Wangchen took great risk in showing the true aspirations and sufferings of the Tibetan people inside Tibet.
Ms. Gyaltsen Dolkar shared her ordeal of 12 years in a Chinese prison for raising her voice for the freedom of Tibet and its people.
Mr. Kalsang Chodak, a Belgium based Tibetan from Driru county, gave a brief update on the situation in Driru county and its adjoining areas. He also distributed documents updating recent incidents of arrests, beatings and deaths of Tibetans in captivity in Driru county.
Mr. Donskis thanked the participants for their participation and expressed his satisfaction in successfully organizing the event.
