By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, September 13: The 15th Tibetan Parliament in Exile which began its eighth session on Saturday appealed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue of Tibet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.
“The main purpose of the visit is business; however I urged India to raise border crisis and Tibet issue making its stand clear about Tibet and support in solving Tibet’s cause. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a key person to resolve the Tibet’s cause, solving the Tibet’s cause is a main key to strengthen the relation between China and India,” said Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile during the opening of the Tibetan parliament’s eighth session.
This will be Xi’s first visit to India since he became the President of China a year ago. It is believed that Xi will arrive directly in Ahmedabad on September 17, and later go to New Delhi before flying back home on September 19. Last month, it was reported that Xi is expected to talk about the existence of Tibetan government in exile and role of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India during his India visit next week.
“We have complete faith in Indian government, it has always offered all the help and facilities to Tibetans and I believe, if not better, it will never get worse in the future. Therefore, when Chinese President visits India, we keep our hope alive with India.”
He appealed Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping at the helm to pay more attention to the Tibet’s cause; and called on Xi to take charge in exploring the true situation inside Tibet and finding ways to resolve the crisis inside Tibet.
Tsering further said he is hopeful that things will get better for Tibetans under the leadership of President Xi. “Many changes are taking place in China and some describe it in a positive way while some in negative. However, regardless of what others may say, the key responsibilities of Tibetans is to eliminate the hardships faced by Tibetans inside Tibet and resolve Tibet’s cause. Many around the world are very hopeful of Chinese President Xi Jinping, therefore with positive attitude, we also hope for positive changes in Tibet’s cause.”
TPiE has also submitted an appeal letter to Xi Jinping through Chinese Embassy in New Delhi urging to send a member of Tibetan parliament in exile to find out if China has really turned Tibet into heaven as it claims. However TPiE has not received any response so far.
The agenda for this session includes presentation of annual reports by the seven departments of the Tibetan government in exile, the annual report and recommendations of the 5th Public Accounts Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and deliberations on the current situation in Tibet. The Parliament will also have a special session on September 16 to discuss on Xi’s visit.
The parliament will convene for thirteen days from September 12 to 24.
The highest legislative organ of the Tibetan government in exile meets twice a year to enact laws, frame rules and regulations and issue policy decisions and monitor the finances activities of the Tibetan government in exile, which officially is known as the Central Tibetan Administration.
