By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 29: The President of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Penpa Tsering who is currently on his first over seas tour as the leader of the Tibetan polity, reached Italy on Thursday for the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance against China’s (IPAC) counter meeting scheduled on Friday.
CTA Spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay from DIIR spoke to Phayul about the significance of Sikyong’s visit to Rome, “This is the first meeting by the global alliance of parliamentarians which is happening tomorrow in Rome. It will not only focus on communicating the importance of our struggle but also to build a network with diverse world leaders.” Penpa Tsering will also participate in the upcoming 4th Geneva forum meeting in November.
The IPAC conference has invited Taiwan Foreign minister Joseph Wu, former HK legislator Nathan Law and Uyghur activist Rahima Mahmut among others who have been targeted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The international cross-party group has also invited sanctioned leaders and IPAC members including former UK Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Belgian Green MP Samuel Cogolati, EPP MEP Miriam Lexmann and Lithuanian Social Democratic MP Dovilė Šakalienė.
“This meeting has been convened alongside the G20 summit, so it has its own significance of the timing and venue. Irrespective of possible Chinese condemnation, Tibet issue will be raised until and unless the matter is resolved by the Chinese government. We have no choice other than letting the international community know about the critical situation inside Tibet,” Spokesperson Lekshay further said.
Moreover, the governance will meet with the Tibetan community as he will be visiting Bolzano and Milan cities in Italy for his Europe tour. He will then be traveling to Switzerland, where the CTA head will meet with the community based in Geneva, Bern and Zurich. The CTA spokesperson also remarked, “One of the top priorities of the administration would be to introduce new policies under the 16th Kashag (Cabinet) to the public. There are different avenues and forums where he will be meeting with the community abroad.”
The newly established IPAC alliance last year is composed of parliamentarians from 19 countries that span from five continents and the European Union (EU). The IPAC is said to focus on leaders targeted by Beijing, including Tibet, Hong Kong and East Turkestan, for strategizing against China collectively.
