Dharamshala: In what is being described as an ‘appalling show of conduct’, Mr Tsewang Rigzin, president of the largest non-governmental organisation in exile was ‘rudely expelled’ from the Kalachakra venue in Washington DC July 14.
Mr Rigzin who is leading a fund-raising team for the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) was confronted by Mr Kalden Lodoe, co-chair of the Kalachakra 2011 organising committee for selling merchandise that Mr Lodoe apparently deemed ‘too political’.
As a means to raise funds for its various political and social activities, volunteers of TYC had been selling T-shirts bearing the text ‘Tibetan Government-in-exile’, upholding the organisation’s earlier commitment to ‘respect and continue to recognise and retain the name of Tibetan Government-in-exile’. Mr Lodoe who is also the president of the Capital Area Tibetan Association allegedly threatened to call security if Mr Tsewang Rigzin did not
leave the building immediately.
At a press conference held today in the TYC headquarters, Dharamshala, Vice-President Dhondup Lhadar called the incidence as a ‘direct attack against an organization that has over the decades kept the alive the spirit of the struggle for our cause’.
“Today, the President of a 35,000-member organisation and the symbol of Tibetan independence was insulted, humiliated and disrespected. The head of a movement, which has proved itself to be a strong opponent of China and which is the bedrock of faith of Tibetans both inside Tibet and in exile was insulted in such a despicable manner by a fellow
Tibetan”, Mr Lhadar said.
Expressing its ‘extreme disappointment’ at Mr Lodoe’s actions TYC said that tolerating such an issue would surmount to shunning the organisation’s responsibilities towards maintaining the dignity of our movement.
“Therefore, TYC has called this press conference to seek a written and oral public apology to the President as well as the organisation of Tibetan Youth Congress latest by 15 July 2011”, Vice-President of the largest pro-independence group said.
“TYC’s pledge to continue to honour, recognise and use the name ‘Tibetan Government in Exile’ (Tsenjol Bo shung) in body, speech and mind is not only aimed at safeguarding the historical legacy of Tibet’s independence but is also to ensure that this continues to provide us with the strength and inspiration we need in order to restore Tibet’s independence”.
However, in a statement sent to phayul.com July 15 late night, the Kalachakra Organising Committee denied charges of ‘misconduct’ with TYC President Tsewang Rigzin without giving any clarifications on whether the organizing committee’s Co-chair Kalden Lodoe had threatened of using security force against Mr Rigzin if he didn’t leave the teaching’s venue.
The Kalachakra Organising Committee, in its statement in Tibetan, expressed regret at the unfolding of the event and vouched their ‘full respect’ and co-operation with TYC.
“The organising committee made special consideration to TYC and allowed its stall to be moved within the corridors of the Verizon Centre where only the Orgianising Committee was allowed to sell religious books and religious souvenirs. Our only condition with TYC was that its stall didn’t sell political merchandise”, the statement said.
Phuntsok Chomphel, a young activist in exile who has closely followed the event wonders how can anyone take ‘politics’ away from our struggle for freedom.
“Since when did calling ourselves a government in exile become too political?” questions Phuntsok.
