DHARAMSHALA, July 5: In view of grim situation inside Tibet, the exile Tibetan leadership is all geared up to lobby world leaders and initiate campaigns coinciding with the 77th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama which falls on the 6th of this month.
The Minister for Department of Religion and Culture, Pema Chhinjor will be attending the 77th birthday celebration of the Tibetan spiritual leader in Switzerland and will meet various members of the Swiss Parliament and Tibet support groups, official sources said.
Kalon Chhinjor will also visit Italy, Germany, and Austria as part of his 18-day European tour.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information & International Relations is touring east Asian countries of Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
In Taiwan, Kalon Chhoyang addressed members of the Taiwanese parliament and also met with former deputy premier and 2012 Taiwan’s presidential candidate, Tsai Ing Wen.
Kalon Dongchung Ngodup, minister for the Department of Security is also in Europe touring France, Belgium, Holland, and Spain.
“Coinciding with the Dalai Lama’s birthday, our ministers will be meeting many prominent leaders including members of parliaments in Europe and Asia,” an official at the Kashag told Phayul.
The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will also flag off its global torch relay tomorrow calling for the United Nation’s intervention in the deteriorating human rights situation inside Tibet.
The “Flame of Truth Relay” begins on July 6, simultaneously from three cities in India and will travel across hundreds of cities around the world before concluding on December 10, World Human Rights Day, with the submission of appeal letters and signatures at the UN Headquarters in New York City, UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and UN information office in New Delhi.
The Tibetan parliament said that the Relay is being carried out in “solidarity with the courageous and selfless acts of our brave brothers and sisters inside Tibet and to make the world aware of their selfless acts and aspirations.”
In the exile Tibetan headquarters of Dharamshala, the Central Tibetan Administration is organising a “grand ceremony commemorating the first birthday celebration of His Holiness after the complete devolution of his political authority.”
The Dalai Lama is expected to take part in the official function along with the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal and Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay.
Live webcast of the ceremony from the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple will be available on dalailama.com starting from approximately 9:00am (IST)
However, Phayul has learned that Tibetans in Nepal have been issued strict orders barring them from celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
“Tibetan offices in the capital Kathmandu have received orders from Nepali authorities barring birthday celebrations and the public display of the Dalai Lama’s portraits,” a Tibetan in Nepal told Phayul.
