By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, May 27: World leaders and friends of the Tibetan movement poured in messages of felicitations for the new Sikyong of the exile Tibetan government Penpa Tsering who officially took over the reins from his predecessor Dr. Lobsang Sangay on Thursday.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in her congratulatory letter wrote, “Congratulations on your election as Sikyong of Central Tibetan Administration. The Tibetan people will be well-served by the experience that you bring to this post after a long and distinguished career in public service. Now more than ever, your resolute voice and tireless leadership as Sikyong will be necessary to carry on this vital tradition and advance the cause of peace.”
“Today and always America is proud to stand with you and the people of Tibet. Congratulations again, President Tsering, on your election and best wishes for success in your new role,” she wrote further.
Parliamentarians and members of Tibet Support Group in the Baltic States, Inter Parliamentary Group Italy–Tibet, and Tibet Interest Group in the EU Parliament, UK, Canada and Chile wrote expressing warm wishes and renewed support to CTA and the cause of Tibet.
Canadian MP Arif Virani, the chair of Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT) wrote: “Tashi Delek and congratulations to Penpa Tsering la for being elected Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration and thank you to outgoing Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay for your 10 years of service. I look forward to welcoming Sikyong Penpa Tsering la to Ottawa and continue working with him and advocating for cultural, linguistic and religious freedoms for the Tibetan people.”
Slovakia’s Deputy Speaker Gabor Grendel and MP Peter Osusky also chipped in with their congratulatory letter, “Please accept our warm congratulation for being elected to the position of the Sikyong in democratic elections.” Gabor Grendel is Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak parliament. Peter Osusky, MP, is representative of the Slovak Parliament Group of friends of Tibet.
The co-chair of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (AAPPT) Warren Entsch and MP Janet Rice, Australian Greens spokesperson on Foreign affairs sent their congratulatory message to the new President Mr Penpa Tsering.
“I just wanted to take the opportunity as co-chair of the parliamentary group for Tibet to congratulate Penpa Tsering on his election as the Tibetan Government- in -Exile’s next President (Sikyong),” Entsch wrote.
Dr Martin Bursik, former Czech Deputy Prime Minister and former Environment Minister and current president of the Czechs Support Tibet also sent a message of felicitation and pledged support for the Tibetan cause.
He wrote, “Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your election to Sikyong, to the leadership of the Tibetan government-in-exile. You can count on our support on your way to freedom and democracy. It is of our great honour and pleasure to invite you Your Excellency to Prague. Hope to meet you soon, either in Prague or Dharamsala.”
