By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 25: The exile Tibetan government’s minister for Information and International Relations Norzin Dolma, along with other CTA officials, met the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya on Thursday in Washington DC. Kalon Norzin’s first official visit abroad also marked the first in-person meeting of a CTA leader with Under Secretary Zeya.
The DIIR head briefed the Secretary about the current CTA administration’s firm commitment to the Middle Way Approach and the proactive approach it is taking to resolve the Tibet issue. The main aim of the visit is to lay the groundwork for future engagements between the CTA and US administration, CTA official website reported. Norzin Dolma along with Secretary Karma Choeying arrived in Washington DC on February 20 for a week-long meeting within the State Department to lobby for issues related to Tibet.
During the exchange, Secretary Zeya expressed her wish to visit Dharamshala, where His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA establishments are based. The DIIR minister accompanied by the Dalai Lama’s representative in North America Namgyal Choedup also met with the US Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussein and other dignitaries,
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya became the seventh official to hold the position of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues; she officially convened her first meeting virtually with official Namgyal Choedup on December 22 last year.
CTA President Penpa Tsering earlier welcomed her appointment and said that he looked forward to working with Uzra Zeya to bring tangible progress in the human rights situation in Tibet and resolve Sino-Tibet conflict through the Middle Way Approach.
The position mandated by the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, is primarily tasked to promote meaningful dialogue on Tibetan autonomy between the People’s Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives, protect the unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity of Tibetans and press China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people.
4 Responses
There is a difference for those living in exile versus those who are living in Tibet. Please have consideration for their plight and decide what may be most favorable. Ideological wars have a “all you gotta do is” mentality for those deciding from the safety of their kitchen in exile. The ramifications are what those living in Tibet have to deal with. As once stated, “the first cut is the deepest”. It isn’t surprising that the head of the government of Afghanistan during the previous decade is now in exile. Local conditions in Asia are quite different than they are in North America.
Perhaps also of consideration for Tibetans are what happened with the UN decades ago. Do not forget that one of the people involved with the UN charter is part of the Soong family. The US on paper still is in agreement with the “one China policy”.
Thanks to Special Representative for hearing directly from our Kalon. Such action will definitely send messages to China that United States is serious about human rights, religious freedom, and cultural destruction in Tibet.
This is not greeting or meeting. They are there to beg money by selling the plight of Tibetans in Tibet and in return, they don’t even talk about Free Tibet now. They beg money for Tibetan in Tibet and they will spend to preserve an individual’s legacy.
That’s CCP talking point