By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 19: Lhadon Tethong, a prominent Tibetan activist and the Co-Founder/Director of Tibet Action Institute (TAI), has been honoured with the International Religious Freedom Award by the Secretary of State under the designation of People’s Republic of China (PRoC)- Tibet. The prestigious award recognised Tethong’s relentless effort in advocating for the rights of the Tibetan people, particularly in the context of religious freedom and human rights in Tibet.
The Secretary of State’s International Religious Freedom Award recognised that under Tethong’s leadership, the TAI has played a pivotal role in developing and advancing open-source communication technologies, nonviolent strategies, and training programs. TAI’s work has shed light on how the People’s Republic of China interferes with the right to freedom of religion or belief, particularly impacting Tibetan Buddhists.
Tethong, also the former Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), has actively engaged in international advocacy efforts over the years, including presenting recommendations at forums such as the Universal Periodic Review 45 Pre-Session. Her advocacy work has not only focused on bringing attention to the challenges faced by Tibetans but has also provided specific recommendations for addressing religious freedom concerns, underlining the importance of global awareness and action.
The International Religious Freedom Award awarded to Lhadon Tethong under the designation of People’s Republic of China (PRoC) raised concerns among Tibetans in exile that are striving for Tibet to be recognised as a occupied nation and not just as a “minority group” that are subjected to repression by China.
Recently, Tenzin Paldon, the former Miss Tibet was ousted from a beauty pageant after she refused to wear a sash with “Tibet-PRoC” instead of one that simply “Tibet.”
Many say that such seemingly harmless acts indicate the effectiveness of the overall machinery of China’s propaganda in portraying Tibet as part of China on the international platform. The US’s recognition of the One-China policy has been detrimental to the fact that Tibet is a occupied nation and not just a “minority group” prosecuted by the Chinese government.
2 Responses
So Joe Biden’s Democrat party thinks Tibetan activist Lhadon Tethong is basically a chinese citizen ? Oh right Joe Biden is a socialist just like Xi Jiping. Therefore Joe admired Xi Jiping’s car when the dicktator Xi visited usa last year. But he never even met HH Dalai Lama despite talking about freedom and demo racy.
Lhadon must reject this award on moral grounds. Lets vote Donald Trump. Trump hates commies, as he is a capitalist. Democrats love china secretly. They are socialists.
While she could have acknowledged and appreciated the recognition for her work on the subject, it would have been more appropriate for her to decline the award bearing the title “People’s Republic of China.” Despite years of advocating Tibet’s independence from China on the global stage, Ms. Tethong appears to have overlooked this fundamental belief. Perhaps the allure of the award outweighed her commitment to the cause.