TAIPEI: Ms Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for the Department of Information & International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan Administration, successfully concluded her four-day visit to Taiwan yesterday and left Taipei this morning for the second leg of her first Asian visit to South Korea.

On 28 June, DIIR Kalon Dicki Chhoyang visited the Office of Tibet during which she was briefed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative Mr Dawa Tsering on the daily activities of Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Later in the evening, she met with the deputy director of Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Mr Tsai, at his office. She also met with the volunteer staff of Snow Lion Publication (SLP) over dinner. The SLP has so far published 9 Tibet related books in Chinese.

On 29 June, Kalon Dicki addressed members of the Taiwanese Parliament about a wide range of issues, most importantly the Kashag’s policy, international Tibet support groups and the current situation inside Tibet. Mr Lin Shih-Chia, a Member of Parliament, has proposed to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to address the Parliament, while MP Hsiao Bi-Khim recommended to form a Parliamentary Tibet Support Group in Parliament. This proposal was supported by other parliamentarians who attended the Kalon’s talk.

The DIIR Kalon also met with former deputy premier and 2012 Taiwan’s presidential candidate, Ms Tsai Ing Wen, and two leaders to discuss various Tibet related issues and current situation inside Tibet. She also met with Mr Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Director General of India-Taipei Association, at the latter’s office.  She then attended a panel discussion on the tragic self-immolations in Tibet, which was organised by Amnesty International of Taiwan chapter. Mr Dawa Tsering, His Holiness’s Representative spoke on the history of Tibet, while Kalon Dicki Chhoyang spoke in detail about the self-immolation incidents in Tibet and answered the questions from the audience. About one hundred people attended the panel discussion.

On 30 June, the DIIR Kalon was invited to attend a special prayer service organised by the International Association of Tibetan Buddhist Dharama. Over 1,000 people took part in the prayer service. The Kalon apprised the gathering on the current situation inside Tibet. She also thanked the Taiwanese people for their support towards Tibet and the plight of the Tibetan people. Later in the evening, she met with the members of Tibet support groups and NGOs at a dinner reception.

On 1 July, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang attended the official celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 77th birthday organised by the Office of Tibet based in Taipei. His Eminence Sakya Trizin Rinpoche graced the opening ceremony. Kalon Dicki addressed the gathering by praising the Taiwanese Buddhist for their hard work in studying Tibetan Buddhism. She also spoke about the critical situation in Tibet in view of the spate of tragic self-immolations by Tibetans for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Later in the afternoon, she addressed the Tibetan community by highlighting the present Kashag’s policies and its firm commitment to pursue the Middle Way Policy towards resolving the issue of Tibet.

She will visit Japan for the third or last leg of her visit.

(Report filed by the Office of Tibet, Taiwan)