Members of Tibet Normandie with the Mayor and the President of the Regional council at Amfreville la Mi Voie

PARIS: The city of Montbeliard in the eastern Franche Comte region of France formally adopted Kharta, a small Tibetan village at the foothills of Mount Everest, at a ceremony held at the City Hall last Saturday (6 October).

The ceremony as attended by the Mayor of Montbeliard, Senator of Doubs Mr Humbert, who is also the President of the Tibet Group in French Senate, Secretary of Bureau du Tibet Mr Tsering Dhondup and some 50 Tibetans supporters from the area.

Artists from Swiss sing Tibetan national anthem at Montbeliard during the ceremony

A Tibetan song and dance group was specially invited from Swistzerland to mark the event.

The mayor of the city in his addressed underlined the importance of Tibet’s unique cultural identity and its preservation, which he said faced destruction at the hands of China. He also emphasised upon the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people which he said needed to be upheld and supported, while rendering the city’s total support to the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people.

Mr Humbert, Senator and the President of Tibet group, assured continued work at national and international level from the Tibet Group in the French Senate.

Mr Tsering Dhondup thanked the City council and the Mayor, as well as the people of the city for their concern and strong support to the freedom struggle of Tibetan people, which he said was a struggle of right against wrong, truth against lies and justice against injustice. He therefore called the city and its people pro-justice rather than pro-Tibet evoking His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s words.

A traditional dance of good wishes “Tashi Sholpa” was performed by the Tibetan song and dance troupe from Switzerland. A free public show was also held in the afternoon by the same group treating the local people with traditional performing arts of Tibet.

The initiative was launched by local Tibet support group, Passeport Tibetain, in collaboration with Franc-Tibet, a national TSG in France.

As of today, 54 French cities and towns municipalities have participated in this campaign that aims to preserve the religious, cultural, and linguistic identity of the Tibetan people.

Another municipality of Amfreville la Mivoie also held a ceremony today (Saturday 6 October) to adopt Phari. An initiative of the local Tibet support group, Tibet Normandie, the ceremony was held in the presence of a Tibetan native of Phari, who now lives in Paris.

A total number of 56 cities, towns and municipalities have so far decided to participate in this campaign, expressing their support to the Tibetan people’s freedom and respect for the fundamental human rights.