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Tibetans and British supporters mark US top honour to His Holiness

Wednesday, 24 October 2007, 11:00 a.m.


Representative Tsering Tashi addressing an attentative gathering of Tibetans and others in London to celebrate the awarding of the US Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Standing to his left is TCB Chairman Tenzin Samphel.
London: Like in other parts of the world, the Tibetans and supporters in UK celebrated on October 20 the awarding of the US Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his contribution to peace, non-violence, human rights, religious understanding and efforts to resolve the issue of Tibet through dialogue with the Chinese leadership.

The event was organised by the Tibetan Community in Britain at the Kailash Centre located next to the Tibet House and Office of Tibet, London. All those attending also got to see a repeat of (in case one had missed) the CNN live broadcast of His Holiness receiving the US Congressional Gold Medal from American President George W. Bush and His Holiness' acceptance speech that ended with a standing ovation from the who's who of the American leadership and their guests.

The Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Speaker Karma Chophel, His Holiness' Special Envoy Lodi Gyari and His Holiness' Representative Tashi Wangdi based in the New York Office of Tibet were present at the award ceremony.

Welcoming the London gathering, the Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, Mr Tenzin Samphel, said the US Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award in the world after the Nobel Peace Prize that His Holiness the Dalai Lama won in 1989 for leading the non-violent Tibetan struggle for freedom. He urged the Tibetans to follow the advise of His Holiness and to actively shoulder the responsibility of the common Tibetan cause.


Tibetans and well-wishers enjoying the Tibetan gor-shey dance to celebrate America's highest honour bestowed upon His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Speaking on the occasion, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr Tsering Tashi, said the Tibetans are most fortunate to have as their spiritual and temporal leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is respected throughout the world. Recalling his experience of having previously served at the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the Press Officer, he told an attentive gathering that even prominent editors of the world media are drawn toward His Holiness because of the Tibetan leader's humility, confidence to speak from the heart and consistency of message.

In between reading extracts from some key speeches made during the official Washington D.C. medal presentation ceremony, Mr Tsering Tashi said, he said the current American support for Tibet is genuine because of their respect for His Holiness and recognition of the plight of the Tibetan people and importance of the unique Tibetan cultural heritage.

He said it is inspiring to note that the vast majority of American Congressmen and Senators who have been on the forefront of championing the just Tibetan cause and have sponsored Tibet-related resolutions in the US Congress do not have any Tibetan vote!

He quoted President George Bush, who had personally presented the Gold Medal to His Holiness as saying, "Members of both our political parties and world leaders have seen His Holiness as a man of faith and sincerity and peace. He's won the respect and affection of the American people and America has earned his respect and affection as well".

Representative Tsering Tashi said when he was interviewed by the BBC World on the day His Holiness was awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal, he told the news presenter that the negative official Chinese reaction and claim that the award had hurt the feelings of the Chinese people did not make much sense. "I explained that the feelings of the Chinese people were hurt when hundreds and thousands of Chinese students and people were killed in 1989 in Tiananmen Square for asking for freedom and democracy".

He quoted the British actress Joanna Lumley, who was also interviewed by the BBC World as having said, "If the Chinese authorities consider Tibet to be a part of China, then they should feel happy because a Chinese has been given the Gold Medal".

"Recent events in Tibet have shown how the spirit of the Tibetan people, despite all the difficulties, remain strong," Mr Tashi said thanked Tibet supporters and principled world leaders, such as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Germany in September.

He urged fellow Tibetans to continue strengthening the common Tibetan struggle and offered prayers for the fulfilment of His Holiness' wishes for the Tibetan people and the world.

The atmosphere at the London celebratory gathering was full of positive energy with children running happily around and adults sharing their emotions and feelings of this historic moment in Tibet's history when His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 17 October was presented with America's highest honour. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food and drinks prepared and arranged by the Tibetan Community in Britain. The joyous moment concluded with the Tibetan gor-shey circle dance.

--Report by the Tibetan Community in Britain

  (www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)

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