PARIS: A town in South France’s Aix en Provence region became on Monday, 8 April the sixtieth French municipality to officially adopt a Tibetan town.

Vitrolles adopted Tsethang and Yumbu Lagang with an official ceremony marking the inauguration of “Plaque”, participated by the Mayor of Vitrolles Mr. Loic Gachon and the entire members of the municipality council.

The Secretary of Bureau du Tibet, Mr. Tsering Dhondup, attended the ceremony as a guest of honour.

Speaking during the hour long ceremony, the mayor underlined the objective behind the town municipality’s unanimous decision to join the campaign as to support the Tibetan people’s quest for freedom and human rights, and particularly to safeguard the unique cultural heritage of Tibet.

The mayor expressed solidarity on behalf of the population of Vitrolles with the Tibetans, against the brutality characterised by eradication of a culture and religion, and against all aggression against the people of Tibet.

Mr. Tsering Dhondup spoke about the current situation in Tibet and the series of self immolation, which he emphasised, was caused by the failed policies of the communist government of PRC namely; political repression, economic marginalisation, human rights violations and environmental destruction.

The campaign was launched in April 2010 by the French Tibet Support Group, France Tibet and locally initiated by Provence Himalaya, a humanitarian organisation based in Vitrolles.