Geneva, 15 April 2013: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay will leave on 16 April morning for Belgium and France after completing the first leg of his Swiss visit.
Yesterday evening His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed over 5,000 members of the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This was immediately followed by Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s address to the Tibetans.
Sikyong Dr. Sangay thanked the government and people of Switzerland for its hospitality and continued support extended to Tibetans there since 1960. Sikyong urged Tibetans to be law-abiding residents and maintain humility, and integrity in their day-to-day life.
Sikyong reiterated Central Tibetan Administration’s firm commitment to the Middle Way Approach, which he said was unanimously adopted in the Tibetan Parliament based in Dharamsala. He mentioned of the resolutions and support for the Middle Way Approach by various Parliaments worldwide and by increasing number of Chinese writers and scholars.
The Middle Way Approach began to evolve from 1974 after thorough consultation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Kashag, the parliament and other Tibetan leaders.
Sikyong Dr. Sangay said we must heed the advices of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama who has tirelessly worked to resolve the Tibetan issue through the Middle Way Approach based on non-violence and dialogue. He said failing to act on His Holiness’ advices, the future generations of Tibetans would not forgive us.
In response to a question, Sikyong Dr. Sangay condemned individual Tibetans travelling to China pretending to represent Tibetans abroad.
He mentioned about the tragic situation in Tibet. 114 Tibetans have self-immolated. Sadly, 96 of them have died, he said.
Sikyong Dr. Sangay arrived in Switzerland on 10 April evening after a successful visit to Berlin. On 12 April, he addressed the 2nd European Tibetan Buddhist Conference in Fribourg. Over 70 delegates attended the conference. He urged the Tibetan Buddhist centres to engage more actively in the Tibetan issue.
On 13 April evening, Sikyong Dr. Sangay addressed the special reception honouring the 5 recipients of International Campaign for Tibet’s Light of Truth Award. He extended his felicitation to the awardees and spoke about the evolution of Tibetan democracy in exile and the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people.
He said that he was very happy to meet especially Mr. Robert Ford, who was a former Tibetan Government official in Tibet. Mr. Ford was the Radio Operator based in Chamdo. On his 90th birthday Sikyong issued a letter and 100 Nyul Sang for his long overdue payment for his service while in Tibet.
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay returns to Switzerland on 19 April to address the Conference of the Presidents of the Tibetan Communities in Europe on 20 – 21 April 2013 and he will also address the Tibetan teachers and supervisors of Tibetan schools in Europe.
(Report sent by Office of Tibet, Geneva)
