NEW YORK: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay completed a successful visit to Philadelphia and the West coast region of the United States from 22 to 29 August. He started his visit in Philadelphia and then travelled west to San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. He returned to India via New York on 29 August. Sikyong was accompanied by Ngawang Yonten from the Office of Tibet based in New York and his wife and daughter who reside in Boston.

 

Tibetans and leaders of Tibetan Associations came out in large numbers to receive the Sikyong at all the airports with traditional khatag (white scarf).  The Sikyong undertook the visit to meet Tibetan communities in the six cities, update them on his and the 14th Kashag’s work during the first two years in office, and solicit feedback from the community. A secondary and equally important purpose was to meet old friends and supporters of Tibet, cultivate new relationships, and raise overall awareness about the Tibet issue. The Sikyong spoke about the Middle-Way Approach policy and how this policy had garnered support from different governments including India, EU and the United States. He discussed education and the rising education standards of Tibetan students and schools in India, and highlighted Tibet Corps and Sister Shichak as two specific and new initiatives specifically targeting Tibetans residing in the West.  He thanked the elder generation for establishing a strong Central Tibetan Administration under the guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. He drew attention on the sacrifices of the Tibetan people inside Tibet, and spoke of their strong loyalty towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama, CTA and their brave struggle to restore freedom in Tibet.

 

Philadelphia: Sikyong made a brief stop in Philadelphia the morning of 22 August and met with President Tsering Jurme and board members of Tibetan Associations and other community members including former Kalon Lobsang Dhargay.

 

San Francisco: Sikyong was received at the airport by Kunjo Tashi, President of Tibetan Association and its board members. A large number of Tibetan people including many youths came to listen to Sikyong’s public address in San Francisco on the evening of 22 August. The event, which ran late into the night, included a Q&A session and the Sikyong’s talk covered various topics including Middle Way policy, gender issue, Tibetan green book, etc. On 23 August, the Sikyong met with Berkeley city council member Mr. Kriss Worthington and thanked him for his long and strong support of the Tibetan community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sikyong also met board of the Tibetan Oral History Project and other prominent Tibet supporters in the Bay Area and local media.

 

Portland: Sikyong was received at the airport by the President of the Tibetan Association, Dechen Bartso and board members. On the evening of 23 August, Sikyong met with Tibetans living in Oregon and Southwest Washington at the newly established and remodeled Tibetan community center (Bhod Khang) in Portland. A large number of Tibetans turned up to listen to the Sikyong and people had a chance to ask a few questions at the end. The visit was covered by the Oregonian, a major daily newspaper in Portland.

 

Seattle: Sikyong was received at the Airport by Tibetan Chithue Tashi Namgyal, and Board members of Tibetan Association. The Sikyong graced the 18th Tibetan Festival (Tibet Fest) organised by the Tibetan Association of Washington (Seattle) on the morning of 24 August at the Seattle Center. President of the Tibetan Association Tsering Yuthok introduced the Sikyong at the Tibet Fest where Sikyong talked about Tibet issue and CTA to a large audience of Tibetans and Americans. The Sikyong also met with the Mayor of the Seattle Mr. Mike McGinn and the Director of Seattle Center. Mayor McGinn shared his experience of visiting Tibet including Labrang Monastery.

 

Los Angeles: On 25 August, Sikyong was accorded a welcome reception at the airport by the President of Tibetan Association Prof. Tenzin Dorjee, Board members and community members. The Sikyong met with the Tibetan community in Los Angeles, and the visit was covered by local media including RFA (Chinese language) and Epoch Times, and LA Times. Board of the Santa Barbara Summit for Tibet met the Sikyong, and later in a day, Sikyong paid a courtesy call on to two nearby Tibetan Buddhist centers – Gaden Shartse Thupten Dhargay Ling & Gaden Shoeling – on 26 August. Later that evening, Thor Halvorssen of Human Rights Foundation and Freedom Forum hosted a dinner reception in honor of Sikyong, which was attended by prominent people from the media, government and business world. Sikyong talked about CTA, the Tibet issue and the current situation inside Tibet.

 

Salt Lake City: Sikyong was received at the airport by the President and  board member of the Tibetan Association on the morning of 27 August. Pema Chagzoetsang, former President of the Utah Tibetan Association and its current President Lobsang Tsering worked together to served as the local coordinator for the Sikyong’s visit. The Sikyong spoke at the S.J. Quineney Law School, University of Utah on “Tibet Issue, Background & Current status,” which was attended by about 150 law students and faculty members.

 

The evening program included a dinner reception in honor of the Sikyong sponsored by Mr. Scott Anderson, the President and CEO of Zion’s Bank. Mr. Greg Bell, Lieutenant Governor of Utah, and his staff attended the dinner reception. Mr. Bell spoke about his high regard for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the hard working Tibetan community in Salt Lake city, and said he was most happy to meet with the Sikyong.

 

New York: The Sikyong reached New York city on the evening of 28 August where he was warmly received by President Mr. Kunga Thinley and board members of the Tibetan Association of New York/New Jersey, and leaders of the regional chapters of the Tibetan Women Association, Tibetan Youth Congress and Chushi Gangdruk. The Tibetan Association of New York & New Jersey hosted a dinner for the Sikyong and guests included Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, outgoing Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, Mr. Kaydor Aukatsang, new Representative, and Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang, Secretary at CTA’s Department of Home.

 

The Sikyong concluded his US tour with a visit to the Office of Tibet on 29 August and viewed the transferring of responsibilities to the new Representative at the Office of Tibet.