South African Leaders Wishes His Holiness the Dalai Lama on His 75th Birthday

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South African Leaders Wishes His Holiness the Dalai Lama on His 75th Birthday[Monday, 12 July 2010, 11:58 a.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 75th birthday celebration in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday, 9th July 2010. Photos / Office of Tibet, Pretoria.

Pretoria: Over
sixty invited guests and resident Tibetans gathered at Lyttelton,
Pretoria on Friday, 9th July to celebrate the 75th birthday of His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual & temporal leader of the
Tibetan people. The event organized by the Office of Tibet was
attended by diplomats, members of Gauteng provincial legislature,
scholars, heads of Buddhist community, journalists, writers, heads of
private organizations and several South African followers of His
Holiness and supporters of the Tibet cause.Commencing with
Tibetans singing the national anthem, honorable guests observed a
minute silence as a mark of respect to the brave Tibetan men and women
who sacrificed their lives striving for the aspirations of the six
million Tibetan people. Earlier, Tibetans held incense-burning ceremony
and prayed for the long-life to Holiness the Dalai Lama.A
genuinely respectful and warm birthday wishes were received from South
African leaders from the Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, FW de
Klerk, Hon’ble Prince Buthelezi and Hon’ble Patricia de Lille. The
birthday wishes were read on the occasion. In his message Archbishop
Tutu said, “The people of Tibet may not be able to read my words today,
but my wish is that they know that we stand in solidarity with them,
petitioning on their behalf that they may be able openly and freely to
celebrate this 75th birthday of their revered and beloved Dalai Lama.” In
a short message former President FW de Klerk said, “ You remain a
beacon of hope for so many around the world who struggle to reconcile
cultural and religious identity with the forces of globalization which
are sweeping our world, and bringing deep anxieties along with their
benefits.”Congratulating His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his
75th birthday and praying for his health and longevity, Hon’ble Prince
Buthelezi said in his message, ” While it may not yet be safe for
Tibetans to say ” Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, voices
throughout the world resound with this hope as His Holiness celebrates
his 75th birthday.” While extending happy birthday to
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Hon’ble Patricia de Lille said in her
message, ” You have taught the world profound lessons, not necessarily
only by speaking, but very importantly by your example; and our
birthday wish for you is that more of world takes notice and learns
from your teachings for that will certainly lead us all to live in a
better place.”Welcoming the guests, Mr Sonam Tenzing,
Respresentative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Africa briefed the
gathering about the recent crackdown on Tibetan writers, poets artistes
and environmentalists who were arrested and sentenced without due
process of law. He pointed out that despite Chinese government’s
deliberate downplaying of incidents inside Tibet, the truth is that the
Tibetan people are unhappy and continues to live in fear to this day.
He further added that the Tibetan people need the support of African
people, their leaders and governments to pressurize the Chinese
leadership to resolve the issue of Tibet.Honorable guests were
then entertained by a South African writer and singer Ms Andre Hattingh
who very aptly dedicated her songs to the most beloved and globally
respected spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Many
amongst the guests applauded the successful organization of the
event, while relishing the birthday cake especially served on the
occasion. More picture: