DHARAMSHALA: Joining the 25th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace prize in Dharamshala today, two powerful Nobel peace laureates expressed admiration for the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people to gain genuine autonomy through dialogue with China.
“I thank the two women Nobel laureates – Jody Williams of the US and Shirin Ebadi of Iran – for being trusted friends and their unwavering support for the just cause of Tibetans,” Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his address to thousands of Tibetans gathered at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple, for festivity as part of the Year of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama event organised by the Central Tibetan Administration. The day was the occasion on Mahatma Gandhi’s 145th birth anniversary.
“Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile should know that we always support you,” said Nobel peace laureate Jody Williams, adding that the “non-violent struggle of Tibetans led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a model of peaceful conflict resolution.”
Expressing her support, Dr Shirin Ebadi said she cherishes the way Tibetans in exile have preserved their culture under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “We need to preserve the language and culture of Tibet to keep Tibet alive,” she said emphasising the role of culture and language in a freedom struggle.
“A day is not very far when we will be celebrating today’s occasion in Tibet in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And on that day you will see Tibet is alive because His Holiness has encouraged you to keep the culture alive,” she added.
“I hope the Chinese government will learn what I have learned from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and free Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo from prison,” she said.
“The Chinese government should respect the rights of Tibetan and the ethnic minorities including Uyghur Muslims who have are leading a peaceful freedom struggle like Tibetans.”
Shirin Ebadi said “the people of the world and Iran have learned a lot from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on how not to lose hope under difficult circumstances. I am sure non-democratic countries will learn from His Holiness and change their behavior.”
Addressing the gathering, Tibetan political leader Dr Lobsang Sangay said: “Today is a very special day for the Tibetans inside Tibet. Every day they look forward to good news about freedom as they suffer political and religious repression on daily basis. Your presence here sends a message of justice, truth and freedom to them, which will give them hope and inspiration.”
The speaker of Tibetan Parliament in exile, Mr Penpa Tsering, urged Chinese president Xi Jinping to give freedom to Tibetans and other ethnic minorities in China. He also called on China to release imprisoned Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo.
In 1989, His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Nobel prize for his struggle for the liberation of Tibet by opposing violence and advocating peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.