Tokyo: Representative Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with Dr. Lobsang Yangtso of the International Tibet Network (ITN) and Tsering Dorjee of the Students for a Free Tibet Japan (SFT), visited the office of Lawmaker Yamatani Eriko, Chairperson of the Japan Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet at the Parliament building. Yamada Hiroshi, General Secretary of the Support Group, also attended the meeting.

Introducing Dr. Lobsang Yangtso and Tsering Dorjee to the two lawmakers, Representative Dr. Arya updated the two lawmakers on the recent visit of the Japanese lawmaker Yuichiro Wada as the Chief guest at the 65th Anniversary of the Tibetan Democracy Day in Dharamshala, India, and his audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and engagement with Sikyong Penpa Tsering and other dignitaries of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

Representative Arya delivered the thank-you letter from the Chairman of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, to Madam Yamatani for her strong and supportive message for the Tibetan Democracy Day celebration. He requested follow-ups on the Tokyo Declaration and issuance of a statement on the Chinese repression in Tibet and interference in the reincarnation issue of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Representative Arya informed them of the plan for Tibet Village and employment opportunities for Tibetans in Japan and sought their guidance in the matter.

Dr. Lobsang Yangsto apprised the lawmakers of the Chinese transnational repression, the forceful implementation of colonial boarding school policy, and interference in the Tibetan religious matters. She spoke on China’s continued dam-building activities in Tibet, the destruction of Tibetan ecology, and the threat to the neighbouring countries. Tsering Dorjee translated for Dr. Yangtso.

Chairperson Yamatani Eriko and General Secretary Yamada Hiroshi expressed happiness over the successful and fruitful visit of the lawmaker Wada Ichiro to Dharamshala. They thanked the CTA for the kind hospitality and expressed their continued support for the Tibetans’ struggle for freedom and justice. They were also happy to hear the good health of H.H. the Dalai Lama and expressed hope to visit Dharamshala to have an audience with His Holiness.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan