Seminar highlights India’s support for Tibetan freedom

Thursday, 21 June 2007, 4:50 p.m.

Dharamshala: Around 70-odd journalists, teachers, human rights activists and regional bureaucrats attended a seminar on Indian Support for Tibet’s Freedom, organized on 17 June in Kumaon city, Ramnagar.

The seminar organized jointly by the Uttarakhand chapter of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society and the New Delhi-based India Tibet Coordination office (ITCO) started with the screening of the documentary film Compassion in Exile.

Speaking as the chief guest, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, gave a brief presentation on the status of post-1950 Tibet and the world-wide Tibet support movement.

Dr. D.K. Pal, the National Convener for Western U.P and Uttarakhand, and Mr. P.C Tiwari, National Secretary of Shramjivi Journalist Association said that the Indian masses must pressure their government to support the Tibetan struggle for freedom, for the sake of their own national security.

Addressing the seminar, special guest Mr. K.C. Pant, President of All India Human Rights Organisation, lauded the ongoing awareness program in Ramnagar, adding that the human rights activists in Uttarakhand should concentrate all their activities upon the ongoing injustices, violation of human rights and religious rights, perpetrated by Communist China in Tibet.

Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok and Mr.Tsering Dorjee, Coordinator, ITCO, also gave detailed explanation on various queries and misconceptions of the participants on the Tibetan movement.