DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today condoled the demise of Jigme Palbar Bista, the last king to rule Mustang, a remote Buddhist kingdom in Nepal before monarchy was abolished in the country.

King Jigme Palbar Bista died in Kathmandu at the age of 86 on 17 December 2016.

“I on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration express my deep condolences at the demise of Jigme Dorjee Palbar Bista, last king of Mustang,” Sikyong said.

“As the king of Mustang, he was a dear friend of the Tibetan people and supported the Tibetan guerilla campaign to oust China from Tibet in the early 1960’s by allowing his kingdom to be used as a base.”

“Personally too, I have fond memories of king Jigme Palbar Bista who I have met once during a school holiday at Pokhra when I was in high school,” Sikyong said.

“He is known to be very traditional and religious, and easily loved by all who met him. In fact, I remember him giving Tibetan churas (dried cheese) to me and my cousins which we enjoyed munching for days,” he said, adding that he is deeply saddened to learn of his passing.

King Jigme Palbar Bista reigned over Mustang for more than half a century. He lost his title after the centuries-old Buddhist monarchy was abolished in 2008 in the aftermath of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal.