Dharamshala: Central Tibetan Administration condoled the demise of late Thuten Kesang, a true Tibetan patriot who dedicated his life to the service of the Tibetan people and the cause.
Late Thuten Kesang, 66, was the first Tibetans to arrive in New Zealand in 1967 and has worked selflessly for the betterment of the exile Tibetan community ever since. He passed away on 23 May.
Secretary Karma Choeying, DIIR, CTA offered heartfelt condolences to the family members of Thuten Kesang and paid tribute to his lifelong service and contributions in building the foundations for numerous Tibetan organisations and initiatives.
“Late Mr. Thuten Kesang was amongst the first Tibetans to settle in New Zealand and had worked relentlessly hard to build the Tibetan community organization in the country,” Secretary Choeying wrote.
“As the founder President of the Aukland Tibetan Community for a long time since its inception in 1967, he made a major contribution for a long time since its inception in 1967,” further detailing his contribution in the promotion of Tibetan culture, organizing sponsorship programs for Tibetan schools in India.
Late Thuten Kesang had also organized visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to New Zealand as well of CTA dignitaries including Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay.
“We mourn the loss of a true Tibetan patriot and pray for his quick rebirth.”
Thuten Kesang first moved to New Zealand in 1967 after more than a decade in India where he fled as a refugee exiled by the Chinese occupation of Tibet. In 1986, Thuten Kesang founded the Friends of Tibet, an organization that educates New Zealanders about the plight of the Tibetans, raises funds to educate exiled Tibetan children in India, and provides support to ex-political prisoners who have escaped from Tibet to India. He also served as President of the Auckland Multicultural Society. In 2002, he was conferred the Queen’s Service Medal by the Government of New Zealand. In 2009, he received the ‘Unsung Heroes of Compassion’ award presented by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Auckland City for Peace Award from the Peace Foundation in Auckland, New Zealand in 2015. He was born in Lhasa in 1944.