Chairman of the ATPD thanked the Swiss Parliamentary Group for Tibet
Dharamsala, 26 March, 2003: At a reception attended by Deputies of the 13th Assembly and other dignitaries from Central Tibetan Administration in honor of the Swiss Parliamentary Group for Tibet presently visiting Dharamsala, the Chairman of the Tibetan People’s Assembly expressed deep gratitude for their support to the Tibetans for the last forty years.
Mr Pema Jugney lak said, “Switzerland was first among the western countries to come forward for extending help to Tibetans when Tibetans were going under a critical and darkest period of its long recorded history.”
He expressed appreciation to the people and government of Switzerland for their support and requested for their help in the years to come.
The Chairman reiterated the Tibetan government’s commitment to a non-violent struggle even with the knowledge of the world turning highly strife- torn. He hoped of seeing the Tibetan struggle as an exemplary struggle for the rest of the world, thus achieving more peace for all. “Such a culture is most pertinent today, a time when there is so much hatred and insecurity in the world,” he added.
In a brief background on the Democratization process of the exile government , the Chairman related the most significant developments that have taken place in the legislative body of the Tibetan government. As a body that is entrusted with the responsibility of shaping a future Tibet based on Democratic ideals, Mr Pema Jugney lak shared few words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in acknowledgment of this fact. It said, “Since we came into exile, we have tried to build the Chitue (parliament), the elected assembly of representative, as a key feature of our effort to develop such a system.”