Chairman of the Tibetan Parliament Receives LBA Marchers
Dharamsala, 24 November 2003: “We can never forget our gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and this is what we can do to show our support to the cause of 6 million Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, said Lobsang Khedrup amid intervals of pauses as he tries to stop his tears with a red cap, while talking to a small gathering at the Secretariat of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies.
Khedrup heads a sixteen-member group which had started off a march on foot from the Tibetan settlement of Dekyiling, Uttranchal, on 11 November. Their destination is Dharamsala, but they are not Tibetans. All aged above sixty, they come from Ladakh and had taken up many peace marches for world peace and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 1999.
The Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies extended a warm welcome to the group which was let into the assembly hall by Chairman Mr. Pema Jugney and Vice Chair Mrs. Gyari Dolma. Refreshments were then served to the marchers who seemed delighted at the hospitality of the exile Tibetan administration.
Lobsang Khedrup promised support of the people of Ladakh to the cause of Tibet until the issue of Tibet is resolved and thanked the assembly for the reception.
The walk to Dharamsala was organised by Ladakh Buddhist Association which also plans to file a memorandum to the United Nations, Government of India, and President of India. The memorandum urges the world community to help resolve the issue of Tibet through non-violence.
In his informal address to the marchers, the Chairman said that Ladakh and Tibet have so many ties, cultural and religion. He thanked the marchers on behalf of the exile Tibetan administration and the Tibetans for the continuing support to the Tibetan cause.
Mr. Jugney also expressed hopes that the support of Himalayan people to Tibet would continue until the issue of Tibet is resolved.
Vice Chairperson said that Tibet has cultural and religious affinities with the whole of Himalayan region of India including Arunachal, Sikkim, Lahaul Spiti and Ladakh etc and that this cultural and religious ties give birth to a natural feeling of affinity to the Tibetans. “That is why we expect support to our cause first from the people of Himalayan region”, she added.
Mr. Jugney bid farewell to the marchers by offering them Khatas (ceremonial scarves).
The group will leave for Delhi later in the week to submit their memorandum.