Prague, 4 June: “We want to express our support for the Tibetan people and democracy in Tibet,” said Senator Mr. Petr Bratský at the Czech Senate today in Prague. He is the head of the Tibet Group within the Czech Senate.
Senator Bratský hosted a luncheon for the visiting Tibetan delegation led by Khenpo Lopon Sonam Tenphel, the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile based in Dharamsala. The other members of the delegation were Mr Karma Chophel, Mr. Dawa Phunkyi and Mr. Jamyang Soepa.
Senator Bratský said members of the Tibet Group within the Czech Parliament in collaboration with Czech based Tibetan NGOs, raise the Tibetans issue to gather more support and awareness.
He said that what the Tibetan people in Tibet today experience under Communist Chinese occupation, the Czech people had experienced the same under Communist rule for many decades. “We understand your situation,” he said.
Mr. Martin Bursik, the former Environment Minister was also present with Senator Petra Šilar at the lunch. Mr. Bursik was wearing a large button with photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President Václav Havel with the caption “Czech Support Tibet”.
He said 644 Tibetan flags were hoisted across Czech Republic in schools, towns and cities hall on 10 March 2014.
Mr Karma Chophel speaking on behalf of the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation briefed the Senators about the present situation in Tibet. He also said the delegation had visited Belgium, Estonia, Poland and will be travelling to Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland. The delegation’s main objective was to thank Tibet supporters and lobby for the Tibetan issue.
They were invited by the Czech daily newspaper Lidové Noviny and the Czech News Agency.
In the evening, the delegation spoke at a public talk organized by Lungta, the Czech based Tibet Support Group, Potala, a Tibetan NGO and President Václav Havel library.
A reception was jointly hoisted in honour of the visiting Tibetan Parliamentary delegation by Forum2000 and Prague City Hall.
Prague city’s Deputy Major Mr. Václav Novotný welcomed the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation. Former Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Sasha Vondra expressed his support for the Tibetan issue and fondly spoke about his meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The delegation leaves for Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia tomorrow morning.
