DHARAMSHALA: After attending the 6th World Parliamentarians’ Conference on Tibet in Ottawa last month, the Tibetan Parliament in Exile’s deputy speaker visited US and met officials and general public to apprise them about the critical situation inside Tibet.

On the closing day of the WPCT conference on 29 April, Deputy Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel was invited by Palyul Buddhist learning centre in Ottawa.  During the visit, the deputy speaker met with a group of foreign and Tibetan students and explained to them the important issues raised during the world parliamentarians’ conference on Tibet and the issue of Tibet. (Read Ottawa Declaration on Tibet)

The deputy speaker left Ottawa on 1 May for an official visit to Memphis, Tennessee.

He met Memphis Mayor Mark H Luttrell, Jr, and the two discussed the critical situation inside Tibet in view of the desperate situation under the Chinese government’s rule which is pushing Tibetans to set themselves on fire.

He visited the National Civil Rights Museum and met with its director.

He also met with US Congressman Steve Cohen’s district director Mr Randy Wade and expressed the Tibetan people’s gratitude to the government, Congress and the people of the United States for taking great interest in the Tibetan issue and their strong support. He also briefed Mr Wade about the last wishes and slogans made by the Tibetans when they set themselves on fire. He also raised the issue of Tibetan language and the worsening religious freedom and human rights situation in Tibet.

Mr Wade pledged to extend strong support to towards resolving the issue of Tibet.

The deputy speaker returned to Dharamsala on 18 May.