Tokyo: Dhondup Wangchen, a brave Tibetan patriot who made the heroic film “Jigdral – Leaving fear behind” in 2008 and exposed the Chinese brutal policy in Tibet, visited Tokyo along with his family last Wednesday. Tibet Films and Talks Committee (Chibetto no eiga joei to tok) organised the visit and talks by Dhondup Wangchen in Tokyo and several other places. 

The organisers and members of the Tibetan community in Japan received the filmmaker and his family at Narita Airport on 24 May.

Dhondup Wangchen gave a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club for Japan (FCCJ) on 26 May, where he explained the background of the 2008 secret video recording of the situation in Tibet and Chinese policy to sinicize the Tibetan language and culture. Later, in the afternoon, he attended a video screening and gave a talk at Meiji University.

On 27 May, the filmmaker and his family spoke of their struggle and life experiences at the Shinjuku Hall. His wife Lhamo Tso and the two daughters Dhadon and Lhamo spoke about how they waited anxiously for the release of their father and his ultimate escape from Tibet and refuge in the U.S. They thanked the international community and the NGOs for all their help in getting Dhondup Wangchen released from a Chinese prison in time. 

Representative Dr Arya Tsewang Gyalpo of the Liaison Office of H. H. The Dalai Lama gave a brief introduction of Dhondup Wangchen and the struggles surpassed by his family against the hardship for freedom and justice in Tibet. He briefed the audience about the situation in Tibet and how the CCP leadership is erasing Tibetan identity by destroying Tibetan religion, culture, and language. 

While thanking Dhondup Wangchen and his family for their contribution and sacrifice, Representative Arya also thanked the organisers Marie Ogawa, Hiromi Ikeda, and others for making the visit and talks of Dhondup Wangchen possible in Japan.

Tibet House Japan welcomed Dhondup Wangchen and his family to the office today, where Representative Arya and the staff received the family and updated them on the situation in Japan and the activities of the office. Tibet House thanked them for their commitment to the Tibetan cause. Later, Tibet House Japan hosted lunch for the family. Dhondup Wangchen and his family were accompanied by Lobsang Yeshe of the Tibetan Community in Japan.

Besides Tokyo, the organisers have planned Dhondup Wangchen’s film screening and talks in Nagoya, Fukuoka City, Osaka, Kochi, and Kamakura. Dhondup Wangchen will travel to these cities from tomorrow. The events are supported by Amnesty International, Super Samgha, SFT Japan, Pufest Tibet Committee, Tibet House Japan, etc.

 –Report filed by the Office of Tibet, Japan