DHARAMSHALA: Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) today addressed a group of 14 students from Emory University.

The students are in Dharamshala as part of a student-exchange program between Emory University and the College for Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarha near Dharamsala.

Secretary Tashi Phuntsok spoke to the students about the organisational structure of the Central Tibetan Administration and the functions of the various departments under the Central Tibetan Administration. He also explained briefly about the history of Tibet particularly the occupation of Tibet by China in 1949 which led thousands of Tibetans to seek refuge in exile.

“The massive displacement of the Tibetan people caused by the occupation of Tibet is one of the most tragic stories of modern times. The Tibetan people are able to withstand the continuous onslaught of Chinese pressure because of the inspiration derived from the Tibetan people inside Tibet and through the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” he said.

He also spoke about the Middle Way Approach of the Central Tibetan Administration to resolve the issue of Tibet. The Middle Way Approach seeks genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Chinese government, he said.