-Filed by OoT, Brussel-
France: Home Kalon Khorlotsang Sonam Topgyal of Central Tibetan Administration arrived in Paris on 7th night and was received at the airport by Representative Tashi Phuntsok, Coordinator Namgyal Samdup and representatives of Tibetan community in France. He will depart for Brussels today.
Yesterday noon Kalon met with the board members of Aide De’Enfance Tibet (AET), a 38-year old support group for Tibet. AET has made enormous contributions to Tibetan education in India and Nepal. Home Minister thanked the members present and their organisation for their long friendship and support.
On their request, he listed several cases of unfortunate events that have caused much pain and difficulty for Tibetans in India recently. Cyclone Titli wreaked havoc in Tibetan settlement in Orissa. Flash flood caused much damage to Tibetan settlement in Dobbi in Kullu. Violence in Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh left Tibetan merchandise in ashes. Severe snows in the Changthang in Ladakh have killed much livestock of Tibetan nomads there. Kalon thanked AET for their contribution to Tithle relief efforts. He urged them to continue to help Tibetans.
While on the visit AET thanked Office of Tibet, Brussels for the standard-size Tibetan flag and letter it had sent to them on the occasion 60th Anniversary March. Representative Tashi Phuntsok mentioned that the office had sent similar packages to 1000 Mayors and TSGs and other organisation that has been supporting the Tibetan flag-raising campaign in Europe. It has also sent Tibetan flag-card and letter to over 700 members of European Parliament. He recalled the Thank You Europe pictorial book on the flag raising in Europe the office published last year.
Later in the evening, Kalon addressed a modest gathering of Tibetan community in Paris. He informed them that His Holiness is in perfect health and that he has reiterated his wish to live over 100 years. Tibetan parents in the west must make every effort to teach Tibetan language to their children. It is a fundamental need for the protection of Tibetan culture, he urged. He recalled some of the programmes of the CTA, including 5/50 policy, and the need for unity amongst us. He made a strong point to emphasise that no Tibetan should do anything that will hurt the feeling of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Representative Phuntsok in introduction told the meeting that Home Kalon was in Europe as the Representative of Kashag for the European Rally for Tibet on 10 March in Brussels. He would also visit France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland to meet with Tibetan communities.
Earlier former Tibetan parliamentarian Lahmo Kyab, Vice President of Tibetan Community in France gave a brief report on the work in the community. He presented to Kalon a publication which contained the activities in greater detail.