Brussels: At the invitation of the Mayor of Kasterlee, Honourable Ward Kennes, EU Advocacy Officer Tenzin Phuntsok attended a special event on behalf of the Representative Office to jointly hoist the Tibetan national flag in front of the town hall on the 66th Tibetan National Uprising Day.
Kasterlee, a picturesque town in the Belgian province of Antwerp, has been hoisting the Tibetan national flag in front of its town hall since 2010 as a symbol of its strong and continued support for the Tibetan cause. Upon his arrival, the mayor and board members warmly welcomed the EU Advocacy Officer and reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with Tibet and its people.
As a gesture of gratitude, the officer presented the mayor and board members with a traditional Tibetan scarf and a Tibet-Europe pin badge, symbolising the enduring friendship between Tibet and Kasterlee. He also provided an update on the critical situation inside Tibet and discussed possible ways to resolve the ongoing Sino-Tibetan conflict. Additionally, he briefed them on the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) plans to commemorate His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday as the “Year of Compassion.” The proposed celebrations will include conferences, exhibitions, and film screenings, among other events, and the mayor expressed interest in hosting one such event in Kasterlee.
The flag-hoisting ceremony lasted approximately 45 minutes and facilitated a meaningful exchange of ideas on Tibet’s future and the path forward. The officer also conveyed gratitude on behalf of Representative Genkhang, thanking the Mayor and board members for their invitation to attend the ceremony. Additionally, a selection of books related to Tibet was presented to the Mayor, along with an invitation to visit the Brussels Office of Tibet.
Kasterlee is a municipality in Belgium’s Antwerp province, comprising the towns of Kasterlee proper, Lichtaart, and Tielen. It has a population of 19,052 and covers a total area of 71.56 km².
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels
