Dharamshala: After a historic and groundbreaking victory in the democratic election of Tibetan leadership in exile, the third such exercise since the complete devolution of political role by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, leaders from across the world have congratulated the newly elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration, Mr Penpa Tsering.
From parliamentarians and to members of Tibet Support Group in the Swiss, Canada, UK, Baltic States, EU, Chile, Germany and Norway, and friends of Tibet around the world wrote to the newly elected leadership, expressing their warm wishes and renewed support to the CTA and the Tibetan cause.
Hon. Luciano Nobili, President of the Inter Parliamentary Group Italy-Tibet wrote, “The democratic organization that the Tibetans, under the leadership of the Dalai Lama, wanted to establish in exile is one of the main reasons for our support. A society, yours, which, despite the immense difficulty of a new life in another country, first of all wanted to think about the preservation of the most representative elements of its own culture, of its own ethical and spiritual values, of its own language, in a context of democratic management of public affairs”.
“The Italy-Tibet Inter Parliamentary Group, which now has 54 members of all the political parties represented in the parliament and which I am honored to chair, has already had the opportunity to organize various initiatives related to the Tibet issue within the Italian institutions, the last of which, on March 10th this year, had the presence by teleconference of your predecessor, Dr. Lobsang Sangay”.
MP Uldis Budriķis, Chairman of the Group for the Support of Tibet in the Parliament of Latvia Auche, MP Andrius Navickas, Chairman of the Provisional Group for Solidarity with Tibetans in the Lithuanian Parliament, MP Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Tibet Support Group in the Parliament of Estonia extended warm regards to Sikyong–Elect Penpa Tsering while expressing their solidarity to the non–violent struggle of Tibetans against Chinese occupation.
“We are sure that you will succeed to bring to your people the independence they aspire for. We, the Baltic States, will stand by you and you can always count on our support. We renew our heartily congratulations on your election and look forward to our cooperation for the well–being of the Tibetan people”, they wrote.
Members of Tibet Interest Group in the EU Parliament consisting of Mikuláš Peksa MEP, Chair of the European Parliament’s Tibet Interest Group, Aušra Maldeikienė (MEP, EPP), Hannes Heide (MEP, S&D), Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó (MEP, NI), Antoni Comín i Oliveres (MEP, NI), Clara Ponsatí Obiols (MEP, NI), Ivan Štefanec (MEP, EPP), Patrick Breyer (MEP, Greens/EFA), and Michael Gahler (MEP, EPP) applauded the successful completion of the democratic election in Tibetan exile while congratulating the new Sikyong and members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.
“We would like to use this opportunity to invite you to Brussels – as soon as the situation allows it – in order to exchange with us about the situation in Tibet and ways in which the European Parliament could contribute to improving the human rights situation of the Tibetan people.
We look forward to working with you to support a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Tibet through a direct negotiation process between the CTA and the Chinese government in line with the Middle Way Approach”, they wrote.
Adding to the list of congratulatory letters to the new Sikyong, Mr. Ferenc Gelencsér, Deputy Mayor of Budávar (First District) of Budapest, Hungary offered its best wishes and conveyed the significance of Tibet cause to them.
“I would also like to praise the compassion and commitment of the people of Tibet who strive for a once again free and independent state for a nation to be self determined”.
“As a Hungarian national whose country has been under foreign rule for centuries, I do understand your people’s struggle. The challenges of our time reminds us all why democracy is a necessity of which we cannot give up on”, they wrote.
Similarly, on behalf of the members of All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT) in the UK parliament, MP Tim Loughton Chairman of APPGT expressed their wishes to ‘building on the continuing friendships shared and supporting Tibet cause and meanwhile putting an end to the atrocities in Tibet. Read the congratulatory message here.
“Together with the APPGT officers and members, I look forward to working together with you and in continuing to press the UK government in its challenges to the Government of China for the freedom and rights of Tibet and its people”, writes MP Loughton and further adds that he awaits the visitation of the new Sikyong when the COVID–19 pandemic situation improves.
The APPGT members include MP Chris Law, Co–Chair, Lord Alton of Liverpool, MP Sir Peter Bottomley, MP Marion Fellows, MP Wera Hobhouse, MP Kerry McCarthy, and MP Navendu Mishra.
Member of Parliament for Arica and Parinacota, Republic of Chile, Hon. Vlado Mirosevic Vergudo, issued a congratulatory message to the Sikyong-Elect.
“Along with my very cordial greetings, I would like to send you my sincere congratulations on the electoral triumph that has made you the President of the Central Tibetan Administration and placed you at the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile.”
“You have spoken of resolving the Tibetan issue, looking after the well-being of the Tibetans in exile, and promoting all possible forms of dialogue with China, and that is why the people of Chile are united in expressing their very best wishes for your success as Sikyong, the term used by the Tibetan people,” the MP remarked.
Michael Brand, Member of the German Bundestag wrote congratulating the new Sikyong that the democratic government such as the Tibetans in exile has set precedent to world governments especially the Chinese government in Beijing that rule of coercion and terror is not the right way of governance but that the rule by the people conquers.
“The friends of Tibet are all the more willing to continue to closely accompany and support the Tibetan people, their culture and their democratic leadership in the future”, he said while further noting how widely His Holiness inspired them to support the Tibetan government and strengthen their friendships.
It is with great pleasure that we extend to you, our warmest congratulations on your election as President of the Central Tibetan Administration.
We applaud and welcome the efforts undertaken by the Dalai Lama to set-up democratic institutions in exile, and command the Tibetan exile community for once again completing this democratic process.
Norwegian MPs Petter Eide (Socialist Left Party) Member of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and MP Ketil Kjenseth,(Liberal Party) Chair, Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment also issued a congratulatory message.
“It is with great pleasure that we extend to you, our warmest congratulations on your election as President of the Central Tibetan Administration. We applaud and welcome the efforts undertaken by the Dalai Lama to set-up democratic institutions in exile, and command the Tibetan exile community for once again completing this democratic process.”
Meanwhile, friends and supporters of Tibet in Latvia (Baltic States) expressed their wishes for the possible visit of the new Sikyong to their countries.
“There is a lot of work and we, friends of Tibet, brothers and sisters are and will be by your side with Tibet in thought, heart, and deeds”, they wrote while congratulating the new Sikyong Penpa Tsering.
Tibet MX, a prominent Tibet support group in Mexico in their congratulatory letter to Mr Tsering re-affirmed to commit to the cause of Tibetan people as guided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA.
“Tibet MX is and will continue to be the bridge between the legitimate Tibetan authorities and the people of Mexico. We wish you the best of luck and look forward to meeting you and your representatives as soon as situation allows.”
On 27 May, in their congratulatory message, Co-Presidents and Vice-President, the Swiss-Parliamentary Group for Tibet expressed their continued support and commitment to the Tibet issue.
“Whenever possible, we become active in parliament with initiatives on the human rights situation in Tibet, and we insist that the Swiss Government always advocates for the rights of the Tibetan people in its contacts with Chinese government representatives. In close contact with Tibetan NGOs and the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geneva, we seek ways to bring Tibetan concerns into Swiss politics.”
To this end, they hoped to continue this “valuable cooperation” with the new CTA leadership in the future, and congratulated “newly elected parliamentary colleagues in the Tibetan Parliament in Exile a successful legislature and may history take a positive turn for Tibet.” The letters were issued by MP Nik Gugger Co-President, MP Fabian Molina, Co-President, MP Nicolas Walder Co-President and MP Maya Graf Vice-President.
Similarly, Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association extended their congratulations to the newly sworn-in Sikyong, Mr Penpa Tsering.
Thomas Büchli President of the STFA and Lhawang Ngorkhangsar Vice-President of the STFA wrote: “We wish you and the newly elected Chitues in the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile a successful legislature.”
“In various meetings with your predecessor Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, we received direct and valuable inputs from the government-in-exile in Dharamsala. We would like to continue this exchange with you. We are looking forward to your visit to Switzerland in the near future to maintain direct contact with you as Sikyong.”