Secretary Karma Choeying delivering the introductory remarks before the press conference. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA

Dharamshala: On 10 December 2024, a joint press conference was held in support of the Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom by the parliamentary delegation from New Zealand and Fiji following the Central Tibetan Administration’s official commemoration of 35th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The delegation consists of MP Joseph Mooney, MP Ingrid Leary, and MP Helen White from the New Zealand parliament and MP Rinesh Sharma from the Fijin parliament.

During the press conference, MP Joseph Mooney noted this was the first time New Zealand and Fiji parliamentary members had visited the Tibetan settlement, expressing particular excitement about participating in the 35th anniversary commemorations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

MP Rinesh Sharma from Fiji emphasised that this was his first visit to the Tibetan settlement and expressed enthusiasm about learning about Tibetan culture and establishing a bridge between Fiji and the Tibetan administration.

The delegation members unanimously expressed solidarity with the Tibetan struggle for freedom and human rights concerns. MP Ingrid Leary stressed that while they were from different political parties, they were united in their support for human rights and their respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Similarly, MP Helen White specifically highlighted concerns about children’s rights and the situation of coercive enrolment of Tibetan children into state-run residential schools, indicating a commitment to further dialogue on these issues.

The delegation members also expressed intentions to raise awareness about Tibet’s situation in their respective parliaments. MP Joseph Mooney mentioned that New Zealand maintains a clear stance on human rights, while MP Rinesh Sharma assured of discussing Tibet’s urgent situation in the Fijian Parliament.

Notably, the delegation emphasised that their visit was not an official government mission but a demonstration of individual commitment to human rights and an understanding of the Tibetan cause.

The press conference took place on the 76th Human Rights Day, symbolically underlining the delegation’s commitment to global human rights issues.