Brussels: To bring the Tibetan cause at the forefront internationally, the CTA and the 16th Kashag has undertaken a new initiative, Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG) to provide every Tibetan the opportunity to optimise their potentials in contributing to the non-violent, mutually beneficial, negotiated, and lasting solution to the Sino-Tibetan conflict.
Earlier at a V-TAG meeting, some members suggested to invite youth activists in Belgium and draw the attention from the youngsters and inspire them to take the Tibet Advocacy to the next level. Canada based youth activist and community organiser Chemi Lhamo visited Paris recently to attend the ”Future of Tibet” meeting. Taking this opportunity, Office of Tibet, Brussels requested Chemi Lhamo to share her long journey of becoming a youth activist and Tibetan community organiser to our V-TAG members on 1 December 2022.
Representative Rigzin Choedon gave a brief introduction of Chemi Lhamo and the reason behind organising this very event for the V-TAG members. Youths attending the events are given chances to introduce themselves and share their career choices.
Chemi Lhamo reminded the V-TAG members about the attitude of the Communist China’s bullying tactics and its repressive policies whether it be in Tibet or Tibetans living in the free world. She said that CCP is after every Tibetans irrespective of their province (Khampa, Amdo and U-Tsang). None of us can escape the Chinese brutality. She further added that CCP had even threatened her life in the past, it’s not because of Chemi Lhamo being popular, what they knew about her was that she was purely a Tibetan.
She also covered about her long journey of career. When she was in India, she studied in an English boarding school where there is no Tibetans. After immigrating to Canada, she said that she has grabbed every opportunity that lies in front of her path. Whatever the proficiency of her Tibetan language today is the direct consequences of attending the Tibetan language and culture schools in Canada and her personal efforts paid the price.
She also said that today’s youths face lots of hurdles, intra-generation trauma and many are facing the feeling of “loneness’’. But we can’t undermine our Tibetan spirit just because of these problems. We must overcome these problems. Tibetan youngsters have got the basic instincts of the Tibetan values and the youth shouldn’t forget their identity either. They need to understand the Tibetan identity and must be able to explain our status clearly. Unlike our parents who faced numerous challenges in their life; we the youngsters has got every resource and platforms to seize the opportunity and need to shoulder greater responsibility.
She also said that young Tibetans being citizen of their respective countries, needed to know the weakness and strength of themselves and need to grab the new opportunities. I used to travel everywhere but I have never felt that I’m alone. Elder Tibetans that I met on the street prayed and supported to my work. I believe that they appreciated a Tibetan woman instead of my personal achievement.
His Holiness is getting older through each day, Tibetan children are being snatched from their parents by CCP and put in Chinese colonel boarding schools. As we update our phones, we also need to update the critical situations inside Tibet and need to strengthen our advocacy in the international arena. CCP has already set a mission which says that by 2035 all the minorities will be crushed down and there will be only one Chinese identity. So, we don’t have time to waste our precious time on small internal issues.
At the end of the talk, participants are served with a simple refreshment being sponsored by Tsering Lhamo from Brussels.
-Report filed by OoT Brussels