Rome, Italy: Commemorating 60 years of Tibet under China’s illegal occupation, a panel session titled “Sixty years of occupation: Present and future of Tibet” was organised during a weeklong Tibet Festival in Rome, Italy on 12 December.
Showcasing Tibetan arts and culture and giving a spotlight on the current situation in Tibet, Institute Saman Abhadra with support from Gaden Jangtse Tsawa and Union Buddhist Italian organised the weeklong Tibet festival facilitated by the municipality of Rome from 9 December to 15 December.
On 9th December, Marilia Bellaterra, President of Aref International Association, moderated the panel discussion that was joined by Senator Roberto Rampi, Member of the Italian Senate of the Republic, On. Luciano Nobili, Member of Parliament and President of Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Representative Chhimey Rigzen from the Tibet Bureau in Geneva, Claudio Carmella, President of Italia-Tibet Association, Dechen Dolkar, Representative of Italy Tibetan community, Piero Verni, journalist and representative of heritage of Tibet group and Marco Respinti, Milan based journalist and director in charge for Bitter Winter.
Speaking about the current situation inside Tibet, Representative Chhimey said, “For over 60 years, Tibetans are being denied from exercising every single right guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Tibetans continued to suffer”. He briefed China’s continued violations of Tibetan freedom of religion and belief, the restriction against freedom of movement, systemic economic marginalization, how Tibetans are subjected to undergo social discrimination in every aspect of life amongst other rights violations by Chinese authorities in Tibet. Furthermore, Representative Chhimey underlined Tibetan experiences of the Chinese Communist Party’s so-called “Belt and Road Initiative”. He called upon governments and people to take Tibetans’ experiences as an example to fathom the real returns and costs involved in China’s sugar-coated BRI infrastructure package. While giving an overview of the Middle Way Approach, Representative Chhimey reiterated His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration’s untiring commitment in finding a resolution for Tibet with China through a peaceful dialogue grounded on the Middle Way Approach.
Noting deep concern over China’s stretching arms for its dominating economic and political influences, the panel called for join coordinated efforts in countering China redefining international discourse of universality of human rights and democratic values and principles.
-Filed by Tibet Bureau in Geneva-