Switzerland: On 6 July, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama turns 89 years old. On this occasion, the members of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet send him their best wishes for a long life, combined with the hope that his vision of an autonomous, self-determined, peaceful Tibet committed to the preservation of the natural environment may be fulfilled.
Most recently, we wish His Holiness a speedy recovery from his knee operation. We hope that he will be able to move without pain in the future!
We also hope that His Holiness will make another visit to our country on his return journey to India. That would then be the opportunity for our Federal Council to welcome him to Switzerland as the religious leader of the Tibetans and as an honourable winner of the Nobel Peace Prize! His Holiness the Dalai Lama was honoured with this award 35 years ago for his non-violent commitment to peace. For decades, he has been recognised by all cultures as one of the most credible exponents of public life.
In addition to his lifelong commitment to the autonomy and self-determination of his people and his call to pursue these only by non-violent means, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been advocating “secular ethics” for years. In doing so, he encourages us to overcome religious fanaticism and the boundaries between religions and to seek answers to the urgent questions of our time in a global ethic that unites people.
His Holiness sees ethical action in environmental and climate protection as an integral part of his tireless commitment to this cause. Creating a healthy living environment is equally a task that transcends borders and concerns all of humanity.
The ever more drastic restrictions on the cultural and religious rights of Tibetans in Tibet are being enforced by the PRC authorities. The Tibet Parliamentary Group is highly concerned about the impossibility of maintaining the Tibetan language in Tibetan schools. The widespread internment of Tibetan children in Chinese boarding schools is alarming! Boarding schools are alarming! We call on the Swiss Federal Council to remark to the communist leadership of the PRC that it has a duty to respect the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people in their homeland.
The Tibetan people have fundamental rights and it is of great concern to all friends of Tibet in Switzerland that our Federal Council also clearly recognises these rights. Tibet was the victim of an attack by an aggressive neighbouring country over 70 years ago, just as Ukraine is unfortunately currently experiencing at the hands of its brutal neighbour Russia.
On behalf of the PG Tibet
Co-President Councillor of States Tiana Moser
Co-President National Councillor Nik Gugger
Co-President National Councillor Fabian Molina
Co-President National Councillor Nicolas Walder
Vice-President Councillor of States Maya Graf
-Report filed by OoT Geneva-
