Taipei: Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa of the Office of Tibet in Taiwan extensively informed an array of issues concerning policies and workings of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to a group of fifteen students from the Humanity department of National Chenchhi University on 30 December 2022.
The visitors, led by professor Nai Hua Chen, were appraised about the definition of the term Bhod (Tibet), China’s execution of divide and rule policy in governing Tibet, and the unprecedented repressions experienced by Tibetans under the Chinese Communist Party’s rule. Representative Bawa further talked about His Holiness the Dalai Lama-led exile Tibetan community’s efforts in resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict, preserving Tibetan culture and traditions in exile, establishing Tibetan democratic governance in exile, and the Middle-Way Policy of CTA. In addition, he thoroughly explained to the group on establishment of OoT Taiwan following His Holiness’ visit to Taiwan and about His four commitments while introducing the office’s Gangjong Publication and its books.
Furthermore, Secretary Migyur Youdon of the Office of Tibet spoke about significance of women’s role in administering society to the visitors. At the same time, Tsering Dolma, a staff from Tibet TV’s Chinese section, gave accounts of how her family members were being treated because of her occupation.
Earlier on 16 December, Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture organised the first-ever Gaden Ngacho (Tsongkhapa’s Butter Lamp Festival) in Taiwan. During the press conference held for the maiden festival, Representative Bawa was invited as chief guest along with the Representative of the Mongolia Consulate in Taipei, Omer Caspi. The press conference was also joined by the Ministry of Culture’s Deputy Minister, Taiwanese parliamentarians, and the director and staff from the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center.
On 23 December, a meeting was held at Hsuan Chuang University to discuss and strategise the syllabus and programs for the university’s Tibetology class that was kicked off last September. Representative Bawa, Philosophy teacher Ven Tenzin Namdol Rinpoche, and Lai Yuning (in-charge of Gangjong Publication) partook in the meeting along with the university’s professor Zhao Hen, International Tibetan Buddhist Centre’s President Abbot Jigme Namgyal and Vice President Ha Shin Rinpoche. President Abbot Jigme Namgyal also offered to pay salaries to tutors of the Tibetology class.
-Report filed by OoT Taiwan