Pretoria: Representative Ngodup Dorjee, Office of Tibet, South Africa gave an incisive presentation at a Seminar on Tibet titled ‘Cultural Nationalism, human rights and self-immolation’ at the University of Pretoria last Monday.

The seminar was organised in association with Living Stories & Memories; Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria.

The representative was joined by a panel consisting of Mrs Elizabeth Gaywood, Chairperson of the Tibet Society of South Africa and Dr Antony Goedhals, Lecturer at the English Department, Pretoria University.

Representative Ngodup started the presentation on nature of Tibet’s dharmic civilization and how it has been developed in the Tibetan plateau; political status of Tibet before the Chinese occupation in 1959; Human right situation in the last sixty years, self-immolation- causes, statements of the self-immolators and the Chinese government reactions to the self-immolations.

Dr. Antony Goedhals and Mrs Elizabeth shared their personal journeys, how they become in touch with the Tibetan refugee community, its cultural heritage including Buddhist Philosophy and how much it has helped them in their personal development and growth.

The seminar was well attended by students of the University and other interested members from outside the campus.

Representative’s presentation shed an in-depth light on the grim reality and suffering of Tibetans under Communist China.

-Filed by Office of Tibet, South Africa