WASHINGTON DC:  Representative Penpa Tsering of the Office of Tibet based in Washington DC condoled the demise of Canadian MP Warren Allmand and US Congressman Benjamin A Gilman.

“On behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration, I offer our deepest condolences to the family of late Warren Allmand (former member of the Canadian Parliament) and late Benjamin A Gilman (retired member of the United States Congress). Tibetans in Tibet and all over the world will remember their contribution in alleviating our plights,” he said.

“Mr Allmand was the founding member of the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet in Canada and he was also the first Chair of the Committee. Mr. Gilman actively supported the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his three decades in the United States Congress, including as chairman of the House International Relations Committee.  The Tibetan community in Dharamsala recalls his visit there in 1997.”

“Both of them greatly respected His Holiness the Dalai Lama and have hosted him in their respective parliaments.”

“Both Mr. Allmand and Mr. Gilman have been staunch supporters of peace and righteousness, and long-time friends of Tibet. We pray, as in our Buddhist tradition, that they may attain true path of liberation and that we continue to be guided by their spirit of altruism,” he said.