12th Dec. 2022, New Delhi: The 33rd Anniversary of the Conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was celebrated with International Human Rights Day in the form of Tibet awareness seminar titled “Human Rights violation in Tibet” on 10th December, 2022. The seminar was organised by India Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS), Nainital led by its Convener Shri Naveen Paneru at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Law Institute, Kumaon University, Nainital. It was attended by the faculties and students of the institute as well. The seminar was chaired by Dr. Deepakshi Joshi, Head of the Law Department and Tashi Dekyi from the India Tibet Coordination Office, New Delhi. Dr. Suresh Chandra Pandey, Asst. Professor, Professor Lalit Tiwari, Botany Department; Dr. V. K. Ranjan, Asst. Professor; Dr. Sagar Patani, Dr. Ujma and Shri K. K. Pandey were the dignitaries present at the seminar. More than 70 students and 20 staff of the University have attended the event.
ITFS Nainital Convener Shri Naveen Paneru presented the introductory remarks and briefed about the Tibet issues by calling upon the people of India to remember that India’s 4000 sq km border which is with China today, before 1950 used to be with Tibet – an independent country. China occupied Tibet and included it in its map and has been persistently making every effort to erase the existence of Tibet. Now, China is eying Arunachal, Sikkim and Bhutan. He further said that the language, culture and religion of Tibet originated from the ancient spiritual land of India, therefore there is a guru-disciple relationship between India and Tibet. Tibet and Kailash Mansarovar have had mythological and spiritual links with India since time immemorial. He said that people have to be associated with the liberation campaign of Tibet and Kailash Mansarovar. He strongly emphasised on the need to draw the country’s attention towards the strategic and political importance of the Himalayas.
ITCO acting Cordinator, Tashi Dekyi first delivered the Kashag’s statement stating that as the whole world commemorates Human Rights Day on 10th December since the adoption and introduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, for Tibetans “Human Rights” were crushed and denied since the forceful occupation of our country “Tibet” by the Chinese Communist Party in the year 1959. She said “Tibetans have been resistant for more than 70 years now and never resorted towards violent extremism. Instead, under the guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on “Middle Way Approach”, Central Tibetan Administration adopts and campaigns for Middle Way Approach as it proposes genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people which only appeals for self-governance (regional administration) and the protection and preservation of our language, culture, religion, education, environmental protection and other basic needs within the framework of the People’s republic of China. MWA is the most viable and realistic solution to the grave and now-urgent problems faced inside Tibet.”
She gave an overview of current situation inside Tibet. Speaking on the Chinese forceful policy of “consolidating the sense of single Han national Identity” which targets the extermination and Sinicization of the Tibetan identity, she explained that any expression (peaceful demonstration) against the Chinese authorities are considered separatism and punished with harsh sentences(death) which have driven Tibetans inside Tibet to self-immolation as a form of peaceful protest and appeal for justice inside Tibet. The relentless migration of Chinese population to Tibet has devastated Tibet’s culture and relocation of Tibetan nomads and farmers which has turned Tibetans into minority in our own country. Overexploitation of natural resources like Lithium through mining, deforestation and building of dams has not only threatened the lives of Tibetans inside Tibet but the whole world. She expressed gratitude towards the Indian government and the people of India for standing in solidarity with the Tibet and Tibetan brothers and sisters all over the world.
Special speaker Shri. K.K Pandey expressed that Himalayas cannot be protected without the independence of Tibet. The path of peace between India and China concerns Tibet. He said that one cannot keep silent on the human rights abuses happening in Tibet, the Tibetan issue should be kept alive till Tibet is resolved. He said that in spite of many difficulties, the liberation seekers of Tibet have spread the truth of their suffering in every continent of the world in the long period between 1959 and 2022. Let us also hoist the flag of Indo-Tibet friendship in every city and village of the country, he said.
Two video documentaries on “Human Rights violation in Tibet” from the archive of CTA were presented and; interactive and open discussion were held for better understanding and involvement of the masses.
Expressing gratitude to the guests and speakers present at the seminar, Head of the Department Dr. Deepakshi Joshi said that today the highest number of human rights violations in the world are happening in Tibet. She said that no civilised society should remain silent on this. Very few people realise how difficult it is to live by sacrificing one’s self-respect and pride. She called upon everyone to join the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association and expressed her gratitude for the work being done by the association in this regard.
On this occasion, Dr. Suresh Chandra Pandey, Dr. Uzma, Dr. V.K. Ranjan, Shri Sagar Patni, Shri G.C. Pandey, Shri K. P. Pandey, Shri Neeraj Joshi, Shri Devendra Arya and Shri Devendra Shah as well as students were present.
–Filed by ITCO, New Delhi