Denmark: The final day of Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s official engagements in Denmark comprises a meeting with Tobias Bornakke, Chairman of the Nordic Think Tank for Tech and Democracy, at the Democratic Garage (Democracy Garage). Set up by the Denmark Ministry of Culture to address the big tech influence on democratic debates in the Nordic countries, the think tank consists of members from all over the Nordic region. The meeting was also joined by the members of the Think Tank. Sikyong was accompanied by Representative Sonam Frasi, Secretary Lochoe Samten, Office of Tibet London, Anders Højmark Andersen, President and Hanne Bess Boelsbjerg vice president of Tibet Support Committee, Denmark.
After the meeting with Nordic Think Tank for Tech and Democracy, Sikyong Penpa Tsering met with Danish parliamentarian Karsten Honge, a member of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy Committee, the third Vice-President of the Parliamentary Presidium and the foreign affairs spokesperson for the Danish Socialist People’s Party at the Danish Parliament.
In the afternoon, Sikyong visited the Danish Institute for Human Rights, where he met with the institute’s Executive Director Louise Holck and International Director Mette Thygesen in Copenhagen. At the hourlong meeting, Sikyong Penpa Tsering and the delegates apprised the directors of the dire situation inside Tibet, including over a million Tibetan children between the ages of 4 to 18 coerced into state-run colonial boarding schools and preschools. In addition, Sikyong emphasised the importance of institutions such as the Danish Institute for Human Rights continuing to work in China and strengthening their government’s role in promoting human rights abroad.
Following his interaction at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Sikyong met with Danish Liberal Party parliamentarian Kim Valentin, a member of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Danish Parliament.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s first official visit to Denmark concluded with a meeting with board members of the Danish China Critical Society, and Representatives from across Danish youth political parties joined the meeting.
Danish China Critical Society is an organization aimed at combatting the negative influence of the PRC in Denmark and disseminating knowledge and criticism regarding the PRC’s violations of fundamental human rights, free of expression and democracy, in Copenhagen on the evening of 4 May 2023.
After the successful conclusion of bilateral engagements in Denmark, Sikyong Penpa Tsering flew to Munich, Germany on 5 May on the last leg of his official Europe tour. His arrival at Munich was welcomed by Representative Thinlay Chukki accompanied by Tenzin Choesang of the Tibet Bureau, President of the Association of Tibetans in Germany, President of the Tibetan Community in Munich and members of the Munich Tibetan community.