23 March 2015
NEW DELHI: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay highlighted former Defence Minster of India Mr. George Fernandes’s long time friendship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people on Monday, 23 March at New Delhi. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the conference on Strengthening Democracy in Asia which was blessed and presided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The conference has honoured a veteran socialist leader and a long time friend of Tibet Mr. George Fernandes for his remarkable contribution in preserving and promoting democratic values not just in India but also in Asia and the world at large.
“George Fernandes was rare for he is the one who stands true to his beliefs and remained unchanged whether in government or outside of power”, said Sikyong while recalling how he personally intervened to help release Tibetans who were kept under custody by police for protesting a visiting Chinese dignitary in Delhi in late 1990s.
He further added that George Fernandes believes Tibet is not just the issue of Tibetans alone but has larger impact across South-East Asia given its strategic location and environmental significance of being the source of all the major rivers in the region.
The conference was organised by Institute of Social Science (ISS), Asia Democracy Network (ADN) and World Movement for Democracy in collaboration with National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
