Dharamshala: Sikyong Penpa Tsering on Wednesday addressed a group of aspiring journalists from the Delhi School of Journalism who were on an educational tour to the Central Tibetan Administration. The visiting students were illuminated about the political status quo of Tibet, the inception of Indo-Tibet relations, the advent and expansion of Buddhism in Tibet, and the implications of Tibet’s climate crisis upon countries sharing rivers originating from Tibet among other key subjects.
While delineating the subject of the climate crisis, Sikyong said, “Many people these days talk about the consequences of climate change yet not many are aware of Tibet’s crisis, and moreover, many are reluctant to condemn China’s actions in Tibet. There is speculation that World War III may erupt over water. Right now, we are refugees because of our political status but if we don’t take stern action against the climate crisis in Tibet, we will have countless environmental refugees”.
In addition, Sikyong spoke about the establishment and diversification of Tibetan settlements and the subsequent restoration of the Tibetan administration in exile under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He further underscored the establishment of the democratic system for the Tibetan people in exile, the process and purpose of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue, and India’s Tibet policy.
With regard to the situation inside Tibet under oppression, Sikyong highlighted the particular repressive step taken by Xi’s government to de-Tbetanize Tibetan children by using a mandatory colonial boarding school system as a tool to separate Tibetan children from their families, communities and cultural identity to assimilate them to a single Chinese identity.
“Xi government is well aware of its occupation of Tibet as illegal under international law which is why they are resolute in coercing international communities on board to claim legitimacy over Tibet, ” said Sikyong Penpa Tsering while adding, “Tibet has always been independent as evidenced by the historical record”.
This meeting between Sikyong and the students is facilitated by the Delhi based India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO).