Sikyong’s maiden visit to Sweden from 15-17 May was hosted by the Swedish organization for Individual Relief – Individuell Manniskohjalp (SOIR-IM). Upon his arrival at the Arlanda airport, Stockholm, he was received by Mr. Bo Paulsson, Secretary General of the Board of IM and Ms Sofio Olsson, Regional Director South Asia of IM and by a section of the Tibetan community in Sweden (TCS).
The same evening Sikyong was invited by TCS to Langholmens Folkhogskola, where Rinzin Tsomo, President of TCS along with about 30 Tibetans and an equal number of Swedish Tibet supporters (members of Swedish Tibet Committee –STC) accorded him a traditional welcome.
Sikyong gave a talk to the gathering on democracy in exile and the current status of Tibet; and later answered the questions raised by the audience, which also included a Member of Swedish Parliament Ms. Desiree Pethrus (KD). Despite being a weekday the turnout was good which the Sikyong acknowledged in his talk. After the talk TCS hosted a dinner prepared by the Tibetans to the Sikyong.
On 16 May, Sikyong had a breakfast meeting with senior officials dealing with Asia of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sikyong apprised them about the grim situation inside Tibet and the need for dialogue to peacefully resolve the issue.
Sikyong also gave a series of media interviews, five in all, to Swedish radio and newspapers.
The new incoming Secretary General of IM Ann Svensen – who takes office in August 2013 – hosted the lunch that day. Sikyong congratulated her on her new assignment and assured his cooperation in working together effectively with her in the days and years ahead.
Sikyong met with Swedish Members of Parliament representing five different political parties inside the Parliament building including Kirsten Lundgren, Spokesperson in Foreign Affairs for the Centerparty, member Council of Europe, vice-president in political affairs. (She has tweeted a picture that can be fund on Sikyong’s twitter – plz upload the picture). He gave a brief talk on the grim situation inside Tibet and solicited their support in raising the issue in the Parliament. He thanked them for meeting with him and urged them to revive the Intergroup for Tibet in the Swedish Parliament. He apprised them of the observance of International Tibetan Solidarity Day on May 17th every year and called on them to continue their support for the just Tibetan cause.
Later that evening Sikyong was invited to speak at the Uppsala University on the topic “Democracy in exile”. The students had exams the next day but despite this a sizeable number turned up for the talk, mostly students and few professors. The talk was followed by a very interactive Q&A session.
The next morning, Sikyong was invited to visit the Head Office of SOIR-IM at Lund, southern Sweden, where he had a detailed interaction with the concerned staff members on the status of ongoing projects financed by IM and on finding ways to strengthen the partnership between CTA and IM in the years ahead. He thanked the IM and through them to all the individual donors for supporting the Tibetan community and the Tibet cause. In the afternoon Sikyong had a luncheon meeting with the new incoming President of the Board of IM. In the afternoon Sikyong gave a talk on democracy in exile and the current status of Tibet to almost 80 invitees, including IM staff members, followed by Q&A session.
The talk at IM was the last official engagement of Sikyong on his maiden Sweden visit. Sikyong thanked IM for organizing the visit very professionally. His maiden visit generated good media coverage most notably the publication of his lengthy interview in the largest circulating newspaper in Sweden.
Sikyong was accompanied by Representative Thubten Samdup and Assistant Tenzin Kunga during his visit to Sweden and Norway.
