Tibet Supporters in India Meet, Assure Support
Dharamsala, 6 September 2003: The three – day conference of All India Tibet Support groups began yesterday at Agarsen Bhavan, Chandigarh. Around 200 delegates representing various Tibet Support Groups from 15 different states of India, several local Tibet supporters and Tibetan students of Chandigarh were present to witness the inaugural day of the conference organised by Indian Core Group for Tibetan Cause. 20 MLA’s of from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh were also present for the opening session which was presided over by Shri Brij Bhushan Tewari, former Lok Sabha member.
Mr. Pema Jungney, the Chairman of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, and Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh were chief guests.
A meeting that was conducted by Dr. Anand Kumar, national co-convener of Indian Core Group for Tibetan Cause, was attended among others by Shri Indresh Kumar, patron of Himalaya Parivar and Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, Ven Lama Chosphel Zotpa, Vice Chairman, National Commission for Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe, Dr. N K Trikha, convener of Indian Core Group for Tibetan Cause.
Dr. N.K Trikha presented a report on activities and status of the Tibet Support Group, India.
Expressing his gratitude to the Tibet supporters on behalf of the Tibetan people, Mr. Pema Jungney said he is thankful for the continued support of the Indians in times of crisis and sought the active support for the “pragmatic initiative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to declare Tibet a zone of Ahimsa as enshrined in his 5 point peace plan of Strasbourg. Lama.
Chosphel Zotpa, while stressing on the need to enhance the Tibet support movement, said that support from the grass root level to bring change in India’s foreign policy on Tibet is important.
Security threat to India can not be done away without declaring Tibet a zone of Ahimsa, he said.
Shri Indresh Kumar said India should be very cautious in its dealings with China whose frequent change of tracks in diplomacy became well known after the euphoric Hindi – Chini bhai-bhai. This conference should discuss ways and means to ensure negotiations between Beijing and Dharamsala for a genuine autonomy for Tibet while seeking recognition of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala as the legitimate government of the Tibetan people.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal supported the Indian government’s stand on the June 23rd declaration signed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee with China and praised the Indian Foreign Minister for refuting China’s lies.
Shri Brij Bhushan Tewari said India should shoulder the dharmic responsibility of protecting the Tibetans.
Shri Pema Jungney presented a citation of appreciation and a Tibetan national flag each to the dignitaries as souvenirs. The members of the Tibetan Assembly, Ven. Thubten Phelgye, Dawa Tsering (nominated), Dolkar Lhamo and Penpa Tsering, had an indepth discussion with the Indian
State legislators. The Indian legislators, after this discussion, pledged to form a forum of state
legislatures from Haryana, Punjab Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir the auspices of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal.
With inputs from ITCO