-Filed by Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat-
Dharamshala: Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Pema Jungney received Members of Parliament from Germany, Italy, EU, Slovakia, Canada, Peru, Taiwan, Kenya, South Africa, and Russia at the Parliament hall at 4:45 PM yesterday. He briefed them about composition, functioning and Parliamentary sessions of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. He also briefed them about laws, rules, and regulations enacted by TPiE, working of Standing Committee Members and election procedure for President (Sikyong) and Members of Parliament.
Speaker also answered and clarified doubts raised by the MPs and honored them with ceremony scarf and a book of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Freedom in Exile).
Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile hosts dinner for Hon. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, former president of Botswana and Parliamentarians Thomas Mann, MEP (President Tibet Interest Group, European Parliament); Michael Brand, Member of the German Budestag; Antonella Incerti, House of Representative, Italy; Lucia Duris Nicholsonova, Deputy Speaker of the National Council of Slovak Republic; Martin Poliacik, Member of Parliament, Slovakia; Garnett Genuis, MP, co-chair of Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Conservative Party; Linda Duncan, Member of the Canadian House of Commons, New Democratic Party; Albeto de Belaunde; Mei Nu Yu, MP, Taiwan; Silverse Anami, MP, Kenya; Sandy Kalyan; Mikhail Mutulov, MP, Kalmyk Republic at Norbulingka, Sidhpur.
At the dinner, Speaker on behalf of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile welcomed and extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the guests for coming to Tibetan National Uprising Day, which marks the 60th Anniversary this year. Over the years, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile with close association with different Parliamentary Support Groups and the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPaT) have been organising World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet (WPCT) in different countries. Till date, TPiE have had 6th of such Convention. The first Convention was held in Delhi, India in 1994 followed by Second in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1995, Third in Washington D.C. USA in 1997, Fourth in Edinburg, Scotland in 2005, Fifth in Rome, Italy in 2009 and the Sixth in Ottawa, Canada in 2012. So, Speaker on behalf of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile invited all the MPs to the coming 7th WPCT this year on 7-10 May in Riga, Latvia.
The main objective of such Convention is to share information, review current developments and develop a plan of parliamentary action to advance Tibetan issues and secure effective governmental support for the process of dialogue between the Chinese leadership and His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives leading to a negotiated solution for Tibet. The ongoing critical situation inside Tibet with the dramatic deterioration of the human rights condition and the degradation of the environment will also be discussed in the Convention. This convention will also be critical in assessing the possible impact of the upcoming changes in Chinese leadership.
Finally, Speaker thanked them once again for coming to Dharamshala and taking active participation in this landmark event of our struggle.