DHARAMSHALA: A delegation of Standing Committee members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile met senior Indian officials, including members of Parliament during their visit to New Delhi from 10-12 December. The visit was organised by the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre based in the Indian capital. 

On 11 December, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Mrs Sheila Dixit, the former chief minister of Delhi, and thanked her for offering support to the Tibetan cause, especially welfare of Tibetans in Samyeling settlement in Delhi, during her tenure. The delegation requested her to extend continued support to the Tibetan cause and take note of the worsening situation in Tibet. 

Later in the day, the delegation held a meeting with the local Tibetan officials, including the settlement officer and members of NGOs, on problems faced by Tibetans living in Samyeling settlement and Ladakh Buddha Vihar. The delegation answered questions, underlined the importance of taking responsibility and suggested ways to plan and tackle major problems.  

The Tibetan parliamentary delegation met with Dr Yeshi Choedon of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Prof Pema Dorjee of American Library based in New Delhi on 12 December. They exchanged experiences and views on a wide-range of issues, including experiences of Tibetans working in other societies, the status of Tibetans students in JNU, preservation of historic documents and policies of the Central Tibetan Administration. 

The delegation hosted a dinner reception in honour of members of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, who represent different political parties in the parliament. The members who attended the dinner reception include Mr Yashwant Sinha, convener and former External Affairs and Finance minister, Mr Sharad Yadav, Dr Thakchom Meinya, Ms Najma Heptulla, Mr Hassan Khan, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, Mr Amar Singh, Mr Joseph Toppo, Ms Bimla Kasyap Sood, Mr Shanta Kumar, Mr Alok Tiwari and Mr Bashistha Narain Singh. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Yashwant Sinha expressed deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet under the Chinese rule. He said India should do more on behalf of the Tibetan people and expressed its concern over the prevailing critical situation in the region. He called on the Indian parliamentarians to raise the issue of Tibet at different platforms to draw the international community’s attention to the issue of Tibet. He expressed hope for stronger ties between the Indian and Tibetan Parliaments, and that support from the Indian Parliamentarians would bring a positive change in the country’s policy on the issue of Tibet. He said efforts are being made by the Indian parliamentarians to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Parliament. 

In his address, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, offered tribute to late Mr Mohan Singh and late Mr Brij Bushan Tiwari, MPs and staunch supporter of Tibetan cause. “Though they have left us, their spirit in support of the issue of Tibet and reverence for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and contribution to their country and political parties would remain alive,” he said.

He briefed the Indian Parliamentarians on the continued occupation of Tibet by China over the last 50 years and said that the peaceful protest across Tibet in 2008 and the tragic self-immolation by 123 Tibetans since 2009 reflect the Tibetan people’s strong disenchantment with the Chinese rule. He expressed concern over the lack of positive response from the Chinese government to address the prevailing grave situation in Tibet and efforts made by the Tibetan leadership in exile to resolve the issue of Tibet through the Middle-Way Approach.

Speaking of the teacher-student relationship between Indians and Tibetans as stated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he said Tibetans have shown unwavering respect for and trust in the people and government of India over the last 50 years of their stay in exile. He expressed profound gratitude to India for its long-standing support for the Tibetan people and hope for continued support in the future. 

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has developed over the last 50 years since Tibetans receive democracy as a gift from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the deputy speaker said, adding that he considers regular exchange between the Indian and Tibetan Parliamentarians very important.

He said His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to different parts of the world describe as India as an important model of religious and cultural harmony. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s profound and meaningful visions are worth listening to. I thank and hope that the efforts made by the Indian parliamentarians to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the parliament will come true,” he added.

He expressed best wishes for the next year’s general election and hope for continued support from the parliamentarians on the issue of Tibet. He urged the MPs to make efforts to draw maximum participation of Indian parliamentarians in the upcoming 7th World Parliamentarians Conference on Tibet.