Paris, 22 May 2016: Two French municipalities, Bazemont in the Yvelines Department in the north and Lugan in the Tarn Department in the south of France, on Saturday, held ceremonies to mark the “adoption” of Purang and Jeykundo (Kyegudo) respectively.

The “adoption of Tibetan towns and villages” is a campaign initiated by France-Tibet, a French Tibet support group with an objective to extend people’s support for the preservation of Tibetan culture and identity, and to garner French people’s support for the just cause of the Tibetan people.

The communes participating in the campaign are required to install a Plaque declaring the “adoption” at the town hall, or at a significant landmark of the commune. Some towns and communes have installed the plaque at the entrance and exit of the towns/villages.

So far, in all 68 communes and municipalities have participated in the campaign since its inception in 2011.

In Lugan, the Mayor Mr. Xavier Cremoux, along with his colleagues in the municipal council, was joined also joined by a Parliamentarian, and regional council members during the ceremony of inauguration of the adoption. The day was also celebrated as Occitania-Tibet Culture Festival. Occitinia are the local people in Southern France in the midi-Pyrenees region who speak their own language Occitan. The programme also included a Conference on Tibet and Occitania.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Bazemont Mr. Jean-Bernard Hetzel was joined by the Mayor of Marq (Yvelines) and members of France-Tibet. The ceremony was slated for 14 November 2015, but had to be postponed following the 13 November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

Local Tibetans in and around Toulouse attended the ceremony in Lugan, as well as Tibetans in the vicinity of Bazemont attended the function.

– Report filed by Bureau du Tibet, Paris –