EU delegation with CTA President Lobsang Sangay
Photo: tibet.net
A delegation of European Parliament (EP) members arrived in Dharamshala for a six-day visit to the Tibetan Government-in-exile on May 7. The delegation was led by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Thomas Mann and included MEP Csaba Sogor and MEP Ramon Tremosa as well as Representative Tashi Phuntsok from the Office of Tibet in Brussels.
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) hosted a welcome ceremony for the delegates and Sikyong Lobsang Sangay (President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile) expressed his gratitude to the European Parliament and European Union for its staunch support for Tibet.
Thomas Mann, who is also chair of Tibet Interest Group in the European Parliament, gave a presentation on the China Report, a report introduced in the EP last year, which underlines the Middle Way Approach and calls for the reestablishment of dialogue between Tibetan and Chinese representatives. He said the EP had a “big majority” on the issue of the Chinese laws on terrorism which are “misused” to legalise the violation of human rights by government forces in China. He continued, “We are on your side, and we will never be silent”.
MEP Csaba Sogorsaid, “We try to convince China that if it wants to become a world power, then it should behave”. He continued, advising Tibetans to“be prepared when the change will come in Beijing or anywhere in the world”. MEP Ramon Tremosaspoke of the importance of education, “I invite you to study hard because we must imagine this 21st century in a peaceful way. You don’t see the immediate results but in long term, education will be the power of your nation”.
Meeting with Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok
Photo: tibet.net
The delegation then visited the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on the second day of their visit. Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok welcomed them and briefed them on the evolution of Tibetan democracy in exile and the proceedings of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the issues they face.
EU delegation meeting with His Holiness on May 9, 2018
Photo: tibet.net
The delegation received a private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 9. “We had a wide range of discussions including freedom, justice, human rights, and the refugee crisis in Europe,” said Thomas Mann after meeting His Holiness.
The Kashag (Cabinet of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile) hosted a public event in honour of the delegation. The visit was facilitated by the Office of Tibet, Brussels.
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