From left: ICT President Matteo Meccaci, ICT Board Chairman Richard Gere, Senator Marco Rubio, CTA president Dr Lobsang Sangay and Representative Ngodup Tsering
Photo: tibet.net
December has been a busy month for the leaders of the Tibetan exile community. Dr Lobsang Sangay, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) also known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile and Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile visited Tibetan communities in the United States and met influential politicians and parliamentarians in Washington DC to “raise awareness” and push for support and developments related to the Tibet issue.
President Dr Sangay was on a five-day visit to Washington DC and New York while the Speaker, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, also made an official visit to DC, Los Angles, San Francisco and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dr Sangay, along with the Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) board Richard Gere, the newly appointed Representative of the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, Ngodup Tsering and Matteo Mecacci, President of the ICT met with Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Lindsey Graham in an hour-long meeting. tibet.net, the official website of CTA reported on the meeting with the two Senators, who are high profile former Republican presidential candidates. They discussed various issues including the growing Chinese influence in the world, US funding for Tibet related programmes, the appointment of the special coordinator for Tibetan issues in the State Department and the Reciprocal Access to Tibet bill which was recently introduced in the House.
Solidarity Rally on December 10 in New York City
Photo: tibet.net
December 10 was the World Human Rights day and the 28th anniversary of the award of the Noble Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. To mark the day, Tibetans in North America organised a “North America Solidarity with Tibet Rally”. During this event, Dr Sangay, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Ngodup Tsering, along with other guests and supporters took part in the mass rally. Both Dr Sangay and Speaker addressed the gathering.
During his visit, Dr Sangay met Senator Tom Cotton, one of the closest senators to President Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham, Chair of Senate Appropriation Committee and Representative Nita Lowey, all of whom play an influential role in appropriating funds for Tibetan programmes.
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Representative Ngodup Tsering, Office of Tibet, U.S. and Tsering Tashi,Tibetan Liaison Officer with Congressman Jim McGover
Photo: tibet.net
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel addressed the Tibetan communities in Washington DC, San Francisco and Salt Lake City, Utah and also met Utah State Senator Jim Davis, Salt Lake City county Mayor Ben McAdam and theMayor of Berkley and Richmond in California, promoting the Tibetan cause and seeking support for the movement.
Dr Sangay and the Speaker returned from their trip to Dharamshala, the seat of exile government on December 15 and 18 respectively.
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