Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s Visit to the United States

By Osmar Fuentes / May 23, 2013;

Photo: facebook.com

Traveling to Washington D.C. from May 6 to 10, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay visited the United States for the third time since assuming political leadership of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Special Advisor Kaydor Aukatsang and Ngawang Yonten from the Office of Tibet in New York accompanied him as he met such dignitaries and officials as the Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, Senator Ben Cardin, and Senator John McCain. Other influential meetings included Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, senior staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and a lunch with 35 Congressional staff members of the House of Representatives. Sikyong was kindly received as he sought support from US Congress and explained the significance of the Tibetan issue.

Along with visiting Congress, Sikyong was invited to The Council on Foreign Relations’ May 8 event, “A Conversation with Sikyong Lobsang Sangay.” According to the Central Tibetan Administration, “Sikyong spoke on his election, responsibilities, devolution of political power from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan democracy and most importantly the current critical situation inside Tibet.” He went on to attend a private dinner hosted by The Foreign Policy Initiative and a meeting with representatives from Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders, Project 2049 and Freedom House at the office of the International Campaign for Tibet on May 8. Alongside groups like Human Rights Watch and the National Endowment for Democracy, he spoke of the human rights abuses occurring in Tibet and potential avenues for ending the oppression of his people.

The trip was widely publicised through multiple US media outlets, such as the D.C. based publication, The Hill, and the non-profit American cable television network, C-Span. After meeting with Congress, think tanks, and media, the Sikyong and his advisors held meetings with officials of the Obama Administration.

He went on to host an event for the Tibetan community living in the US. After leaving the US on May 10, he concluded his international tour by attending the fifth annual Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway and meeting with members of the Swedish Parliament. The Sikyomg returned to Dharamsala on May 20.