Public gathered for the prayer service to express their solidarity
Photo: tibet.net
Tibetans, supporters and friends of Tibet gathered at Tsugla-khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on December 10, 1989. Following the event in the temple, a special solidarity service was jointly organised by the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Tibetan Parliament to pray for the monks and nuns of Larung Gar Buddhist academy and for Tashi Rabten, the latest Tibetan to self-immolate inside Tibet.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan exile Government, and the Speaker, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, graced the special day, along with other dignitaries of the Tibetan Government-in-exile.
The Special prayer service for the monks and nuns of Larung Gar and to commemorate the death of the latest self-immolator Tashi Rabten was attended by hundreds of Tibetans and supporters. Referring to the recent self-immolation, Sikyong said “to pray for all those Tibetans who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet especially the 145 self-immolators, including Tashi Rabten, is our sacred spiritual duty. I hope his aspirations are fulfilled”.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay
In his address Dr Sangay called for the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Tibet. “Today marks the 68th year since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, the serious human rights violation in Tibet doesn’t leave much for the Tibetan people to celebrate,” he said. “We urge the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid to visit Tibet to assess the human rights situation and particularly the pressing situation in Larung Gar and Yachen Gar [monasteries]. We also request him to raise the critical human rights situation in Tibet in the opening statement at the forthcoming 34th UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva in March next year,” he added.
Sikyong and Speaker lighting butter lamps in memory of Tibetan self-immolators
Photo: tibet.net
Sikyong highlighted the grim situation at Larung Gar where demolition of the academy and the forced eviction of monks and nuns are causing much distress among Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet. He mentioned that similar evictions are being forced on residents of Yachen Gar, another monastic institution in Tibet.
Referring to His Holiness as the guiding light of all Tibetans, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel lauded His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s contribution towards the promotion of world peace. He said “On behalf of all Tibetans I, with happiness, faith and elation, and with remembrance of his kindness, offer my greetings,” for the special day.
The exile government and parliament members congratulated Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia,on his award of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
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