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Participants of Taiwan International Religious Freedom Forum with President Dr Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan

The Taiwan International Religious Freedom Forum (TIRFF) took place between May 30 – June 1. Tibet was represented by Mr Ngodub Tsering, the current representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Central Administration to North America, and Mr Dawa Tsering, Chairman of the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Both delegates had the opportunity to address the Forum and update them on the situation in Tibet.

The Forum was attended by President Tsai of Taiwan and was jointly hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, China Aid Association, Heritage Foundation and Taiwan Association for China Human Rights. The aim, as reported on the Taiwan International Religious Freedom Forum (TIRFF) official website,was “to provide an opportunity for collaboration between religious leaders throughout the world to promote religious freedom and related human rights”.

Mr Ngodub Tsering

Speakers and representatives from across the globe were welcomed. The agenda included a number of topics under the broad theme of “Rising to the Challenge”. Topics included the persecution of the Christian community and the role of civil society in religious freedom, these were discussed alongside the religious persecution of Tibetans. This topic was entitled Religious persecution and ethnic oppression of the Tibetans and Uighurs and was attended by the Vice President of Taiwan. Mr Ngodub Tsering gave a presentation to this session.

According to a report in the Taiwan Times, President Tsai made reference to Taiwan’s long struggle for religious and political freedom.

A letter from His Holiness the Dalai Lama was read out in which he wrote “Religious freedom is a basic human right. I am happy to observe that in a robust democracy like Taiwan the law protects and supports human rights.” The subject of his attendance, however, is controversial –it has been reported by a number of sources, including the taiwannews.com.tw that both His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Uyghur activist RebiyaKadeer were denied visas to attend the event. The report by the taiwannews.com.tw states, “A government official frankly admitted in private that Taiwan had not planned to invite HH the Dalai Lama or Kadeer”. In contrast to this, some sources have rebuked this claim and at the forum, President Tsai is reported to have expressed her regret at His Holiness the Dalai Lama being unable to attend.