Event in Tsugla-Khang Photo: tibet.net
Tibetans all over the world gathered to celebrate on December 10, as on that day in 1989 His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to promote human values, peace and compassion in the world.
Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters gathered at Tsugla-khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the conferment of Noble Peace Prize to His Holiness. The official event was organised by the Tibetan Government-in-exile, also known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Chief guest was Shri Ram Swaroop, the Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament for the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, who thanked His Holiness for making Dharamshala a centre of attraction for people across the world through his message of peace and love. He urged the Indian government to award the “Bharat Ratna,” the highest civilian award in India, to His Holiness.
The Officiating President and Home minister of the CTA, Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang, and Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phunstok, read statements from the Kashag (the Tibetan cabinet) and the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile to mark the anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness.
The Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament thanked and expressed appreciation for His Holiness’s untiring work towards resolving the issue of Tibet issue peacefully, and for promoting peace and compassion in the world at large. They also congratulated this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican). The full statement of the Kashag can be read here.
tibet.net, the CTA’s official website reported on events taking place around the world.
Celebration in Taiwan
Photo: tibet.net
In Taiwan, a group of Tibetans and Taiwanese gathered to celebrate, reading the Kashag’s statement and then taking part in a long-life prayer session for His Holiness. The Taiwan Office of Tibet announced that, along with the Kashag, they are designating next year as Thank You Taiwan Year which they will mark with a series of events in Taiwan. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the Taiwan Office of Tibet.
Celebration in Belgium
Photo: tibet.net
In Belgium, the Tibetan community celebrated the day; the President of the Tibetan Community appealed the members to remember His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life-long commitments and urged them to implement these commitments in their lives to bring changes.
In Lithuania, the newly formed Provisional Group for Solidarity with Tibetans in the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) held a series of events jointly with the Tibet Support Group in Lithuania, starting with a press conference – the first event organised by the Solidarity group, followed by film screenings and later, other meetings and speeches.
Sikyong at the New York rally
Photo Goms Vision
In the United States, hundreds of Tibetans and supporters across North America gathered in New York City for the “Solidarity with Tibet” protest, led by North America’s Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Representatives Pema Chagzoetsang and Tsewang Rigzin, together with local Tibetan Associations. Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the CTA, together with Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel who were in New York, addressed the rally which was attended by many Chinese scholars and dissidents including Prof Ming Xia, Chinese activist Chen Guangchen, democracy activist Yang Jianli.
Peace Rally in Japan
In Japan, Tibetans, together with representatives of the Uighurs, the minority Muslim group from East Turkestan, or Xinjian in north western China and people from southern Mongolia joined with Japanese supporters to participate in a Peace Rally in Tokyo. Carrying flags and banners, they called on the United Nations and the international community to restore freedom and justice for Tibetans, Uighurs and the people of southern Mongolia. The rally was organised by the Students for a Free Tibet, Japan.
In the European Parliament, the film Tibet, Ombre et Lumières was screened.
Photographs of Tibetans around the world – including Tibetan settlements in India – celebrating the day circulated on Facebook and Wechat – Wechat is a popular social media with Tibetans.
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