On December 10 Tibetans around the globe celebrated the 30th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In Dharamshala, the official celebration took place at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala where the residence of his Holiness is situated. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay and Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Pema Jungney, delivered the official statements of the Kashag [Tibetan Cabinet] and the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile respectively. Guests at the celebration included Chief Executive Councillor Shri Gyal P Wangyal and other representatives of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Shri Ajay Singh, President of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association.
The day also marked the 71st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this regard the Kashag in its statement asserted that fundamental human rights are enshrined in Tibet and remembered the 154 Tibetans who have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet, including 24-year-old Yonten who self-immolated in Ngaba on November 26 calling for freedom for Tibetans and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The CTA also released a video: China’s Human Rights Commitments: A Sham. In his speech Shri Gyal P Wangyal said, “We are aware of the gross human rights violations in Tibet which [the] people of Ladakh have always condemned and will keep on condemning.” He added, “After Ladakh becoming a union territory we assure you that relations between Ladakhis and Tibetans will strengthen further […] We hope that Ladakh under the leadership of PM Modi can fulfill the aspiration of Tibetans in the coming years. We assure you that Tibetans in Ladakh are well taken care of.”
Cultural performances were presented during the event by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), as well as students and staff from the Tibetan schools around Dharamshala. Mementoes were awarded to health workers who have served for over 25 years, and to retiring CTA staff.
The local community honoured His Holiness by holding the two-day 24th Himalayan Festival which took place at TIPA. Ajay Singh Mankotia, President of the Dharamshala Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association who organised the festival, thanked the CTA for their support over the 23 years since its inception.
Local non-government organisations and Tibet support groups held events in Dharamshala: the Active Nonviolence Education Centre (ANEC) launched a photographic exhibition in the Tibet Museum which included a series of post-1959 photos. Students for a Free Tibet erected a display of 71 pictures of Tibetan political prisoners to mark the 71st anniversary of Human Rights Day.
Celebrations took place around India organised by local Tibetan communities, as well as the CTA’s official celebrations in Delhi and Darjeeling.
In Geneva in Switzerland, around 500 Tibetans took part in a march to draw attention to what is happening in Tibet and to call for a resumption of the talks with China to look at ways of resolving the issue.
In Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, a country heavily influenced by China, a large number of people took part in an event despite constant police presence.
In the United States, the Tibetan community of Salt Lake City, Utah, held an event with guest representatives of the local Members of Congress. The Office of Tibet, Washington DC Representative, Ngodup Tsering, spoke of the need to maintain the Tibetan language and culture and urged young Tibetans to become more involved in Tibetan issues.
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