Under the banner of Core Group for Tibetan Cause, the Tibet Support Groups in the central west region organized two-day conference on “Make Tibet a Zone of Ahimsa” on January 8 & 9, 2005 at Seeman Mangal Hall, Aurangapura in Aurangabad.
Opening ceremony had a congregation of more than 350 people consisting of representatives of different civil based organizations, non-governmental organizations, politicians, intellectuals and common people. Mr. Ramdas Athawale Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) one of the most prominent leader in the region was the chief guest and Dr. N.K. Trikha National Convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause chaired the meeting.
Mrs. Shinde, social activist, on behalf of organizing committee welcomed all the people present in the hall and Mr. Choekyong Wangchuk, Coordinator of India Tibet Coordination Office, gave an introductory speech.
While addressing the gathering, chief guest Mr. Athawale said, “Government of India is aware of present situation inside Tibet. As it is our moral responsibility to help the Tibetan people, I am sure that the Government of India will definitely take some positive measure for the solution of the issue of Tibet, so that Tibetans could go back to their motherland with dignity.
He further said, “Our party and our people extends its full support for the Tibet and Tibetan people’s issue”. He also urged the Chinese leadership to consider the peace proposals put forward by H.H the Dalai Lama.
Dr. Trikha spoke in length about Tibet past and present, he said, “growth with stability and peace in the Asian sub-continent in general and Himalayan region in particular can be achieved only if Tibet is restored back to its pre-1959 status”.
The two-day conference had deliberations and discussions on topics like; issue of Tibet and possible solutions, role of Indian youth in Tibetan freedom movement, question of Tibet and India’s position. On the final day, conference adopted six point resolutions on Tibet and five point action plans for mobilizing Indian people’s support for the cause of Tibet and strengthening Tibet Support Group movement in the region. (For detail visit www.indiatibet.org)
Conference also had a good number of Tibetan participants. Throughout the meeting, there were around 30 Tibetans, mainly who were on the winter business in Aurangabad. More then 70 participants representing 25 support groups from 16 different places (excluding Aurangabad) situated in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh took part in this conference. Mr. Arvind Nikose, Regional Convener of Core Group was the key person behind this successful event.
