Kalon Lobsang Nyandak, Minister for Finance, Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala, India, visited France from 15th July to 17th July 2005.
On 15th July 2005, the Kalon had a luncheon meeting with the concerned Foreign Ministry officials. He also gave press interviews.
On the invitation of the World Peace Centre, Verdun in eastern France, the Kalon visited Verdun on the 16th July. Verdun is related to the World War I history of France where in 1916, within a period of nine month intensive battle, over 300000 German and French soldiers died, mostly under bombshells. Being 30 kms away form then then Franco-German border, Verdun was a strategic frontier from where the German army attempted to cross into France to move forward to Paris. The world’s first air was fought in Verdun and over 60 million bombshells were pounded in the limited hilly area of Douaumont. Accompanied by Mr Jean Luc Demandre, Director of the World Peace Centre, the Kalon visited the war memorials, cemeteries, and the battlefields. These historical sites are visited by over 130 000 visitors mostly coming from France, Germany and the then allied forces countries. The World Peace Centre of Verdun has decided to honour the non violent struggle of the Tibetan people by putting the Tibetan flag permanently within the reception hall of the centre. Special ceremony was organised in the presence of the Kalon. The Tibet flag was hoisted and the Tibetan hymn sung by the Tibetan present, mostly a group of 14 Tibetan artistes coming from Switzerland. Mr Christian Namy, President of the Department of Meuse to which Verdun belongs was also present at the ceremony. In his speech, the Kalon thanked the authorities and the Peace Centre for their heartfelt gesture to honour the 46 long year of peaceful struggle of the Tibetan people. He said, such highly symbolic action is welcome and is encouraging our people and will send right message to the international community. He says that the non violent struggle does not concern the Tibetan people alone but the entire world community which should give sufficient support to the peaceful solution in resolving international issues, otherwise, he warned, that in fifty or hundred years, the history will judge us severely and may consider the non-violent way of resolution of conflict as ineffective and futile. He said, for the last 46 years, the Tibetan community and the exile administration under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has consistently followed the path of dialogue and non violence to resolve our issue. He said, the peaceful struggle of the Tibetan people needs continued and increased international support, especially at this critical moment where we could re-establish ties with the Chinese authorities.
Mr Christian Namy, President of the Deparment of Meuse, in his speech declared the people of Tibet – 6 million who are still in Tibet itself and 140 000 who have to live in exile outside of Tibet, as friends. He thanked the Kalon for his visit and expressed strong hope that the non violent struggle of the Tibetan people is recognised properly and the on going suffering of the Tibetan people end soon. He further added that the city of Verdun, and Department of Meuse, and beyond that, France, will be very much encouraged to work more in the direction of peace, and therefore, he requested the Kalon to convey the message of sincere admiration to His Holiness, and also to present their invitation to His Holiness for a visit to Verdun.
Lateron, as a special guest, the Kalon was invited to lay a peace stone pebble on the pebble made peace dove in the garden of the World Peace Center.
The Kalon then attended a press meeting with two journalists – one from l’Est republican, the nationally diffused daily and the locally diffused Radio Bleu.
After a reception, the Kalon was invited to visit the World Peace Centre of Verdun which by narrating the World War First event attempts to give education on peace.
In the evening, before 2500 people, Mr Jean Luc Demandre announced the honour of having the Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and recalled the courageous non violent struggle carried out by His Holiness and the Tibetan people. The Kalon gave a brief speech in which he underlined the importance of non violence in resolving problems and he assured that despite immense suffering, the determination of the Tibetan people and its leadership to rely consistently on peaceful method to resolve our issue. However, he said the determination of the Tibetan people to work on peace and dialogue needs stronger support and encouragement from the international community. He argued that the peace initiative of the Tibetan people should set an example to convince the world community that the conflicts and issues can be resolved by peaceful means. He finally thanked the authorities and Verdun Peace Centre for offering this opportunity to see the historical memorial sites and he particularly thanked the public present for their patience and attention.
On 17th July, the Kalon met the representatives of the Tibet Support Groups of France at the Bureau du Tibet. The Kalon clarified the policy of the exile administration, and urged the associations to relay effectively our message – to create a conducive environment to favour the on going dialogue initiative which he says is reaching a critical stage. He also expressed his hope that as the Sino-tibetan dialogue goes on, it will pave the way to resolve the issue. The Kalon then gave reply to different questions raised by the audience. Following the Kalon’s speech, the Tibet flag was shown with strong public applauds and then a fifteen minute film on the non violent struggle of the Tibetan people by Mr Anglade “Spirit of Warriors” was projected followed by a two hour sound and light theatre play acted by 300 actors relating the World War First events.
In the afternoon, the Kalon met the Tibetan residents of France. He gave advices insisting on the importance of working for the Tibetan people as a whole, safeguarding our language and culture, and welcomed the Tibetans to think over involving in educational and medical projects within Tibet. The Kalon briefed about the on going contacts with the Chinese authorities for the last three and a half years which he qualified, as very encouraging. He therefore reminded the importance of creating a conducive environment to favour a dialogue, especially at this critical stages. He gave also explanations on the introduction of the renewed version the Green Book. The question/reply then followed. Finally the President of the Tibetan community in France, Mr Thupten Gyatso, thanked the Kalon for his presence despite hectic schedules, and presented a khatag and a gift of the community.
On 18th July in the morning, accompanied by the Representative Tashi Phuntsok, the Kalon Lobsang Nyandak took a flight for return to India.
The invitation, of the Kalon to Verdun made by the World Peace Centre has been initially encouraged and coordinated by Association France-Tibet which has, on the occasion of the Kalon’s visit, also presented an exhibition on various political actions and campaigns initiated by France-Tibet. Mrs Marcelle Roux, the Association’s President guided the Kalon through this exhibition, presented the association’s local chapters board members, and also explained to Kalon the overall efforts being made to increase awareness programmes among schools and youth in France, and especially in Verdun region, on the peaceful struggle of the Tibetan people.
This note edited by Wangpo Bashi, on the 18th July 2005.
