Italy, 28 January – The Tibetan and the Jewish community commemorated the extermination of the Jews under Nazi and the Tibetans by communist Chinese. The two communities shared a common platform to exchange their experiences and ordeals. The two communities believed that though the Jews ceased to suffer under Nazi the Tibetans still continue to suffer even today.
The event took place in Torino, a city in the northern Italy, at the magnificent and the oldest theater of the city, “il teatro carignano”. The city kindly permitted to use the hall for this special event.
Mr. Dan Segre, 85, writer and expert on Jews, president and professor at institute of Mediterranean studies at the Swiss university talked about the Jewish ordeal and Ven. Palden Gyatso, an ex political prisoner for 33 years under Chinese, told his story about the genocide in Tibet.
An open discussion and debate took place between the two speakers and it was moderated by Mr. Gad Lerner, high profile journalist and conductor of the one of the most famous Italian political and cultural television programmes. The debate touched not only the sufferings of the Jews and Tibetans but also touched current ethical, cultural and political topics.
“The Jewish people’s identity was strengthened because of being in exile and the Jews used democracy and the practice of the sacred teachings of Torah as an instrument to maintain strong its cultural identity, said Segre.
Ven. Palden Gyatso highlighted the drastic plight of Tibetans saying that “today the Tibetan culture and language is in danger due to massive immigration of Han Chinese into Tibet reducing the Tibetans to minority in their own country.”
He added that china doesn’t deserve Olympic games and must be boycotted. “Western democratic countries must maintain their dignity and remain inclined to ethics of human rights while making commercial contracts with China by denouncing the severe violation of the human rights in China. Where as Tibetans have all rights to fight against Chinese invasion personally I feel that Tibetans must follow non violent struggle as much as possible and must not cultivate hatred towards Chinese.”
Report prepared by Tibetan Community of Italy.
