By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, February 29 – The Associazione Tecino-Tibet, a Swiss organization and Interstudio Lamrim Novara, Italia offered a mandala dedicated to Buddha of compassion Avalokiteshvara at the Dwarika Hotel in Kathmandu on 25th February, the mandala was created by monks of Samtenling and Serkong Monastery and concluded by His Eminence Drobthok Rinpoche, it was offered on behalf of the Tibetan community in exile, the two former organization for peace and compassion for all sentient beings.
Ms. Tashi Albertini-Kaiser, a Swiss-Tibetan member of the Tecino-Tibet organization is on a documentary filming tour with crew of the Swiss National Television to film about ‘What Remains Of Tibetan Identity’ in exile in Nepal, how Tibetans are living together, how Tibetan identity could be preserved in exile etc. The crew has been filming in various locations in Kathmandu including Tibetan old age home, schools, Tibetan celebration, talking with newly arrived Tibetans outside the Reception Center (filming was not permitted inside), talking to local Tibetans etc. The documentary would be for one hour, it would be broadcasted on Swiss National TV in about mid 2007. While asking about her experience with filming, she said, “I am very proud to see the Tibetan community, how they live together, how Tibetan customs like respecting elders is still alive, I was very moved and sad while talking to elders at the old age home, they are old now, they don’t want to die in a foreign land but I cannot do anything to help them”, she could not control her emotions and started sobbing.
Ms. Tashi was born in Lhasa, Tibet, her family came into exile in 1959 after Chinese occupation and settled in India with over 100,000 other fellow Tibetans, she and her brother were sent to Switzerland from India in 1962 due to poor condition of Tibetans in exile to be brought up in a Swiss family, she grew up in Switzerland with her adopted Swiss family and never met her Tibetan parents for over 25 years and due to that reason she now cannot even speak Tibetan, however, since seeing her parents in the early 80’s and re-establishing her roots, she was actively involved in raising awareness about Tibetan issues and have participated and support various Tibetan campaigns and continue to do so, she also regularly raises concerns for Tibetan issues in the Swiss society and supposedly have good relation with the Swiss Government. While commenting on the current situation of Tibetans, she said, “Tibetans are going through a desperate time for so many years, now it is high time that Tibet should officially get recognized by the world and have an official status because I think the world knows about Tibet and the situation there”.
