Following is the story forwarded to Phayul by Jampal Kunsang from Norway.
Lørenskog: May 1: May 1 is observed as the International Labour Day (or May Day). Mr Jonas Gahr Stoere, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, had earlier accepted the invitation from the Lørenskog Commune to come here and deliver Labour Day speech, which he actually did today to a gathering of over three hundred people.
After delivering the speech, Mr Stoere came down to exchange greetings with the people gathered for the event. In the meanwhile, I too managed to reach out to him for a right hand shake. Taking the momentary opportunity, I quickly appealed to him if I could make a request to him.
Mr Stoere, right away, said “OK”.
I told him that I am one of the Tibetans living in Norway, and that Tibetans living under the Chinese occupation in Tibet are not happy and continue to suffer greatly. I added that they are coerced into being voiceless and endure the suppression anticipating imminent threat into their personal lives. I even explained him of the fact that more than four thousand Han Chinese moving into Tibet every day and many of them ending up permanently settling there. I also told him that Tibetans have already become a minority in their own country.
In short, but earnestly, I requested him to urge Norwegian government to give more active political support to Tibetan cause during their diplomatic engagements with Chinese authorities.
He accepted my requests and promised me that he would do what he could. Feeling Mr Stoere really looked deep into my teary eyes; I thanked him and left shortly from the place.
On my way home, I felt elated and said to myself “I did manage to give a little part of my day for my country and my people in the hope that it will make a difference somehow”.
Jampal Kunsang can be reached at kunsang@smart.call.no
