By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, September 27: Speaking at the opening function of the fourth General Body Meeting of the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet (GCSMT), also known as Ex-Political prisoners’ Association; former Tibetan Prime Minister [Tib: Kalon Tripa] Sonam Topgyal appealed Tibetans for greater unity for Tibet’s freedom struggle.
“Greater unity among Tibetan populace both in and outside Tibet, among Tibetan non-governmental organisations, between the Tibetan public and their Government-in-Exile and among monastic communities is the need of the hour to achieve our goal” former Kalon Tripa told the gathering here today.
“We really need to build greater unity at all levels,” Mr Topgyal said making reference to the loosely coordinated recent mass movement organized by Tibetan and Tibet support Group organisations in the Indian capital of New Delhi.
Mr Topgyal also insisted Tibetans and Tibetan organisations to turn October 17 into a massive public celebration. “Recognition to His Holiness the Dalai Lama means victory to Tibet’s cause,” he said.
On October 17, His Holiness will be honoured with the US Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honour, at a ceremony at Capitol Hill, the second major recognition to his consistent peaceful non-violent approach to resolve the issue of Tibet since He was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Former Tibetan PM also said, “It is now time to raise sharp protest against Communist Chinese authorities’ regular defamatory remarks against our leader”.
“His Holiness is our (Tibetan people) undisputed leader and Chinese authorities’ regular remarks against His Holiness shows their disregard to Tibetan people’s sentiments,” he said.
Besides, commenting on Taiwan President’s latest call for closer tie between Taiwan and Tibetan Government-in-Exile, former PM said “It’s a major shift in Taiwan’s policy, and I personally feel we need to take a closer look at Taiwan’s call.”
Former Kalon Tripa described Gu-Chu-Sum as an organisation of former Tibetan political prisoners who have selflessly struggled for Tibetan freedom by staging massive demonstration in the Tibetan capital in late 1980s.
“In contributing to Tibet’s cause, the organisation has benefited greatly to former political prisoners and their related ones through its welfare schemes” Mr Sonam said.
Based in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, Gu-Chu-Sum is an organisation of ex-political prisoners from Tibet established on September 27, 1991.
Gu, Chu, and Sum are the numbers nine, ten, and three in Tibetan, which stand for the months of the year in which major demonstrations were held in Lhasa against oppressive Chinese Communist regime in Tibet.
Gu stands for September 27, 1987; Chu for October 1, 1987 and, Sum for March 5, 1988.
On these dates large scale organised demonstrations were held in Tibetan capital for the first time since the failed Tibetan Uprising in 1959, which forced thousands of Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama to flee Tibet for the very first time in history.
The organisation’s executive members are elected during the General Body Meeting held after every 3 years. Over 400 registered members will vote for the organisation’s next executive members on Saturday.
To know more about Gu-Chu-Sum, visit: www.guchusum.org
