By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, September 29: A delegation from Regional Assembly of Trentino – South Tyrol, an Autonomous Region in Northern Italy, currently on a five-day official visit to Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, firmly condemned China’s policy on Tibet calling it condemnable and unacceptable.
Speaking at a press conference consisting of Tibetan and local Indian media, President of the Trentino – South Tyrol Regional Assembly President, Dr. Franz Pahl said, “We firmly condemn China’s policy in Tibet”.
“China’s occupation of Tibet is illegal and its oppressive policy on Tibet is unacceptable”, Dr Pahl told the media gathering at the Lhakpa Tsering Hall in Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration.
“We are supportive of Tibetan cause and we are doing all that we can at our capacity to support it,” Dr.Pahl said.
“All democratic countries should condemn China’s oppressive rule of Tibet, if not democracy will lose its credibility” he asserts
The delegation also includes the Mayor of Cologno Monzese, Mr Mario Soldano.
“Tibetan Government-in-Exile must be supported by the government of all the democratic countries” Mr Soldano said adding, “We, on our part, are committed to do this.”
“Every democratic Government must and should speak against China’s oppression in Tibet” he said.
President of Trentino Provincial Assembly, Dario Pallaoro said, “We value Tibetan cultural preservation as much as we do ours”.
“Tibet must be of Tibetans. What is Tibet without Tibetans” remarks Eva Klotz, a member of the Regional assembly. “Tibet must be freed and I will do all I can for Tibet,” she pledges.
“2008 Olympics in Beijing is a big opportunity to push the issue of Tibet,” says Giorgio Cassagranda, another Regional Assembly member exerts. “And we will see how we can push the Tibet issue at political level,” he adds.
“We are impressed by the democratic functioning of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and the strong sense of community of the Tibetan people,” Dr Pahl said.
The parliamentary delegation consisting of 14 members along with staff and their family members arrived in Dharamsala on Wednesday at the invitation of Tibetan Parliamentary-in-Exile (TPiE) and is scheduled to leave on Sunday.
The group met with the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Friday.
They also met Kalon Tripa (Tibetan Prime Minister), Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, and interacted with other senior officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. Earlier during the day, the group visited the Tibetan Parliament and observed the ongoing second annual session.
The programme for the visiting parliamentary members also included visit to Tibetan cultural, educational and medical institutions, and interaction with non-governmental organisations.
Another fifteen-member delegation from United Kingdom, including five British Parliamentarians will visit Dharamsala from 1 to 5 October at the invitation of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile “to learn the realities of the Tibetan situation, and to exchange parliamentary experiences” according to the official website of Central Tibetan Administration.
