By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, May 19: Speaker of the Dharamshala based Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Penpa Tsering today came out in support of the ongoing March to Tibet being led by Tsetan Dorjee while expressing fear for his safety.
“What we know as of now is that Tsetan Dorjee is carrying on his march some 60 to 80 kms from Lumbini in Nepal, but no one can predict what will happen to him in the coming days,” Speaker Tsering said. “Most likely, he will be arrested and jailed.”
He was speaking earlier today at the conclusion of the 48-hour fast by Tsetan Dorjee’s mother, Dhum Po Kyi.
“So, it is important for the Tibetan NGOs and our Central Tibetan Administration support him and organise activities accordingly,” the Speaker added.
After marching for over two months and covering more than 1300 Kms, the exile family of Tsetan Dorjee, his mother Dhumpo Kyi ans sister Lhamo Kyi were stopped by Nepali border police and forcibly returned to India last week.
However, slipping past Nepali border posts, Tsetan Dorjee left behind his mother and sister on the Indian side and has been carrying on with his March to Tibet in Nepal.
The exile family’s gesture of parading a Chinese flag, along with Indian, Nepali, and Tibetan flags midway on their march had drawn sharp reactions from the exile community.
The CTA in a release earlier this week mentioned that the act of carrying Chinese flag by the three Tibetans during the course of their peace March has been “supported by some and also opposed by others.”
“Concerning this matter, the Kashag does not endorse either the burning of nor those carrying the Chinese flag. This is the position of the Kashag,” the release noted.
“There are lots of discussions and debates about what Central Tibetan Administration should do, and what each individual can do for Tibet, and we have expressed our appreciation to the exile family for their initiative and we do express our appreciation even today,” Tsering said. “By sacrificing their health, and time, they have organised the march to Tibet and it is a historical contribution.”
Tsetan Dorjee along with his mother Dhumpo Kyi and sister Lhamo Kyi began their March to Tibet from Dharamshala, the seat of Central Tibetan Administration on March 10, coinciding with the 53rd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day.
Upon reaching back to Dharamshala on Thursday, Tsetan’s mother along with a group of Tibetans sat on a 48-hour long fast in support of Dorjee.
