By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 11: The Central Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) on Saturday commemorated its 32nd anniversary of reestablishment in exile with a five-point appeal to the world leaders and international community for Tibet issue.
Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan parliament Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok attended the function as the chief guest withSri. Ajay Singh Monkotia, President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association and Rinchen Khando Choegyal, Founder and Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project as special guests.
Reestablished in exile on September 10, 1984, the association in its five-point appeal today urged the world community to pressure China to resume dialogue with CTA, release 11th Panchen Lama, immediate stop to Larung Gar demolition, and free all political prisoners.
The Deputy Speaker, while applauding the initiative, stated that however long it may take, the association must work hard to realize them as much as possible.
“Before we point out the lack of support from the international community on our proposal, I think it is imperative that we must first implement and act on our own resolutions,” Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok said, urging TWA to work on the resolution passed during their last month’s Working Committee Meeting in Hunsur.
Threading in a similar view, former Kalon Rinchen Khando Choegyal said that the members of the association must work wholeheartedly without thinking of any personal gain during the course of their association with TWA.
“The Tibetan cause would suffer if we carry forwards halfheartedly and prioritizing personal gain. I think it is not the time for the seniors to ask for relief from responsibilities and the youth to shy away responsibilities,” she said.
The association today commemorates the great sacrifices made by the Tibetan women, who stood against Chinese beatings and clampdown during the first ever Tibetan Women Uprising on March 12, 1959.
Thirty-two years ago, TWA was officially reestablished in exile with 12 branches throughout India. Today, the association has over 16,000 members in 57 branches worldwide.
