By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, December 10: On the occasion of 28th Anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize on Holiness the Dalai Lama at Tsuglagkhang, ruling party BJP’s Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Kumar called on the central government to confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honor, on the Dalai Lama.
The Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian parliament) MP from Mandi, who attended the celebration as the chief guest said, “We are going to urge the President and the Prime Minister of India to confer the Bharat Ratna Award on His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
He also added that he hopes to invite the Tibetan spiritual leader to address the Indian Parliament.
The audience including students, foreigners and local residents today gathered at the courtyard of Tsuglagkhang to participate in the official celebration which was participated by Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, acting Sikyong and Home Minister (Kalon) Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang and Tibetan dignitaries.
The Deputy Speaker in the official statement of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile acknowledged the ‘selflessness, heroism, and fortitude’ of the Tibetans inside Tibet and appreciated the exile Tibetans for safeguarding Tibetan ‘ethnic identity and keep the Tibetan struggle alive’.
However, he also reminded, “We deem it necessary to appeal everyone that they do not post on the internet social media forums any comment which is of such extreme nature as to have the effect of pleasing our enemies’ hearts and rendering those close to us crestfallen, so to say, for they will be the cause of the destruction of the Tibetan people’s fraternal unity.”
Acting president Sonam Topgyal in the Kashag’s official statement spoke on the ‘deplorable’ situation of human rights in Tibet. He said, “We are taking this opportunity to remind the UN and the UN Human Rights Council and all other peace and justice-loving individuals and governments about the ongoing repression and oppression still rampant in today’s world.”
On the occasion the Kashag and the Parliament both congratulated this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
The celebration was glittered by performances from Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), students of Yongling, Tibetan Day’s School, Lower TCV and Staff members of Upper TCV.
The 22nd Himalayan Festival was also celebrated at the MCD Parking lot near Tsuglagkhang. Organized by the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association to celebrate the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize on the Tibetan spiritual leader, the festival expresses the admiration and respect of the local host community towards His Holiness and to celebrate the bond between the two communities.
On the occasion of 69th International World Human Rights Day, Students for a Free Tibet organized an awareness and photo action campaign outside Tsuglagkhang to aware the public over how Tibet continues to face repressions even after 69 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“We call on the international community to express strong public condemnation of China’s intensifying religious and cultural repression in Tibet. The international community must increase pressure on China to address the Tibetan people’s desire for freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama,” said Rinzin Choedon, Grassroots Director at SFT (India).
