London: A warm reception was hosted by the Office of Tibet and Tibetan Community in Britain at the Tibet House on Monday evening, to bid farewell to the outgoing Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Tsering Tashi, and to welcome his successor, Mr. Thubten Samdup.
The reception was attended by nearly 100 specially invited guests from various embassies, non- governmental organisations and academic institutions, including diplomats, parliamentarians, scholars, journalists, local Tibetan leaders, British Buddhist community, Tibet-related organisations and members of Tibetan Community in Britain.
In his farewell speech, Mr. Tsering Tashi, who has served at the office of Tibet since 2001, initially as Secretary/Information and Press Officer and later as His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative for Northern Europe, said, “As most of you will be aware, I have served the Office of Tibet for over eight years now, with the last almost two and half years as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which indeed has been a great honour, but at the same time extremely challenging especially in the face of limited resources and manpower.
“Many of you will remember that last year when Tibet hit the international news headlines, we were only two staff in the office. Nevertheless, by working long hours and even on weekends we managed to not only come out successfully with His Holiness’ May visit to London, Nottingham and Oxford, but also take care of all the other official responsibilities and respond to the overwhelming approaches received from the UK and international media as the primary source and commentator on issues affecting the Tibetan people.”
Currently, the Office Tibet is staffed by three Tibetans, who also run its charitable wing, Tibet House Trust. The outgoing representative, a trained journalist, who had previously served in the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as his press officer, appealed for continued cooperation to his successor. He said: “From experience I know the challenges that lie ahead for the Office of Tibet. I therefore request you and all concerned governments, Tibet-related NGOs, fellow Tibetans and our friends and supporters to also extend your cooperation, friendship and support to the new Representative Mr. Thubten Samdup in the fulfilment of his heavy responsibilities.”
While congratulating his successor, outgoing representative Tsering Tashi, who will take up his new role at the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) in Dharamsala, concluded his speech with a positive note and said, “Here I must say that the level of understanding and support shown by the UK Foreign Office, Foreign Ministries of related European countries, various UK-based and other Tibet Support Groups, the Tibetan Community in Britain and other Tibetan Communities, Tibet-related NGOs, Tibetan Buddhist Centres, individual supporters and well-wishers all proved to be a source of much encouragement and helped to fuel our determination to work still harder. To all of them, many represented here today, I wish to take this opportunity to once again extend my Thanks for all the kind understanding, practical support and warm words of advice and encouragement.”
Pempa Lobsang, Chairman of Tibetan Community in Britain, paid tribute to the outgoing representative saying, “Tsering Tashi la has been a credit to the Tibetan government, an example of a man for the people, ever present within the community and always ready to do his part … his commitment to the cause was second to none, his ability undoubted. He has also brought about real change in the way we work and encouraged not only our Tibetan members but our western supporters and various government officials in Europe including Great Britain. We particularly admire and appreciate your kind advice, guidance and encouragement that the present and former Council Members have received over the past many years. I say this on behalf of the entire Tibetan Community in Britain, it has been a great privilege to have worked with you.”
While extending warm welcome to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s new Representative, he said, “The community, represented by its council members will continue to work closely with the Office of Tibet under Thubten la’s leadership and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.”
After bidding a personal farewell and welcome, Philippa Carrick, CEO of Tibet Society, the world’s oldest Tibet support group, echoed Pempa’s sentiments, saying “I am very sad to see Tsering Tashi leave. I greatly respect and admire his untiring work, he has been very effective in raising the Tibet issue with governments across northern Europe, forging many new connections. He also reached out and was available to the Tibetan Community in Britain and has done a lot to encourage many new ideas and initiatives. He engenders much warmth and affection with all of us who have been privileged to work with him. On a personal level I will miss his patience, good humour … and wisdom, which I always greatly appreciated. Thubten Samdup has a hard act to follow! But he is another remarkable man so I know he will develop the connections Tsering forged and I greatly look forward to working with him.”
The new Representative for Northern Europe is Mr. Thubten Samdup, a former member of the Tibetan parliament in exile representing the Tibetans in North America, and who has many years experience of Tibet-related work, including founding and serving as the President of Canada Tibet Committee from 1987-2004 amongst many other innovative campaigning and outreach initiatives.
Concerned people including the Tibetans and Tibet Support Groups in the UK are looking forward to working with The Dalai Lama’s new emissary based at The Office of Tibet in London, who said, “I want to make difference in my new role” for the Tibetan struggle.
Reporting by Tsering Passang, General Secretary of Tibetan Community in Britain.
