By Tenzin Tsetan
DHARAMSHALA, NOV. 24: The prime minister of the Tibetan govt. in exile Dr. Lobsang Sangay met with members of Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (CPFT) in the capital Ottawa on Tuesday during a visit to the Canadian parliament.
The Tibetan leader commended the policies of the new govt. of Liberal Party and conventions on Human rights, religious freedom, inclusiveness and environmental protections at the parliamentary press gallery. The Tibetan PM was accompanied by Penpa Tsering, his rival in the Tibetan prime ministerial elections earlier this year, and the incumbent Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America.
The “efforts” of Canada for peaceful resolution of greater autonomy, bilingualism and federation state is much admired, so Canada becomes an “ideal” paragon who can help support the commitments of Tibetans in seeking genuine autonomy within China through middle way approach as envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said Dr. Sangay.
The Tibetan prime minister highlighted his concerns about curtails on Tibetan language and religious freedom in Tibet. He stressed on the importance of Tibetan plateau for the global eco system and as a source of water for many Asian countries downstream. “Tibet as a water tower needs to be protected and its glaciers from melting. Hence support of any govt. including the govt. of Canada is very much appreciated,” urged the exiled Tibetan PM.
Mr Arif Virani, Canadian MP and chair of the Tibetan parliamentarian friends of Tibet (CPFT), lauded the Tibetan prime minister’s efforts in promoting middle way approach to resolve the Tibet issue on the floor of the parliament.
Dr. Sangay later on met with members of parliaments from different political parties at a reception held by the CPFT.
