By Chungdak Koren
The 70th World Congress of International PEN took place in Tromso city, northern part of Norway from 6th –12th September 04.
The themes of 70th World Congress PEN were: Writers in exile and Writers in minority languages.
Delegates from 80 countries attended the Congress. Tibetan writer Mr Gaitho and Mr Kathup Gyal took part in the Congress as official delegates from Tibetan Writers Abroad PEN Centre, Dharamsala. Dharamsala based Tibetan PEN centre is member of the International PEN Organization and was established in 1999. Tibetan PEN has around 100 members
International PEN, which was founded in England in 1921. PEN is short for «Poets, Essayists and Novelists» or «Poets, Editors and Novelists». Norwegian PEN was founded in 1922.
The aim and objective of International PEN is: firstly to establish an international, literary organization – secondly to create an organization that could work and fight for authors´ and other writers´ right to freedom of expression.
During the 70th World Congress of International PEN, a resolution was submitted by Canadian and Danish centres of PEN on China, urging Chinese government to realise all imprisoned journalist and writers in China including Tibetan writers and journalist in Tibet who are detained in violation of their rights to freedom of expression. The resolution specifically mentioned monks from Drepung group imprisoned, which includes Jampel Changchup, Jampel Chunjor, and Ngawang Gyaltsen and Ven.Ngawang Phulchung.
For further information on Tibetan PEN centre in Dharamsala, Please contact:
Email: tibpen@yahoo.com
Tel: 00911892 228178
