TPIE to hold 8th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet over 22 – 23 June in DC
DHARAMSALA, 21 June: The Speaker of the US House of Representatives honourable Nancy Pelosi will grace the eighth World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet (WPCT).
“To strengthen and coordinate support by parliamentarians from different countries to resolve the Tibet issue,” the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile(TPIE) will hold the 8th WPCT in Washington, D.C. from Wednesday.
The Tibetan parliament has stated in a press release that “by holding the 8th WPCT in the US, a country with fundamental values of democracy and equality, we honour the important role played by the United States Congress in formulating policy initiatives on Tibet, including institutionalising support through several legislations.”
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang along with Parliamentarians Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten, Kunga Sotop, Khenpo Kada Ngedup Sonam, Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, Mingyur Dorjee, Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen, Tsering Dolma, Tenzin Jigdal, Choedak Gyatso, and Lobsang Thupten of the (TPIE) from India as well as Tibetan Parliamentarian from NOrth America Tenzin Jigme and Mr Thondup Tseringalong will join around 100 participants from 26 countries, who will attend the WPCT in-person and virtually over 22 – 23 June 2022.
The legislative body of the exile Tibetan government has further maintained that it also aims to “draw attention to our exile government’s commitment to democratic norms and values.”
As repression by the Chinese government in Tibet continues unabated and Tibetans continue to strive to preserve their religion, culture, identity, and environment and continue to advocate for human rights and freedom in Tibet through non-violence all over the world, the TPIE has added that the convention “is in continuation of the previous seven sessions of WPCT aimed to strengthen and coordinate support by parliamentarians from different countries to resolve the Tibet issue.”
The TPIE has announced that the conference will feature a video message from the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and greetings from the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi who has been a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama and supporter of the just cause of Tibet.
The itinerary of the WPCT includes panel discussions and briefing sessions on various issues facing Tibet by the honourable members of parliament of different countries, experts and activists.
Through the convention, the TPIE hopes the world parliamentarians will take a leading role in the international area on the question of survival of the Tibetan identity and its rich cultural heritage, to join the world leaders in expressing concern over human rights violations and religious repression in Tibet and to consider initiatives in their respective countries to support an early resumption of dialogue between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the People’s Republic of China, for a negotiated solution on Tibet.
The first WPCT was held in New Delhi in 1994 followed by the second in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1995; the third in Washington D.C. in the US in 1997; the fourth in Edinburgh, Scotland U.K. in 2005; followed by the fifth in Rome, Italy in 2009; the sixth in Ottawa, Canada in 2012; and the seventh in Riga, Latvia in 2019.