Sikyong Penpa Tsering Concludes four-nation European Tour in Prague, Advocating for Tibetan Rights
By Yangchen Lhamu
DHARAMSALA, 16 Oct: The President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Penpa Tsering, concluded his four-nation European tour on Tuesday with a series of engagements, including high-level meetings with global leaders, experts, lawmakers, and Ministers of the Czech Republic in Prague.
The official visit of the CTA President to Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic from 6 to 15 October saw the Tibetan leader attend the Zurich Film Festival and Forum 2000.
At the 28th Forum 2000 Conference, an annual international gathering held in Prague, Czech Republic to promote democracy, respect for human rights, and civil society to address global issues and challenges facing the world today, President Tsering engaged with global leaders and experts to promote democratic values and international cooperation.
CTA’s official website, tibet.net reported that his visit promoted Tibetan welfare and countered China’s influence. He met with Tibet supporters, condemned China’s repression and sought international cooperation.
President Tsering also met with former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and former Polish President Lech Walesa at the forum among hosts of other global leaders.
According to Radio Prague International, the Conference, held in Prague, brought together over 600 global experts to discuss democratic challenges, regional tensions, and technological impacts. Key attendees included Czech President Petr Pavel, former Polish President Lech Walesa, and former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Forum 2000, founded in 1997 by Václav Havel, Elie Wiesel and Yohei Sasakawa, convenes world leaders in Prague. The conference promotes democracy, human rights and global cooperation. It fosters dialogue on religious, security and human rights issues.
The CTA President kicked off his four-nation European tour on 8 October in Switzerland by holding a discussion followed by a Q&A session at the Dolder Grand Hotel with representatives from Tibet support groups and Swiss NGOs regarding His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birth Anniversary. Later he also attended the screening of “Wisdom of Happiness,” a documentary on the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at the Zurich Film Festival.
His next engagement saw him fly to Amsterdam, Netherlands. There, he reportedly held productive interaction with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Dutch Parliament Building. He also met with Wim Geerts, the Dutch Ambassador for Human Rights, who tibet.net reported has “previously expressed serious concerns regarding the violent arrest of Tibetans in Derge and advocated for their release.”
He also had an informal meeting with coalitions of NGOs, including representatives of Uyghur, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, International Campaign for Tibet, Students for Free Tibet, and members of the Tibetan community before he headed to Luxembourg.
At Luxembourg, the CTA President accompanied by Representative Rigzin Choedon Genkhang were hosted a luncheon by Her Excellency Laima Andrikiene, former Member of the European Parliament and current Member of European Court of Auditors, at the prestigious Cercle Munster Asbl. Later, he also engaged with Les Amis du Tibet, an association that has long supported Tibetans, particularly through the sponsorship of children at Tibetan Children’s Village Schools.
Additionally, he also met with members of the Green Party of Luxembourg as well as Sam Tanson, former Minister of Justice and current Member of Parliament, along with Djuna Bernard, Member of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies.
