Tibetan Parliamentary delegation concludes lobbying campaign in the Indian capital
DHARAMSALA, July 21: A group of Tibetan parliamentarians successfully concluded a week-long lobbying campaign in the Indian capital on Sunday after meeting prominent Indian political leaders from across party lines.
The Tibetan delegation met with 28 MPs from 13 different political parties urging them to participate in the All-India Parliamentary Forum for Tibet and help revitalize the Forum to bolster Tibet advocacy in the Indian Parliament and various international platforms.
While congratulating the Indian MPs on their recent election victory, the Tibetan MPs apprised them of the critical situation in Tibet where more than 130 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in recent years demanding an end to China’s repressive rule and urged them to reinforce their support in resolving the crisis in Tibet.
The Indian leaders the Tibetan delegates called upon included Mr H.D.Deve Gowda, Mr P.A.Sangma, Mr Mani Shankar Aiya, Mr Sharad Yadav, Mr Shanta Kumar, Mr D. Raja, Mr. Ajit Singh, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Mr Arivind Kejriwal, Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Bashist Nayarayan, Mr Kiren Rijiju, Mr Shatrughan Sinha, Dr Thokchom Menya, Mr Thupten Chewang, Ms Kanak Lata Singh, Mr Alok Tiwari and Mr Mukut Mithi, Mr Ninong Ering, Ms Vimla Kashyab and Mr Ramdass Athawale.
The Tibetan delegation also presented a five-point memorandum to the Indian leaders urging them to:
1) Call upon China to immediately end the human rights violation in Tibet.
2) Call for an International fact-finding delegation to investigate and report on the real causes behind the self-immolations.
3) To urge the Chinese Government to resume dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and CTA for early resolution of Tibetan issue.
4) Raise the issue of Tibet in the Indian Parliament and help intensify diplomatic and international pressure on the Chinese government.
5) Urge the Indian Government to make Tibetan issue a priority in India-China relationship and make India’s position on Tibet more pronounced.
The Tibetan Parliamentary delegation comprises of Mrs Dolma Tsering, Ven Monlam Tharchin, Ven Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Mr Choekyong Wangchuk and Mr Lobsang Yeshi.