Tibet: UNPO Salutes Ven. Wangchen's Initiative to Resume Dialogue between Tibet and China
On Tuesday [17 September 2019], the UNPO attended a meeting with Ven. Thupten Wangchen as part of his ‘Dialogue For Peace Tour’- a road trip to 30 countries marking 60 years of the Tibetan occupation. Through a series of encounters with government representatives, NGOs and civil society, he aims to gather support for the Tibetan cause and calls upon European lawmakers to help bring about the resumption of dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Xi Jinping. Tibet is currently under the control of the People's Republic of China, a situation characterised by the Central Tibetan Administration as an illegitimate military occupation. The Central Tibetan Administration, or so called Tibetan Government in Exile, is spiritually headed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso.
The article below was published by the Central Tibetan Administration
On his tour of 30 European countries to promote ‘Dialogue for Peace’, Ven. Thupten Wangchen, Member of the Tibetan Parliament in exile arrived in Brussels, Belgium on 17 September.
He was received by Representative Tashi Phuntsok, Office of Tibet, Brussels, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) EU Policy Director Vincent Martin and a group of Tibetan community leaders.
Shortly after arrival, MP Ven. Thupten Wangchen gave an interview to Le Soir, a French language newspaper. Thereafter ICT arranged a meeting with civil societies, which was attended by International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO). Tibetan community leaders were also present.
Tibetan community in Brussels arranged a meeting cum reception at Nalanda Institute in the afternoon. Ven. Wangchen explained his purpose of the tour to the gathering. The tour is aimed to advocate for the resumption of dialogue between China and envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Only through dialogue, peace can be assured between China and Tibet and to symbolise that, Ven. Thupten Wangchen travelled with a votive lamp on which stands a dove symbolising peace. The tour began on 2 September from Barcelona and continued across Europe. The tour will mark its successful completion in Barcelona on 8 November.
After a meeting at the Belgian government office on the tour, Ven. Wangchen and the delegation from the Office of Tibet called upon Senator Sebine de Bethune. The meeting was highly fruitful with discussions on various issues and course of actions. Senator Sabine de Bethune gladly signed the petition that Ven. Wangchen has arranged for the tour.
In the evening, Ven. Wangchen visited Yuentenling in Huy and tomorrow he will leave for Luxembourg.
Coordinated by Ms. Passang Dolma, the Luxembourg Tibetan community have arranged a day-long programme in honour of the ‘Dialogue for Peace’ tour.
Photo courtesy of the Central Tibetan Administration
