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Tibetans Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Democracy in Exile

03.09.2010

The landmark occasion for Tibetans in establishing a democratic polity in exile during the last 50 years was celebrated by Tibetans throughout the world on 2 September 2010. A ceremony to celebrate this historic milestone was organised by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile at the Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement in the South Indian State of Karnataka. During the ceremony, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile honoured His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a 'Golden Seal' as an expression of the Tibetan people's gratitude for leading the Tibetan struggle and for establishing democracy in Tibetan exile polity. His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his address to the ceremony expressed his gratitude to the Karanataka State Government and the Indian Central Government for providing refuge to the Tibetans living in exile in India. Among those joining the ceremony were 17 Parliamentarians from 14 different countries across the world including members of the International Network for Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPaT) established at the 5th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet held in Rome last November. His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked the Parliamentarians from other countries for their support to the Tibetan people. “I always say that those of you who support us are not pro Tibet but pro justice. Your support encourages the Tibetan people in keeping their hopes alive and it also helps in creating awareness among a lot of Chinese people in mainland China who are unaware of the reality,” His Holiness said. The democratically elected Kalon Tripa (Chairman of the Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala, India), Prof Samdhong Rinpoche and the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Mr Penpa Tsering, also addressed the gathering. The overseas Parliamentarians present at the ceremony later met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Election Commissioner Mr Jampa Chosang. The discussions included some specific suggestions that the Parliamentarians had for the elections due to be held in 2011 for the next Kalon Tripa and for the members of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

The source

The Office of Tibet

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