TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A delegation of four Tibetans, who are members of Parliament-In-Exile have arrived in Goa, as a part of their nationwide campaign, to garner support for their cause to put diplomatic pressure on China to resume dialogues with the Central Tibetan Administration.
The delegation met Dy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza Monday to apprise him of the severe crisis in Tibet.
“Indian government should put diplomatic pressure on China to resume the dialogues with us to look for a solution within the broader parameters of autonomy, and improve the human rights conditions there,” Member of Tibetan Parliament Lobsang Yeshi urged.
The delegation has held talks with nearly all the state governments, political parties, social activists and other intellectuals, while tours to four states –Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajashtan will be complete before September 18 when their Parliament Session begins in Himachal Pradesh.
In Goa, the members will also meet North Goa Member of Parliament Shripad Naik seeking to raise the matter in Lok Sabha. “We have made similar appeals to all the MPs across the country,” Yeshi added.
Tsering Youdon, another Tibetan Parliament-In-Exile member claimed that only six million Tibetans remain in their country while nearly 10 million Chinese settle there every year. Over a lakh Tibetans in-exile presently live in India among whom 60 families have settled in Goa while about 400 carry out their businesses here. The delegation is also expected to address their community here.
“Tibet needs social stability, unity, harmony and abolition of human rights violation. We hope that India stands alongside Tibetans in solidarity upholding the ideals of humanitarianism, freedom and democracy that India is framed for,” Yeshi said.
According to the delegation, 122 Tibetans, majority of whom are between 16 and 30 years, have self-immolated themselves since February 2009 to protest China’s repressive rule.
The Central Tibetan Administration, also known as Tibetan government in exile and Tibetans across the world is observing 2013 as the year of ‘Solidarity with Tibet’.
The Dalai Lama and his followers had left the country and took refuge in India, and for several decades now Tibetans have engaged themselves in peaceful resistance against the Chinese repression.
