TOKYO, Japan: The members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile today visited the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and met members of support groups in Japan.
The Tibetan Parliamentarians – Mr Dawa Tsering, Mr Karma Gelek and Mr Tenzin Jamyang – visited the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Japan and released a press statement calling on the international community to press China to release the Panchen Lama.
“Tibetan and Tibetan supporters have consistently urged the Chinese government to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, who has been the world’s youngest prisoner, but these appeals have been disregarded by the Chinese authorities and has continued to go unheard,” the Tibetan parliamentarians said in a statement.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, the Tibetan Parliamentarians said: “We Tibetans remain seriously concerned over the missing of the Panchen Lama who turns 28 today. We call on the international community to urge the Chinese government to release the Panchen Lama from captivity.”
“The Chinese government uses their appointed Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, as a political tool. Tibetans inside Tibet were forced to attend the so-called Kalachakra teaching given by Gyaltsen Norbu. The Chinese government has pressing Gyaltsen Norbu to toe the communist party line and endorse socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Speaking to the parliamentarians, Ms Chong Hyon Suk, Media Liaison Assistant of the FCCJ, enquired about the whereabouts of the Panchen Lama and his role in Tibetan Buddhism.
She said His Holiness the Dalai Lama has visited the FCCJ many times and is very popular among its members.
Following the visit to the FCCJ, the Tibetan Parliamentarians met with members of the Tibet Support Groups in Japan at the Office of Tibet.
The Tibetan Parliamentarians expressed profound gratitude to the members of the Tibet Support Groups in Japan for their continued support to the issue of Tibet.
“Though section of people around are facing various problems, the Japanese have consistently supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause. Your support to the Tibet issue signifies support for truth and justice. We appeal to you to continue to support His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commitment to promote peace and non-violence in the world.”
The Tibet Support Group members and Tibetan Parliamentarians held in-depth discussion on how to strengthen joint efforts to work for the issue of Tibet in the future.
They also discussed the historical relationship between Japan and Tibetans, and agreed on the idea to observe historical moments to make the future generation of Tibetans and Japanese know about the past their relationship.
Tomorrow the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation will visit the Parliament house and meet with members of the Japanese parliamentary support for Tibet and Later, they will meet with Ms Sakurai Yoshiko, President of the Japan Institute of National Fundamentals, a think-tank in Japan, and a long time supporter of the Tibetan people.
– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan –
