Mcleod, Dharamsala : Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, along with members of Standing Committee of the 16th Tibetan parliament-in-exile, greeted and accorded a warm welcome to the Chilean parliamentary delegation, who has visited Dharamsala to acquaint themselves closer with the Tibetan cause on Nov 1 at Hotel Tibet, Mcleod Ganj, over the modest working-dinner hosted on their behalf.
The Chilean parliamentary delegation was composed of Deputy Vlado Mirosevic Verdego, Liberal Party of Chile, Deputy Alejandro Bernales, Liberal Party of Chile, Deputy Tomas Hirsch, Humanist Party of Chile, Deputy Dario Ergas, Humanist Party of Chile, President of Amigos Del Tibet-Chile Fernando Salinas Manfredini, Marta alias nun Tenzin Dolkar, Spanish translator and Mr. Tsewang Phuntso, Representative, Tibet House, Brazil.
During the meeting, Representative Mr. Tsewang Phunsto introduced the members of Chile Parliament and Tibet support group, which was followed by the introduction of members of the Tibetan parliament’s Standing Committee by Deputy Speaker Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok. While welcoming them to Dharamsala, he also expressed gratitude to the people and the government of Chile for the support rendered to the cause of Tibet. Elucidating on the relationship between Chile and Tibet owed solely to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he said, ‘In 1992, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Chile and met with the then Chile’s President Patricio Aylwin. In 1999 also, His Holiness met with the then Chile’s President Eduardo Frei and host of other leaders. In 2006, May 3-7, His Holiness gave series of public teachings and also met several CHilean leaders and minister, in particular, on May 4, 2006, His Holiness was awarded an honorary degree- Doctor Honoris Causa by University of Santiago at Santiago, Chile.’ He then spoke on the various campaigns and activities undertaken by the Chilean Tibet support groups as circulated in Tibetan media and radio stations.
Thereafter, Deputy Vlado Mirosevic Verdego shared his experience over the few days of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and dignitaries of Central Tibetan Administrations as well as the visitations to various Tibetan cultural and learning institutes and centers. He stated he was able to learn a lot about the Tibetan issues and cause. He extended his gratitude to the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat for the warm welcome accorded to them.
The delegations then inquired about the human rights situations in Tibet, the context of Tibet’s environment, Tibet-China dialogue and Tibetan democratic election in exile, which were duly answered by the Tibetan parliamentarians, especially, on Tibet-China dialogue, which has been stalled since 2010 with the vague response from the Chinese government. They also described the Tibetan parliamentarians on the foundation of Chilean democracy and their country as they assured to continue to work for the cause of Tibet, once they return to their own country.
Thereafter, Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel addressed the gathering by welcoming them to Dharamsala and thanking both the government and the people of Chile for supporting the cause of Tibet with their utmost concern. He then briefed them on the urgent situation inside Tibet and Tibetan administration in exile. He further spoke on the significance and benefits of holding meetings and discussions to acquaint with not just the politics of others, but especially their religion, culture, and race. He expressed his hope that the delegation would join the tentative World Parliamentary Conventions on Tibet and would assist in soliciting the presence of parliamentarians from their neighboring counties to the said convention. He then presented Tibetan parliamentary souvenir and Tibet-issues related publications to the members of the delegation.
The delegation was led by Deputy Vlado Mirosevic Verdego, Liberal Party of Chile and co-ordinated by Mr. Tsewang Phuntso, Representative, Tibet House, Brazil.