Tibetan Parliamentary delegation with MP Bram van Ojik and MP Martin van Helvert, Members of the House of Representatives

Hague: As per the program of 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile to visit and meet the Parliament members, Tibet support groups, think tanks and officials all over the world as well as to garner more support for the cause of Tibet, a Tibetan Parliamentary delegation led by Parliamentarian Tsering Lhamo along with Parliamentarians Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, Kunga Sotop, and Lobsang Dakpa met Members of Parliament, officials, and members of Tibetan communities in the Netherlands from 21-24 November thus completing the official Tibet advocacy campaigns in France, Belgium, and the Netherland.

Members of the delegation being received at Amsterdam

Members of the delegation were received at Amsterdam by Tsering Jampa, Executive Director of International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Europe along with Christa Meindersma, Advocacy and Communication Director of ICT Europe; Wangchuk, president of Tibetan Community and members of working committee of ICT Europe and Tibetan community in the Netherlands on 20 November.

Parliamentarians meeting with the Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Parliamentarians left for Hague on 21 November and met with the Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. The meeting that was chaired by MP Bram van Ojik, Member of the House of Representatives, discussed extensively on Tibet’s issue. Tibetan Parliamentarians apprised the MPs of the current critical situation inside Tibet and MP Martin van Helvert, Member of the House of Representatives, in response assured his support to Tibetan cause and expressed his concern for the same. Tibetan Parliamentarians also answered questions asked during the discussion and clarified their doubts.

Parliamentarians meeting with the members and staff of Amnesty International

Thereafter, they met members and staff of Amnesty International to update on the critical situation inside Tibet emphasizing on the importance of doing research on Tibet’s issue. They further explained that Tibet’s issue is as important as the issue of Hong Kong or Uighur. So, therefore requested Amnesty International to do research on Tibet related matters. In response, Amnesty International assured to pay more attention to issues related to Tibet.

During the meeting and briefing of Members of Tibetan Parliamentary delegation with Members of DWARS, Groen Links Dutch political youth organisation of Utrecht on Tibet’s issue

Members of Tibetan Parliamentary delegation also met and briefed Members of DWARS, Groen Links Dutch political youth organisation of Utrecht on Tibet’s issue and also answered questions asked by the students. Kunsel Dorjee, a young Tibetan girl whose father along with the whole family organized the meeting in a traditional Tibetan way, chaired the meeting.

On 22 November, the Parliamentary delegation met some important dignitaries of the Netherland and advocated Tibet’s issue.

Tsering Jampa, Executive Director of ICT Europe giving Welcome speech during the Parliamentarians’ meeting with Tibetans and Tibet supporters

Tibetan Parliamentarians thanked and appreciated the great work done by ICT Europe and also requested the members to continue supporting Tibet and Tibetans during their visit to the ICT Europe office on 23 November.

Tibetan Parliamentary delegation further met Tibetans and Tibet supporters, organized by ICT Europe. They addressed on importance of Tibet’s issue and answered questions asked by the public. Tibetan Parliamentarians also answered questions asked by News reporters. The meeting was chaired by Christa Meindersma, Advocacy and Communication Director of ICT Europe and Tsering Jampa, Executive Director of ICT Europe gave the Welcome speech.

Parliamentarians observing students studying at Tibetan weekend school

On 24 November, Parliamentarians visited and addressed Tibetan weekend school and Tibetan community there, thus concluding the visitation program.

During this visitation program, the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation led by Parliamentarian Tsering Lhamo along with three other Parliamentarians advocated Tibet’s issue in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands from 16-24 November. The visit was organized by Office of Tibet, Brussel, and was co-hosted by ICT Europe. Rigzin Choedon, a staff of the Office of Tibet based in Brussels accompanied the Parliamentarians during the whole visitation program and Namgyal Samdup, Secretary of the Bureau du Tibet, Paris assisted during their visit in France.  Director along with the staff of ICT Europe organized programs and provided facilities during the visitation program in Europe.

During public address to the Tibetan community of the Netherlands by the Parliamentarians

Tibetan Parliamentarians along with the members of the Board of Directors, ICT Europe