Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh — On December 10 the Tibetan government-in-exile commemorated the 36th anniversary of the 14th Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize alongside the 77th World Human Rights Day in a ceremony at Thekchen Choeling Tsuglakhang.
About two thousand people attended, including officials of the exile administration, members of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, monks, nuns and students. International delegations from the Czech Republic, Australia, France, Chile, New Zealand and Fiji addressed the gathering. Foreign delegates and Tibetan elected leaders delivered statements while Tibetan artists performed cultural programmes.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, head of the Kashag (Tibetan Secretariat), read the Kashag statement, offering obeisance and heartfelt greetings to the Dalai Lama on the convergence of the Nobel anniversary, World Human Rights Day and the Year of Compassion. He expressed solidarity with those denied basic rights worldwide and urged respect for every human life and voice.
Tsering appealed to the Government of the People’s Republic of China to abandon policies he characterised as driven by hatred, greed and ignorance that threaten Tibetan identity and the region’s environment. He called for the adoption of compassion, kindness and wisdom and for a peaceful resolution of the Sino-Tibetan conflict through the mutually beneficial Middle Way Policy.
He concluded by praying for the long life and continued work of the Dalai Lama, hoping his teachings on compassion will remain a spiritual foundation and guide for humanity.
