Sikyong Penpa Tsering during the meeting with honourable Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri B.D. Mishra.
By — BT NEWSDESK
Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration concluded his visit to Ladakh with significant engagements aimed at fostering relations and addressing community concerns. The visit culminated in a heartfelt address to the Tibetan residents at Sonamling community hall, where he emphasised the importance of recent legislative developments and outlined strategic goals for the Tibetan diaspora.
In the morning, Sikyong met with the honourable Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri B.D. Mishra, for a closed-door discussion on community welfare and bilateral cooperation. This meeting was preceded by consultations with Ladakh’s Additional Director General of Police, Dr. S.D. Singh Jamal (IPS), and other key officials, reflecting Sikyong’s commitment to dialogue and collaboration.
During the afternoon session at Sonamling community hall, Sikyong delivered a keynote address highlighting recent legislative achievements, including the enactment of the Resolve Tibet Act by the United States. He expressed gratitude to the US government and Tibetan support groups for their role in this legislative milestone.
In his talk, Sikyong underscored the geopolitical significance of Tibet and its role in regional harmony, emphasising the need for international awareness of Tibet’s historical and current challenges. He addressed issues of human rights violations and cultural suppression within Tibet, calling for global support in safeguarding Tibetan identity and autonomy.
Sikyong credited His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the vibrant and unparalleled exile-Tibetan community and declared his Kashag’s firm commitment to following His Holiness’ noble guidance and farsighted visions. Furthermore, Sikyong added that Tibet’s Buddhist tradition has enormous potential to promote global peace.
Given the absence of political space for Tibetans inside Tibet, Sikyong talked about the violation of human rights inside Tibet that has resulted in an unprecedented number of self-immolations. The systematic eradication of Tibet’s unique identity through forced enrolment of younger Tibetans into state-run colonial-style boarding schools and the CCP’s misappropriation and intervention in the Tibetan Buddhist system were also discussed in his talk. In light of that, Sikyong shared his concerns over the recent closure of an acclaimed Tibetan private school in Golog under groundless accusation.
Hence, to inform the gathering on 16th Kashag’s political and administrative endeavours, Sikyong said his administration has strategised to counter China’s false narratives on Tibet and its past independent status. He said the current Kashag considers informing the larger international communities of factual information about Tibet’s past status and current situations. Hence, Sikyong recommended the scholarly works of Professor Michael Van Walt van Praag and Chinese Professor Lao to familiarise themselves with Tibet’s truth.
He added that it is important for Tibetans to know more about their history and political status in order to advocate for Tibet. To strengthen and advance Tibet’s freedom struggle, Sikyong discouraged Tibetans from falling into petty factional infighting over disparity in political views and, instead, urged both Umawa (middle way) and Rangzenpa (independent) advocates to work together to pave a common path. Sikyong also lauded every individual involved in the successful approval of the “Resolve Tibet Act”, the provisions of which have a future for both sides of advocates. “Our Kashag has prioritised working in alliance with the interest of collaborating nations to benefit both parties.”
Regarding Kashag’s administrative policies, Sikyong outlined plans for enhancing the efficiency of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala, emphasising digital transformation and data-driven governance to better serve the Tibetan exile community worldwide. About the welfare of exile Tibetans, Sikyong said, “We are committed to meeting the needs of every exile populace but are not in a capacity to satisfy the wants of someone.
The event concluded with the laying of the foundation for a sports ground at the TCV school, symbolising ongoing collaborative efforts between the Ladakh government and the Tibetan community. It was also attended by CEC Tashi Gyaltson and other dignitaries from the Ladakh government who’s administration is supporting the construction of the playground.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering during meeting with Additional Director General of Police, Dr. S.D. Singh Jamal (IPS).
