Durban: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Representative in South Africa met Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, former President of the Republic of Zambia, who was awarded with this year's Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace for his contribution towards freedom of Zambia and promotion of peace in Africa.
Representative Migyur Dorjee attended the award ceremony in Durban on 18 September on the invitation from the Gandhi Development Trust.
Following the ceremony, Mrs Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of Gandhi Development Trust, arranged a meeting between Representative Migyur Dorjee and Dr Kaunda.
During his half an hour meeting with Dr Kaunda, Mr Migyur congratulated him on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the People of Tibet on his receiving the prestigious award. Mr Migyur told him about Tibetan people's firm commitment to non-violence to resolve the issue of Tibet through the middle way policy.
Representative Migyur briefed him about the democratic transition of the Tibetan polity following His Holiness Dalai Lama's devolution of political authority the democratically-elected political leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration, and the tragic self-immolations in Tibet.
Though a friend of China, Dr Kaunda, however was sympathetic to the current tragic situation in Tibet.
While in Durban, Mr Migyur Dorjee handed over the flame of truth torch relay to Tibet Society in the city on 17 September. Addressing the gathering, which includes members of the Tibet Society of South Africa, he spoke on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet in light of tragic self-immolations in Tibet.
