Brussels, Belgium: - On the first day of his three day visit to the European Capital of the Kalon Tripa since assuming office of the Central Tibetan Administration was joined by top Tibetan officials and members of the Tibetan Parliament in exile. The day began with a lunch hosted by the Tibetan Community in honour of the Kalon Tripa where all the ex-board members since the founding of the Tibetan Community in Belgium in 1995 were also present.
In the after-noon, Kalon Tripa met with the representatives of the Benelux Tibet Support Groups and Belgium based Buddhist centers to express them his appreciation for their consistent support to the Tibetan cause and to inform them of the policy priority of his administration. He also briefed them on the recent crisis in Tibet and on the devolution of political authority by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the elected leadership this year whereby their support was now even more appreciated.
According to Ms Rigzin Choedon Genkhang, special assistant at the Office of Tibet in Brussels, Belgium, Dr. Lobsang Sangay was joined by Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile Mr. Penpa Tsering, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information & International Relations and Venerable Thupten Wangchen & Ms. Chungdak Koren, member of the Tibetan Parliament in exile representing Europe.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang la also took the opportunity to address the delegates present in her fluent French and thanked them for having chosen to support the Tibetan cause rather than any other cause and that it very much touched her. In the meantime, she reminded them of the importance of unifying their strengths and coordinating their actions in order to get the expected impact and visibility. She also stressed the importance of involving and working together with the Tibetan Community present in their regions.
In the evening Kalon Tripa and Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament met with the Belgium Tibetan Community and representatives of the Netherlands Tibetan Community. Over 1000 Tibetans from across Belgium commuted to hotel Radisson in Antwerpen to listen to their democratically elected leaders. The event started with the singing of Tibetan National anthem followed by one minute silence in memory of the Tibetans who self-immolated recently.
Speaker Penpa Tsering la spoke at length on the amendments made to the charter following the devolution of political authority by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the elected leadership, its consequences, implication of Chinese policies in Tibet and the recent wave of self-immolations in Tibet.
Dr. Sangay informed the audience of his recent visit to the US and other European countries where the respective governments and Parliamentarians had shown strong sense of concern on the recent crisis in Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama handed over the political authority to the elected leadership with a certain level of trust and we must strive hard and live up to the expectations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said Kalon Tripa.
Dr. Sangay further said, the present political leadership by him is the continuity of the legitimate political leadership of the Tibetan people and that he along with his cabinet is dedicated to work hard in preserving and taking forward the legacies of the older generation.
Kalon Tripa also emphasized the importance of education of the younger Tibetans which is also the priority policy of his office. The day ended with a dinner hosted hosted by the Belgium Tibetan Community.
Kalon Tripa arrived to Brussels on the 26th evening from Paris where he was received by Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, Ms. Rigzin Choedon, OOT, Brussels, President & Vice-President of the Tibetan Community and Represenatives of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Chushi Gangdruk and Chinese-Tibetan Friendship Society.
