Dharamshala — The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on Tuesday expressed gratitude towards Taiwanese national legislators for the establishment of a support group for Tibet in the Taiwanese parliament, saying it "shows the solidarity of Taiwanese parliamentarians towards the issue of Tibet."
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, wrote a letter to Taiwanese legislator Mr Freddy Lim— Chair of the Taiwanese parliamentary group for Tibet, to express his gratitude for forming a new parliamentary suppport group for Tibet in the Taiwanese parliament.
"The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, on behalf of the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, sincerely express our gratitude to you and your group for forming a new Taiwanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet in Taiwan with support from members of Taiwanese New Power Party, Kuomintang party, Democratic Progressive Party, etc," he wrote.
"Our special thanks to you, Ms Xiao Mei Ching, Vice-chair of the Taiwanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet and your group in taking this initiative. We are very grateful and moved by this gesture in forming this Group which shows the solidarity of Taiwanese parliamentarians towards the issue of Tibet. We are thankful for your support for the just cause of Tibet."
"We are very appreciative of the democratic process of Taiwan, as per the will of the people which has set an important example in Asia."
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama and many Tibetan high lamas have visited Taiwan which has laid to the foundation of religious ties between the two. Wishing for a long lasting friendship and success to the new Parliamentary Group for Tibet," he added.
A delegation of Taiwanese parliamentarians led by Lim visited the Central Tibetan Administration in September. During their visit, they met Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Sonam Tenphel and other leaders of the Tibetan community in Dharamshala.
The newly formed Taiwanese parliamentary group for Tibet has more than 30 members from various Taiwanese political parties including the New Power Party, Kuomintang party, Democratic Progressive Party.
Lim who serves as Tibet Support group president — also said that more than 30 legislators had agreed to affiliate themselves with the group.
He said that this parliamentary group is a bipartisan group of parliamentarians from across the Taiwanese political spectrum who will collaborate and consolidate efforts to highlight the issue of Tibet in Taiwan as well as on the international stage.
