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Mr Shri Ravi Thakur, the chief guest arriving with the leaders of CTA
Photo: Lha/Contact

Tibetans in exile across the world celebrated their 54^th democracy day on September 2, the anniversary of the day in 1960 when the first members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile took their oaths of office.

Thousands of Tibetans and visitors gathered at Tsug-la-khang, the main temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, for the celebration and enjoyed cultural dance and songs performed by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), said “We express our gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for granting us the most valuable gift of democracy”. The Kashag, or Cabinet, said in a statement, “We will never lose hope and will continue our non-violent struggle till His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be once again reunited with our brothers and sisters in Tibet.”

The chief guest at the celebration was Mr Shri Ravi Thakur, Member of the Legislative Assembly and Vice Chairman of the Government of India’s National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.  He said that it is inspirational to witness the successful construction of a democracy under the remarkable leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He said the sacrifices made by the Tibetan self-immolators “will not go in vain”.

Interviewed on SBS TV, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he is hopeful that he may be able to return to Tibet as “things are changing”, and of Chinese rule, he said “You use force, you create fear. Fear destroys trust. Trust is the basis of harmony.”

Home Kalon Gyari Dolma addressing the gathering in Delhi
Photo: Tsering Wangyal

There were celebrations in Delhi at the Tibetan colony in Majnu ka Tilla where the guest speaker was Gyari Dolma, the Home Kalon of CTA. Kasur Tempa Tsering, the Dalai Lama’s representative, advised people not to burn the Chinese national flag and effigies of the Chinese President during his forthcoming visit to India.

In Russia, friends and supporters of Tibet in Moscow joined a gala event with local Tibetans, watching the film “TIBET: Cry of the Snow Lion”. This was followed by an open discussion. Russian Member of Parliament Mr Vladislav Panteleevitch was present and said that he visited China several times and commented that China was changing, and he was hopeful the Tibetan problem would be resolved in the near future.

While Tibetans in exile across the world celebrated Democracy day, Tibetans in Nepal were denied the right to hold any event or to celebrate in public. Tibetan national flags were removed from houses and monasteries, and armed security forces were deployed in the major Tibetan residential areas.