Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Speaker Visits the US

By Jigme Thinley / December 28, 2013;

Speaker Penpa Tsering with state legislators Carolyn Laine and Dean Knudsen from Minnesota and Wisconsin respectively at a reception dinner hosted by the Tibetan community.
Photo: tibet.net

Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Speaker Mr Penpa Tsering visited eight states in the US from December 6-17 where, in addition to official meetings and public talks, he met and addressed Tibetan residents in every state and had talks with the leaders of the various Tibetan Associations in America. His tour of America was organised by the Office of Tibet in New York, working with other Tibetan Associations.

The Speaker’s first visit was to Minnesota where he was chief guest at a reception dinner hosted by the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. At the dinner he met State Legislators Carolyn Laine from Minnesota and Dean Knudsen from Wisconsin, and later, on Human Rights Day, he met Mr Kevin Lindsay, Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Human Rights. On this day, which is also the 24th anniversary of HH the Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he addressed the Tibetan Community.

With a group of Tibetan children in Minnesota Photo: voa

With a group of Tibetan children in Minnesota
Photo: OHHDL

In his various addresses to the Tibetan communities in every state he visited, Penpa Tsering spoke of the contribution made by HH the Dalai Lama and the gradual development of Tibetan democracy in exile, and the importance of the preservation of the Tibetan culture and language. His speeches were followed by question and answer sessions, and provided an opportunity for him to inform and encourage Tibetans living in the US who said they have found new spirit to work for unity and towards self government inside Tibet.

The Speaker gave interviews for Radio Free Asia and Voice of America. In Washington DC, he visited the office of National Endowment for Democracy where he met the Director Carl Gershman. Later he attended a luncheon meeting with members of the Board of the International Campaign for Tibet and spoke to their new President Mr Matteo Mecacci, former Italian parliamentarian and a long-time supporter of Tibet.

His visit to the States concluded with a meeting with Mr Peter Shumlin, Governor of Vermont State. The two leaders discussed the critical situation in Tibet and Penpa Tsering emphasised the importance of Tibet from an environmental point of view, particularly in the context of Southeast Asia.