Photo: Taiwan News
A petition has been launched to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Taiwan this year urging the general public to make it happen. Taiwan’s New Power Party (NPP) Legislator Freddy Lim announced the initiative during the commemoration of the 60th Tibetan Uprising day, saying “this is the best way to show to the world that Taiwan is different from China.”
Freddy Lim added that His Holiness’ visit will focus on religion as the spiritual leader of Tibetan people and the followers of Tibetan Buddhism through religious teachings and interaction with other faith groups in Taiwan. “The petition is based on efforts by ordinary people, non-governmental organisations and religious groups, and is not led by our party,” said Lim.
The fellow party member and Chairman Chiu Hsien-Chih urge citizens of Taiwan to support the petition.
“This can be our collective message to the world, that Taiwanese are standing together with those who are suffering due to the brutality and atrocities committed by the Chinese government,” said Chiu Hsien-Chih in support of the initiation.
Luo Wen-Jia, Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan also supported the appeal by saying that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is welcome to Taiwan. He further said His Holiness should have the freedom and the right to go wherever he wants – even to Tibet.
The petition appealed President Tsai Ing-Wen to send an invitation to Tibet’s spiritual leader. The petition says that the action would truly exhibit the government’s respect for the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. These three things are universal values and there is no room for ambiguity between them.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has visited thrice Taiwan; in 1997, 2001 and 2009.
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