Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, attended the official commemoration of the 52nd Tibetan Democracy Day in the exile Tibetan center of Dharamsala. Thousands of Tibetans packed the courtyard of TsuglaKhang Temple to see the Dalai Lama and to take part in the celebrations which were somber and muted as an expression of solidarity with the Tibetans who have self-immolated to protest Chinese rule.
The Kashag in its statement called the day a “proud” one for all Tibetans for having “fully realized His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s cherished wish to transform the Tibetan polity into a vibrant democracy.”
Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay stated in his speech that the world recognizes the accomplishment of the Tibetan exiles as ‘we institute a fully representative form of governance’, and noted that while Tibetans in exile “commemorate this important anniversary, our thoughts remain with our brothers and sisters in Tibet.” He also highlighted the 51 Tibetans who set themselves on fire inside Tibet to demand the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.
The Kalon Tripa also said the Kashag and the exile Tibetan Parliament will be discussing “ways and means to address the urgent and critical situation” inside Tibet during the upcoming Second Special General Meeting of Tibetans from September 25-28.
Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in his speech said that, “This fully democratically established Central Tibetan Administration will remain rock stable for as long as the just cause of the Tibetan people remains to be resolved, with the political leadership elected by them remaining firm in pursuing a free and democratic path towards it, and continuing to represent the Tibetan people both in Tibet and in exile.” He also urged the leaders of the People’s Republic of China to have a “serious sense of responsibility on the situation in Tibet and review all the policies that they have adopted on it thus far.”
Dalai Lama Attends Tibetan Democracy Day in Dharamsala