Dharamshala — The Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, took a weeklong trip to Switzerland, addressing Tibetan communities and meeting with leaders across the country from August 31 to September 6.
The Speaker met with several Swiss dignitaries, including Mario Fehr, member of the Swiss National Council, Martin Burki, Vice President of the Municipal Council, Zurich, Maya Graf, former Speaker of the National Council of Switzerland, and Prisca Birrer Heimo, Social Democratic parliamentarian, accompanied by Thomas Buchli, President of the Swiss Tibet Friendship Association.
During the meetings, the dignitaries discussed the current environmental condition of Tibet, the increasing number of self-immolation, Chinese immigration into Tibet, and the preservation of Tibetan language as well as the condition of political prisoners and repression of Tibetan religion.
The Speaker appealed to the concerned authorities of Zurich and members of the Swiss National Council to render necessary support and redressal of grievances to the exiled Tibetan community in Switzerland.
His trip also included a public talk to the Tibetan community of Swiss and Lichtenstein on the occasion of Tibetan Democracy Day. The Speaker joined other guests, including Thupten Lekmon, Abbot of Rikon Monastery, Ven. Thubten Wangchen and Jampa Tsering Samdo, the two members of the Tibetan Parliament from Europe, Representative Ngodup Dorjee from the Office of Tibet and Tenzin, President of the Tibetan community of Swiss and Liechtenstein.
Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel read out the statement of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and addressed the public, lauding the contribution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama towards the democratic process of the Tibetan polity and urging Tibetans to implement in practice the wise teachings and guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
He thanked the Tibetan community of Swiss and Lichtenstein on behalf of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and extended his sincere gratitude as well.
The Speaker left Switzerland for Delhi on September 6th.
