Mumbai: Health Kalon, Choekyong Wangchuk of Central Tibetan Administration attended two-day Western Region Tibet Support Groups Conference organised by Core Group for Tibetan Cause and Tibet Support Groups in Mumbai from 19 to 20 January 2019. The TSG Conference was held at Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai.
More than 150 active supporters of Tibet Support Groups organisation such as India Tibet Friendship Society; Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch and National Campaign for Free Tibet Supports from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa took part in the event.
The conference deliberated on the pressing issues of Tibet such as cultural assimilation to political suppression, economic marginalization to ecological destruction, Chinese population transfer to exploitation of mineral resources. The conference also discussed strengthening the Tibetan freedom movement and Tibet Support Groups organization in India.
In his address at the inaugural ceremony, Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk stressed on Preservation of Tibet’s Environment and Tibet a source of water tower to downstream nations of Asia. He even stated that majority of the World’s population directly or indirectly depends upon rivers originating in Tibet, including the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween and Mekong.
He also said that Tibet is known as the Roof of the world or the Third Pole. Furthermore, he gave detailed information about the Chinese annexation of Tibet, Tibetan Diaspora in exile; India Tibet relations with regard to religion, language, culture and race.
He further stated that as part of Central Tibetan Administration “Thank You India” campaign, he expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India for supporting Tibetans in Exile under the visionary leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to preserve our religion, culture and language which was totally barred inside Tibet.
He also raised the current grave situation inside Tibet with reference to 154 Tibetan self-immolations inside Tibet, who called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet; human rights and Religious freedom inside Tibet. He also made a reference to People Republic of China demolition of world largest Tibetan Buddhist Institute Larung Gar and Yachen Gar in 2016.
Later he stated that from the security point of view, it is the strategy of the Peoples Republic of China to occupy Tibet so as to surround India from all the neighbouring countries which perhaps China is doing so. As of today the spiritual place of India and Tibet, Mt. Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva and Mansarovar Lake is under the control of China.
Other guest speakers of the conference include Ms. Lobsang Yangtso, Asia Regional Coordinator, International Tibet Network who gave a presentation on Importance of Tibet’s Ecology and its impact on downstream nations; Col. Suresh Patil, Environmental activist; Shri Sateshwar Morey, Social Activist and Ambedkarite; Brigader Hemant Mahajan, Researcher and Expert on India China relations; Shri Surender Kumar, National Co-Convener, Core Group for Tibetan Cause.
Health Kalon took part in all the sessions and group discussion of the two days conference. Tibet Support Groups members had a long discussion and interaction with him throughout the sessions.
Prior to the closing ceremony, the participants of the conference proposes an action plan to carry forward the light of Tibetan freedom struggle in the western part of India for the coming years.
The conference was also attended by members of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India. The conference concluded with an address by eminent scholars and longtime supporter of Tibet cause during the closing ceremony.
The conference was organized and coordinated by Shri Arvind Nikose, National Convener, Core Group for Tibetan Cause; Shri Indrajeet Mohitee, India Tibet Support Groups, Mumbai; Shri Sandesh Meshram, Regional Convener, Core Group for Tibetan Cause in collaboration with New Delhi based India Tibet Coordination Office.