Health Kalon Meets Members of Japanese Parliament

Health Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk during his meeting with members of the Japanese Parliament at the Parliament hall in Tokyo, Japan, on July 5, 2018

H ealth Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk met with the executive members of the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet at the Parliament Hall in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday. The Health Kalon was accompanied by Mr Lungtok, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia.

Health Choekyong Wangchuk was warmly received by Mr Watanabe Shu, House of Representative and Mr Nagao Takashi, House of Representative, on his arrival at the Parliament Hall.

He held an hour-long interaction with the executive members of the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet comprising of Chairman Mr. Shimomura Hakubun, House of Representative and Chairman, Mr. Watanabe Shu, House of Representative and Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Yamatani Eriko, House of Councillor and Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Baba Nobuyuki, House of Representative and General Secretary and Mr. Nagao Takashi, House of Representative and Secretary.

Health Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk with members of the Japanese Parliament at the Parliament hall in Tokyo, Japan, on July 5, 2018.

The health Kalon said his visit to Japan is a part of the Central Tibetan Administration’s to express gratitude to the people and government of the host country for their long-standing support to the Tibetan people.

He spoke about the Chinese government’s suppression of the Tibetan people’s right to use the language and religious freedom, and lack of basic health facilities in remote areas in Tibet. He also spoke about the measures being undertaken by the Health Department of the Central Tibetan Administration to improve the health of Tibetan refugees living in India and Nepal.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Shimomura Hakubun, Chairman of the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet, said his visit to Dharamsala and meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama led to the founding of the Tibet Support Group in the Japanese Parliament, which is now the world’s largest parliamentary support group for Tibet with 90 members. All Party Parliamentary Tibet Support Group has 49 Japanese Parliamentarians representing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 8 MPs from Nihon Ishin no Kai, 7 MPs from Party of Hope, 1 Independent MP, 1 MP from Democratic Party of Japan and 1 MP from Party for Japanese Kokoro (Heart).

Mr Shimomura said there is growing interest among the Japanese Parliamentarians in the issue of Tibet. He expressed optimism that the number of Japanese Parliamentarians supporting the Tibetan people with the increase.

He said the issue of Tibet is not only concerned with Tibetans but rather it is also an issue for the Japanese people. He also spoke concern over the Chinese government’s pressure and how media is reluctant to publish information on the issue of Tibet. Despite the pressure, Mr Shimomura said the Japanese people will not waver from upholding their moral duty to support the cause of truth and justice.

The members of the Japanese Parliament expressed their interest in hearing about the social security and health issues facing the Tibetan community, and their willingness to extend their support.