Forge unity, have good relations with Indians, Sikyong urges Tibetans

During his ongoing visit to Tibetan settlements in south India, the Sikyong (president of the Central Tibetan Administration), Penpa Tsering, has urged Tibetans to forge unity among themselves. The Sikyong, while addressing Tibetans at Hunsar city in Karnataka, emphasised the importance of unity and the preservation of Tibetan culture.

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He discussed the Central Tibetan Administration’s twin goals of resolving the China-Tibet conflict through the middle way approach and ensuring the welfare of Tibetans in exile. He commended both the proponents of the middle way and Rangzen ideologies for their commitment to resolving the long-standing conflict with China while imploring the community to prioritise unity over divisiveness, which weakens the Tibetan struggle.

As part of his official engagements in Hunsur, the Sikyong convened residents of the Rabgyaling Tibetan Settlement at the community hall on February 19.

The Sikyong also stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with local Indians and reminded the community that, as refugees, it must respect Indian laws and values, acknowledging the country’s support for Tibetans over the decades.

Besides, the Sikyong praised the involvement of the Tibetan youth in advocacy efforts, particularly through initiatives like the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG).

The Sikyong highlighted the growing importance of scholarly research on Tibet, particularly works such as Tibet Brief 20/20 by legal experts Michael Van Walt Van Praag and the works of Prof Lau. He emphasised the role of such studies in strengthening Tibet’s case internationally and urged Tibetans to engage with this research.