By Shyamal Sinha
A three-member German Parliamentary delegation called on the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the latter’s residence Wednesday morning.
The delegation is led by Members of German Bundestag, Frank Heinrich (Chemnitz) (CDU/CSU), Ms Ute Vogt (Social Democratic Party of Germany) and Ms. Margareta Bause (Green Party). Ms. Anja Wollny (Secretariat Human Rights Committee), Ms. Anya Malhotra (Interpreter), and Mr. Simon Stross (German Embassy, New Delhi) accompanied the delegation.
Speaking to the delegation at the meeting hall, His Holiness said “Today, China has become the greatest population of Buddhists. About nearly 300 millions Buddhists, many of them follow Tibetan Buddhism. So now there is some positive situation. Meantime in the free world especially in Germany, every occasion you express your concern about Tibet issue and Tibetan cultural heritage and environment. It’s very useful.”
His Holiness spoke briefly on China’s policy on Tibet saying that many Chinese leaders recognise the policy to have failed and are open towards a more realistic approach.
“Now among the top leaders that kind of new thinking we find,” said His Holiness.
Responding to His Holiness, Mr Frank Heinrich said, “When we hear you, we feel that we have represented now that we are here to complement and to see what voice we can be from your side. We risk even never to go to China again because they would not let us in because we talk to you and the president of exile government.”
Later in the afternoon, President Dr Lobsang Sangay of the Central Tibetan Administration led Cabinet Ministers hosted the delegation for an hour and a half meeting at the Kashag Secretariat.
President Dr Sangay urged the delegates to bring the issue of Tibet on the front-line whenever possible and also to further advocate the Tibetan cause at the helm of German Bundestag. He further elaborated on the current situation of Tibetans inside Tibet particularly the deteriorating human rights and religious freedom in Tibet. Dr. Sangay also raised concerns on China’s interference in the sacred, spiritual process of reincarnation.
source — cta
