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CTA President advocates Tibet in Switzerland

President Dr Lobsang Sangay interviewed by Andrea Christen of Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF), one of the largest German-speaking electronic media in Switzerland. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal

Bern: A day ahead of the two-day 2019 Geneva Forum on China’s high-tech repression and freedom of religion, the President of Central Tibetan Administration Dr. Lobsang Sangay garnered attention and support to the Tibet issue at the Swiss parliament in the capital.

The President called on Members of Parliament Prisca Birrer Heimo and Martina Munz, both members of Swiss parliamentary group for Tibet, at the parliament building and thanked them for their unflinching support to the cause of Tibet while also drawing attention to the on-going repressive policies and violation of human rights in Tibet under the Chinese rule and urged for continued support to the Tibet issue.

The President also met a delegation of high-ranking officials of Federal department of foreign affairs at its office in Bern. The hour-long closed-door meeting discussed a range of topics concerning the reincarnation issue of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and CTA’s commitment to Middle-way Policy to resolve the issue of Tibet.

On the sidelines of the meetings with government officials and members of Swiss parliament, the President Dr. Sangay also engaged the Swiss media to draw attention to Tibet.

Andrea Christen of Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) or Swiss Radio and Television, one of the largest German-speaking electronic media in Switzerland interviewed Dr. Sangay about his key engagements of his current visit.

In Zurich, Patrick Zoll, Asia Editor of Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), a Swiss German-language daily newspaper interviewed the president on issues ranging from Sino-Tibet dialogue, human rights and democracy, China’s belt and road initiative, self-immolation protests in Tibet, China’s growing assertion in the issue of Dalai Lama’s reincarnation and environmental destruction in Tibet among others.

The President left for Geneva following the successful completion of his day-long advocacy drive in Zurich and Bern. Dr. Sangay will attend and speak at the two-day 2019 Geneva forum on China’s high-tech repression and freedom of religion in Geneva starting tomorrow.

The Representative of the Office of Tibet, Geneva, Chhimey Rigzen, Swiss-based Member of Tibetan Parliament from Europe, Jampa Tsering Samdho, the President of Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association, Thomas Buchli and the President of Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Lichtenstein, Tsamda Norbu and executive members accompanied the President Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay during the advocacy drive.

-Filed by Correspondent Tenzin Wangchuk

President Dr Sangay with Members of Swiss Parliament Prisca Birrer Heimo (on his right), MP Martina Munz (on his left), Thomas Buchli the president of Swiss Tibetan Friendship, Representative Chhimey Rigzen, Tibetan MP Jampa Tsering Samdho among others at Swiss Parliament. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal

President Dr Sangay interviewed by Patrick Zoll of NZZ. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal

President Dr Sangay hosted at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for an hourlong meeting on Tibet related issues. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal

Executive members of the Tibetan community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein and the Tibetans welcome the President as he arrives in Bern. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal

President Dr Sangay with Patrick Zoll of NZZ post his interview. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal

President Dr Lobsang Sangay during his interview with Andrea Christen of Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF), one of the largest German-speaking electronic media in Switzerland. Photo/Tenzin Wangchuk and Tashi Namgyal