Dharamsala :On the eve of taking over as the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile Lobsang Sangay the political successor to the Dalai Lama has said he will fight for the freedom of the Tibetans and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.
“We are not against the Chinese people but we want to resolve the Tibetan issue peacefully through dialogue.But the Chinese people must know Tibet and China are two different entities as enshrined in the treaty of 821-822,â€
Sangay said hours before taking oath.
“The socialist paradise promised by the Chinese after invading Tibet in 1959 has turned into colonialism with Tibet’s resources being made to fuel China’s development,†he said.
“After 60 years of misrule,Tibetans continue to be repressed.Any Tibetan caught with a picture of the Dalai lama is arrested in his homeland.Monks and nuns are put through hard labour.Even a copy of the universal declaration of human rights can land you in trouble,â€Sangay said.
“ We remain eternally grateful to India for giving us refuge for the past fifty years, India is a our second home,†he said.
The US has already backed the Tibetan prime minister elect through message posted by senator Joseph Lieberman on the Tibetan government in exile website over the weekend.
Sangay,43, will be sworn-in as prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile at a public ceremony in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh on Monday.
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
