Tibetan dignitaries receive Honourary Citizenship in Italy   Kalon Tempa Tsering and Kasur Jetsun Pema with Mayors of the Vicenza Municipalities and Mayor Maria Rita Busetti (in the centre) Thiene, Italy, 28 January: Kalon Tempa Tsering, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India and Jetsun Pema, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s younger sister and Chairman of the Tibetan Children’s Village, were conferred Honorary Citizenship by Mrs Maria Rita Busetti, the Mayor of Thiene Municipality, a city in the Northern Italian province of Vicenza. They are honoured jointly by fourteen municipalities in the province of Vicenza that are involved internationally in a peace promoting body called (H)elp. (H)elp has been active in promoting many peace related initiatives and practical solidarity in different parts of the world. This year they are dedicated to Tibet. The fourteen municipalities recognise that Tibetan people, like any another people of world, has the same right to self-determination and, civil and religious rights. Mayors of all the fourteen municipalities were present at the ceremony. (H)elp conferred the Honorary citizenship to Jestun Pema and Tempa Tsering in recognition of their important role that is internationally relevant by taking care of their nation, to education of thousands of Tibetan refugee children and therefore the future of their nation.   Kasur Jetsun Pema speaking at the official ceremony In her speech, Jetsun Pema thanked the dignitaries and said, "At this critical time for Tibetans, as refugee, receiving such supports is very encouraging for us. Your support to us does send a message to China. I deeply appreciate the solidarity of (H)elp in different parts of world and I ask you to continue to help Tibetan Children in future." "We thank for this honorary citizenship and recognition of the rights of Tibetans and showing support to us. Such support to us doesn’t mean that it is an anti-Chinese, but it shows that you are pro justice, pro truth and pro peace," Mr Tempa Tsering noted in his acceptance speech. The fourteen municipalities also called for the recognition of the legitimacy of the Central Tibetan Administration based in the Northern Indian town of Dharamsala, and unanimously called upon the external ministry of the Italian Government to support the non-violent struggle of Tibetan people for freedom. As part of the visit, Kalon Tempa and Jetsun Pema attended a public forum on "Human Rights in China" with human rights experts from Padova University. They also took time meeting school students of Thiene city. Cultural activities was also organised in the town to coincide with their visit. Source: Phayul and based on report filed by Tibetan Community Italy

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Last updated: 31-Jan-2008