Tutu calls on China to ‘do the right thing’ in Tibet

Last month Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted the International Campaign for Tibet’s Light of Truth award from His Holiness the Dalai Lama “on behalf of the heroes and heroines who often do not get mentioned.” In his acceptance speech Tutu drew comparisons between the fight to end apartheid and the Tibetan struggle. The Light of Truth award was also granted to the Herge Foundation, named after the creator of comic character Tintin. (04-JUL-06)

Text: International Campaign for Tibet

Tutu also called on the Chinese government to “do the right thing” for the Dalai Lama and Tibet and expressed his hope that China´s emerging global political status would see it be a “superpower for the promotion of freedom in the world, especially in Tibet.” “Bad people do not have the last word. They may have guns and power, but they have already lost…Justice, goodness, compassion and love will prevail. Freedom is unstoppable,” said Tutu.

Impact
The Light of Truth award was also awarded to the Herge Foundation before an audience of politicians, diplomats and representatives of major political and human rights institutions in Brussels. Mrs Rodwell, founder of the foundation, said “that Herge would not have expected that 40 years after he produced Tintin in Tibet, it would have such an impact.”

Tibet struggle
In opening remarks Ms Tsering Jampa, Executive Director of ICT Europe, said that ICT´s goal is “to ensure that the issues that affect the lives of the 6 million Tibetans inside Tibet are at the heart of the European Union´s engagement with the People´s Republic of China.” “Since ICT´s inception, we have never wavered in our support for a non-violent solution to the Tibet Issue. We truly hope that Western institutions will give this kind of freedom struggle the support it so richly deserves,” said Ms Jampa. The Light of Truth award honours individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to the public understanding of Tibet.

                             

Far right on the picture above: Chungdak Koren, member of ICT Europe board of directors and chairperson of the Norwegian Tibet Committee