ONLINE PANEL DISCUSSION APRIL 25, 2020, (Time: 7pm IST, 9:30am EST)
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic across the world, an important part of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s 31st birthday celebration of the 11th Panchen Lama (Gedun Choekyi Nyima) this year will be an Online Pancel Discussion and keynote Speech by CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay. The following experts will also speak and answers any questions from the audience.
Dr. Lobsang Sangay, President of Central Tibetan Administration, India
Ven. Zeekyab Rinpoche, Abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, India
Ms Sophie Richardson, China Diretor, Human Rights Watch, USA
Dr Tenzin Dorjee, Commissioner, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), USA
Mr Arif Virani, Member of Parliament, Canada
Mr Metteo Mecacci, President of International Campaign for Tibet, USA
Moderated by Ms Pema Tulotsang, Asia Officer at National Endowment for Democracy, USA
The agenda for the online panel discussion will cover the following issues:
In view of this live discussion, we are happy to invite questions from the public based on the issues raised above. Please email your questions before the panel discussion starts to office@tashilhunpo.org
I. The 11th Panchen Lama’s tragic life story
II. The importance of Panchen Lama’s lineage to the Tibetan Buddhism
III. The release of the Panchen Lama from the clutches of the Chinese government
Please ensure that your questions are specific and to the point. The online panel discussion will be aired via Bluejeans and streamed live on Facebook.
Tsering Passang is passionate about Tibet and the Tibetan issue. He was born in a Tibetan refugee camp in western Nepal.
An NGO professional with nearly 20 years of experience in international development charities, Tsering has led Tibetan Community UK from 2014 to 2016 as its Chairman. Amongst his pioneering initiatives as the Community Leader, Tsering spearheaded "Tibetans Helping Tibetans" initiative and within months, it resulted in securing the sponsorship of 30 Tibetan refugee children for their education in India from 25 UK-based Tibetan families.
Prior to his current appointment as the Director of Tibet Foundation, Tsering served as Special Adviser to the Tibet Society, the world's oldest Tibet support group. He also worked for Tibet Relief Fund for over eight years, raising vital funds for Tibetan children’s education in India and Nepal. From 2001 to 2007, he worked for Tibet Foundation as Art & Culture Programme Manager.
Tsering has conducted multiple field trips to India and Nepal over the past two decades. After returning from his 2008 personal trip to Mustang, Tsering saw a need to provide training to those Tibetan teachers working in rural areas. Within a year, with the support of western teaching professionals, Tsering initiated the vital training programme for the teachers. Over 50 Tibetan refugees and ethnic Tibetan teachers from Mustang, Manang, Dhorpatan, Pokhara and Kathmandu attended the trainings delivered in Mustang, Kathmandu and Pokhara. He developed partnerships with the local NGOs and schools in Nepal.
From 2014 to 2016, Tsering served on the boards of Tibet Society and Tibet House Trust. He also served as the Chairman and a Trustee of the Tibetan Refugee Charitable Trust.
Tsering continues his advocacy work on Tibet. He has attended and engaged with parliamentarians, special advisers and officials from the UK, UN, the US and EU. Tsering has also spoken at important public and closed forums – audience included governments representatives, policymakers, rights advocates, lawyers, journalists, NGO professionals, university students and researchers. In addition to his writings on the Tibetan affairs, published in the British, Nepalese and Tibetan media, Tsering was interviewed by the BBC, Sky News and Reuters. He is also frequently interviewed by the Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Voice of Tibet.
Tsering has conducted special interviews with leading Tibetan political figures - President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile (Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala) and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's former Special Envoy (Washington-based) and former Representative (London-based) for a Tibetan YouTube channel – LondonNey Production.
Tsering’s personal blog: www.tsamtruk.com
Tsering's latest initiative is the creation of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) - an advocacy group with the object of highlighting the issues affecting the Tibetans, Uyghur Muslims as well as other peoples persecuted by the Chinese regime.
View all posts by Tsering Passang (Tsamtruk)
