Tibetian group to fete McGovern

Congressman James McGovern will be honored Saturday with a silver sculpture, replicating a treaty between the Tibetan Empire and the Tang Dynasty in China more than 1,400 years ago. gazette file photo
Published: 09-26-2024 2:26 PM |
HADLEY — A silver sculpture, replicating a treaty between the Tibetan Empire and the Tang Dynasty in China more than 1,400 years ago, will be presented by the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern on Saturday.
At a thank-you event running from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 120 Russell St., McGovern, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, will be recognized for his support of Tibet, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people, including being a key sponsor of the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act,” also known as the “Resolve Tibet Act of 2024.” That legislation advocates for peaceful dialogue, without preconditions, between the Chinese government and Tibetan representatives, and counters disinformation about Tibet’s historical sovereignty.
Chinese troops invaded Tibet in 1950 and the Dalai Lama fled to northern India in 1959.
Tsultrem Kunsang, president of the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts, said in a statement that the organization and area Tibetans are grateful to McGovern for unwavering support of the Tibetan community for many years
“This event not only honors his commitment, but also reaffirms our ongoing struggle for Tibetan rights and freedom,” Kunsang said.
The sculpture being given to McGovern is shaped like the treaty pillar from the Sino-Tibet Treaty of 821 and 823, and bears an inscription that translates to, “Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet and Chinese in the land of China.” It also symbolizes Tibet’s status as a historically independent nation and underscores its rightful sovereignty.
McGovern’s work in Congress has included sponsoring other legislation that supports the rights and recognition of Tibetans globally, including updates to the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, signed into law in 2021, that addresses “the ongoing oppression of the Tibetan people by the Chinese government.” That legislation states China can create no new consulates in the United States until the United States creates a consulate in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, and spells out the United States’ view on succession policy for the Dalai Lama.
In a 2021 interview with the Gazette, McGovern explained his advocacy as being “important that we stand up for human rights not just halfway down the block, but halfway around the globe.”
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During the event, there will be several speeches. McGovern is giving the keynote address, while others who will talk include Namgyal Choedup, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Washington, D.C.; Thondup Tsering, a Belchertown resident and North America Representative of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile; and Tenchoe Gyatso, president of the International Campaign for Tibet.
Cultural performances by students and teachers of Thunme Lekshey School, the weekend Tibetan language school, will also take place. A special Tibetan delicacy will be served during lunch, and those attending can participate in the group performance of Gorshey, the Tibetan circle dance.
The event will be live-streamed on Tibet TV, the official broadcast channel of the Central Tibetan Administration, and media partners Easthampton Media and Hadley Media will be on hand.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.