Chairman of International Campaign for Tibet Richard Gere, members of the US Congress, and guests watch a message by the Dalai Lama on the organisation's 30th anniversary event in Washington, DC, on 15 March 2018. ICT/Sonam Zoksang
By Tibet Sun Newsroom
MCLEOD GANJ, India, 16 March 2018
One of the best known organisations working for the Tibetan cause for a free Tibet — The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) — marked 30 years of service on Thursday.
The organisation celebrated its 30th anniversary with Chairman Richard Gere, members of the US Congress, and other guests gathering at its headquarters in Washington DC on 15 March, and watching a video message by the Dalai Lama for the anniversary.
In March 1988, the International Campaign for Tibet was established in Washington, DC; with the purpose of supporting the Tibetan people and the vision of the Dalai Lama. Since its establishment, ICT has worked to champion the human rights and democratic freedom of the Tibetan people, and now has over 100,000 members across the United States and Europe, with offices also in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels.
In the video message, the Dalai Lama expressed strong support and his hopes for the organisation in the coming years.
He congratulated them on their years of successful work, stressing that support of the Tibetan cause is not confined to being pro-Tibetan, but is rather pro-justice.
Remarking on the current Middle-way Approach, the Dalai Lama said that historically Tibet was not a part of China, and that the win-win proposition for Tibet and China to be together through the Middle-way Approach is beneficial to both, similar to the relationships of the countries in the European Union.
With the belief that “common interest [is] more important rather than one’s own national interest,” he felt that although “we are different people, with different culture and different language, we can live side by side, happily as human brothers and sisters.”
He felt that the strongest thing that Tibet has to offer to China and to the world is, for Buddhists, the Nalanda tradition through Tibetan Buddhism, and for non-Buddhists as human brothers and sisters, psychology and logic which are strong parts of Tibetan Buddhism.
“Therefore, the preservation of Tibetan culture [and] Tibetan knowledge is something not only ancient, but also very relevant to today’s world. [So] don’t just concentrate on human rights, or some other things, but look at the wider picture of [the] Tibetan issue. I would like you to carry on these.”
In modernising ICT’s communication platforms to appeal to the new generations, ICT has developed a common style for all their communication products, including a new logo.
Although Tibet Sun has mentioned that ICT was established in March 1988, there is no mention of the pioneer who started the project. It is my understanding that ICT was started by Trisur Tenzin Namgyal Tethong.
Historically Tibet was not a part of China. Had that been the case, then there was no need for the two sovereign countries to formally sign the 17 Point Agreement in May 23, 1951. That’s when Tibet lost its sovereignty.