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SOUTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 15, 2026 | The Indian Eye 35

developments inside Tibet and reinforced support tural heritage through collaborations with distin-
for the Tibetan cause. guished Tibetan artists and practitioners.
In 2025, the Office facilitated and accompanied Programs featuring sand mandala creation and
a Chilean parliamentary delegation to Dharamsha- ritual arts were conducted with the participation of
la, enabling direct engagement with members of the Mr. Losang Samten, former ritual attendant to His
Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and further strengthen- Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose work provided au-
ing long-standing ties of friendship and cooperation. diences with insights into Tibetan spiritual traditions
Did you organize high-level visits and official en- and cultural expression.
gagements during your tenure? Online orientations in Tibetan dance and songs
The Office of Tibet played a central coordinat- were conducted by Bawa Tsering Dorjee and Loten
ing role in facilitating official visits by senior CTA Namling. These efforts were complemented by ex-
leadership to the region. hibitions and artistic presentations by Mr. Ngawang
During the Sikyong’s official visits to Brazil, Lodoe, whose work highlighted Tibetan identity and
Colombia, and Mexico in 2023 and 2025, the Office cultural continuity through both contemporary and
organized and supported a series of high-level en- traditional mediums.
gagements. In Brazil, these included meetings at the How were official statements of the CTA translated
São Paulo State Legislative Assembly, along with in- and disseminated?
teractions with academic institutions, policy forums, The Office of Tibet, Latin America, ensured the
and cultural organizations focusing on Tibet’s cur- With Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche during the 90th birthday timely translation, publication, and dissemination
rent situation and its environmental significance. celebrations of Dalai Lama at the Tibet House Brasil of official statements issued by the Central Tibetan
In Colombia, engagements included academic Administration and the Office of His Holiness the
dialogues at the National University of Colombia ducted across Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dalai Lama.
and interreligious meetings involving representatives Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, and included public Key statements translated into Spanish and Por-
of different faith traditions and public institutions, teachings, interfaith dialogues, and community en- tuguese included those issued by the Kashag and the
contributing to greater awareness and informed dis- gagement activities centered on compassion and Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on the occasion of Ti-
cussion on Tibet. universal responsibility. betan National Uprising Day on March 10, His Ho-
In 2025, the Office also facilitated the visit of In Brazil, the Office supported educational and liness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday on July 6, Tibetan
Kalon Norzin Dolma to Chile in connection with the outreach initiatives including lectures on Tibetan Democracy Day on September 2, and the commem-
90th birth anniversary commemorations of His Ho- arts and culture, programs conducted by the Men- oration of the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10.
liness the Dalai Lama. The visit included parliamen- Tsee-Khang, public teachings by visiting Buddhist Other important statements and messages is-
tary meetings, public programs, and cultural events masters, and interreligious conferences focusing on sued by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
that further strengthened bilateral engagement. ethics, science, and peace. and the CTA were also regularly translated and cir-
What was your contribution in the area of cultural In 2022, the Representative had the honour of culated.
and spiritual diplomacy? presenting letters of appreciation, conveyed on be- All translated materials were published on the
Cultural diplomacy remained a core component half of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sikyong Penpa official websites of the Office of Tibet, Latin Ameri-
of the Office’s activities during this period. Tsering, and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the ca, and Tibet House Brasil, and widely shared among
Tibet House Brasil organized three tours with Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, to the family of the late Tibet support groups, partner institutions, academic
Tibetan medicine doctors and astrologers across Bra- Dr. Alfredo Martínez Moreno in El Salvador. The networks, and civil society organizations across the
zil and Argentina between 2022 and 2024 in collab- recognition honoured his contribution to the United region. These were further amplified through official
oration with Men-Tsee-Khang from Dharamshala. Nations resolution on Tibet in 1967. The letters were social media platforms to ensure broader accessibil-
The Representative participated in the “108 received by his 90-year-old wife and daughter in the ity for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking audiences.
Hours of Peace” event held in São Paulo in 2023, presence of former dignitaries of El Salvador associ- This initiative contributed significantly to
which brought together Buddhist teachers, scholars, ated with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. strengthening communication with regional stake-
and practitioners from different traditions. The pro- The Office also supported commemorative holders and ensuring that official Tibetan perspec-
gram emphasized compassion, mindfulness, and in- events including the observance of the Nobel Peace tives remained accessible to diverse linguistic com-
terreligious dialogue, contributing to broader public Prize anniversary on December 10 and celebrations munities throughout Latin America.
engagement with Tibetan Buddhist values. marking His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. We have published two books in Portuguese in
The Office also coordinated two regional tours How did you promote Tibetan cultural heritage in collaboration with Palas Athena: A Vida Extraor-
of the “Mystical Arts of Tibet,” featuring monks Brazil through the activities of THB? dinária de Sua Santidade o 14º Dalai Lama: Uma
from Drepung Loseling Monastery. The programs The Office continued to promote Tibetan cul- Jornada Iluminada and Ver a Nós Mesmos Como
included sand mandala creation, sacred music per- Realmente Somos, both by Tenzin Gyatso.
formances, and teachings on Buddhist philosophy, What are the upcoming programs and events being
reaching audiences across several countries. One coordinated by the Office of Tibet for Latin America and
tour lasted for a month in 2024 and another for three Tibet House Brasil?
months in 2025. The Office of Tibet for Latin America is co-
In October 2024, the Office organized the Latin ordinating invitations for deputies and civil society
American launch of the documentary Never Forget representatives from Latin America to attend and
Tibet: The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story in São Pau- participate in the oath-taking ceremony for Penpa
lo. The event included screenings, exhibitions, and Tsering’s second term in Dharamshala on May 27,
public discussions, enhancing awareness of Tibetan 2026. The delegation will also tour the structure and
history and the life and message of His Holiness the institutions of the Central Tibetan Administration
Dalai Lama. (CTA) to gain a better understanding of its adminis-
What regional outreach and educational initiatives tration and activities.
did you organize? At the same time, Tibet House Brasil will host a
In 2023, the Office organized a month-long retreat on July 10, 2026, led by Lama Padma Dorjee.
regional initiative titled “Connection with Com- With Tibet supporters In addition, six collaboration program requests are
passion” to commemorate the 88th birthday of His in Chamber of Deputies in Mexico currently under consideration and will be decided
Holiness the Dalai Lama. The program was con- upon by my successor in the coming days.

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