Statement – For immediate release
27 May 2021
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) congratulates Penpa Tsering as the new Sikyong (President) of the 17th Parliament-in-Exile of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) while expressing its heartfelt gratitude to former President Dr. Lobsang Sangay. Today, Mr. Tsering was sworn in as the second democratically-elected President of the 17th Parliament-in-Exile of the CTA. Next to having been elected to the Parliament of the CTA for two terms in 1996 and 2006, Mr. Tsering was the Parliamentary speaker for two terms between 2008 and 2016.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to Penpa Tsering for being elected in a democratic, transparent and fair election process as President of the Central Tibetan Administration in-Exile”, WUC President Dolkun Isa said. “Both your professional experience as well as your deep commitment to the Tibetan cause will be of great value not only in this position but also for the whole Tibetan community inside and outside of Tibet.” ‘’I also would like to congratulate my longtime good friend Lobsang Sangay who has been a great leader for the Tibetan people. He has contributed immensely to the Tibetan and the human rights cause. I am looking forward to future opportunities of collaboration between him and WUC.’’

Penpa Tsering succeeds Dr. Lobsang Sangay, who held the position of President of the CTA since 2012.  The WUC extends its sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sangay for his very important efforts to promote understanding for the Tibetan struggle internationally, as well as his contributions to human rights and democracy, both in China and elsewhere. Under the Presidential terms of Dr. Sangay, the WUC and the CTA have closely cooperated on numerous occasions to promote human rights and freedom for both Uyghurs and Tibetans.

Indeed, the relations between the Uyghur and the Tibetan people go back to the 60s soon after His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled to India, and last until today. The WUC works closely with many Tibetan organizations worldwide as well as with the CTA in order to promote common goals. Similarly, the WUC has worked in collaboration with Penpa Tsering on various occasions, such as the March 2013 International Conference (China’s New Leadership: Challenges for Human Rights, Democracy and Freedom in East Turkistan, Tibet and Southern Mongolia) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was a speaker.

Tibetans and Uyghurs have both been suffering from oppression at the hands of the Chinese government for decades. They have been subjected to Beijing’s assimilation policies aimed at eroding their religious and cultural identity, and have been subjected to various similar human rights atrocities, such as torture and forced labour. The WUC, therefore, aims to continue to support the work of the CTA and to join our voices to bring freedom and democracy to the Uyghur and Tibetan people.