Dharamshala, 9th December 2025: Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykang received a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Chile at the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile this morning.

The delegation consisted of Senator-Elect and Deputy Vlado Mirosevic Verdugo, Deputy Luis Fabian Malla, Deputy Tomás René Hirsch, and Deputy Ana María Gazmuri, along with Bárbara Salinas, Catalina Salinas and Fernando Salinas from Friends of Tibet, Chile.

During their meeting, the Speaker welcomed the delegation and highlighted the longstanding relationship between Chile and Tibet. He recalled the three historic visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Chile in 1992, 1999 and 2006, during which His Holiness met political leaders, scholars, and the public, strengthening mutual understanding and friendship. The Speaker noted that the delegation’s visit, 33 years after His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first trip, brings a sense of remembrance and renewed closeness. He further emphasized that the Central Tibetan Administration is observing the Year of Compassion to honor the 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness, making the delegation’s presence especially meaningful.

The Speaker briefed the visitors on Tibetans’ 65 years in exile and expressed profound gratitude to the Government of India, the United States, and European nations for their steadfast support, which has enabled Tibetans to preserve their culture, language and religion. He also underscored the global recognition Tibetan Buddhism has gained due to His Holiness’s leadership and teachings.

Addressing ongoing concerns, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Temphel highlighted the increasing restrictions faced by Tibetans inside Tibet, including the closure of privately run Tibetan schools and the imposition of colonial-style boarding schools under Chinese policies. He also noted the growing pressure exerted by Chinese authorities on international supporters of Tibet, referencing a recent incident involving Estonian MPs who received a strong objection letter from the Chinese embassy after issuing a statement on Tibet.

Recalling past interactions with members of the delegation at WPCT meetings in Latvia, Washington DC, and Tokyo, he expressed heartfelt appreciation for their continued solidarity and appealed for sustained support for the Tibetan cause.

In her address, the Deputy Speaker, Dolma Tsering Teykang, briefed on the evolution of Tibetan democracy, and the functioning of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile which was gifted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibetan people.

She further drew attention to the Chinese government’s destruction of Tibet’s fragile environment, urging the international community to hold China accountable for its human rights violations and environmental destruction while engaging in business with the country.

After the meeting, the delegation were taken to the guided tour of the Tibetan Parliament Hall.

They were accompanied by Representative Jigme Tsering of the Office of Tibet for Latin America.