Arunachal Pradesh’s Tibet Support Group pledges continued support and welfare efforts for Tibetans

Tsering Dhundup

DHARAMSHALA, Nov 5: The Tibet Support Group of Arunachal Pradesh (TSGAP), led by President Tarh Tarak, welcomed President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Penpa Tsering at Tenzing Gang on Monday. Tsering’s tour of Arunachal Pradesh aims to strengthen ties with the Tibetan community and support groups in the region.

During the visit, President Tarak, joined by TSGAP leaders including Advisor Anok Wangsa, Vice President Hinium Tachu, Secretary General Nima Sange, and Assistant General Secretary Porchu Tamin, briefed the Tibetan leader on TSGAP’s initiatives. Tarak shared the group’s ongoing and future plans to support the Tibetan freedom movement, pledging sustained efforts in promoting awareness of Tibetan issues in Arunachal Pradesh. TSGAP reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of Tibetans residing in the state, along with plans for outreach programs aimed at educating locals on Tibetan culture and the geopolitical importance of Tibet.

In their discussion, the support group members emphasized the historical connection between Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting pre-independence ties and the rich barter trade that flourished between the two regions. They stressed that Tibet’s freedom from the People’s Republic of China could reinvigorate traditional economic and cultural exchanges, benefiting both sides. The TSGAP delegation expressed confidence in Sikyong Tsering’s leadership, believing it would lead to renewed international calls for a peaceful resolution to the Tibet-China conflict through dialogue.

President Tsering praised TSGAP’s work and their steadfast support, explaining the CTA’s position on the Tibet issue and its broader geopolitical implications. He assured TSGAP of his intention to visit eastern Arunachal in January 2025, continuing his outreach to Tibetan communities across India.

During the visit, the delegation joined the inauguration of the newly consecrated prayer hall at Thubchog Gatsel Ling Monastery, led by His Holiness the 104th Gaden Tripa Rinpoche, Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin.

President Tsering and the CTA officials, including Additional Secretary Tashi Dickey, will continue their tour through West Kameng and Tawang districts from November 3 to 6. They are scheduled to hold an interactive meeting in Tenzingang with local leaders, including Tibetan Settlement Officer Rapten Tsering and Kalaktang MLA Tsetan Chombey, to discuss issues facing the Tibetan community in Arunachal.

Arunachal Pradesh has the fourth largest number of Tibetans in India, with four settlements in Tezu, Miao, Tuting, and Tenzingang. In India, there are close to 90,000, according to a 2009 CTA census. The region’s Tibetan refugees have encountered friction from local inhabitants over the years despite help and support from the majority of the state’s people and administration.

In 2017, the student organization SUMMA (Students United Movement for All Arunachal) launched an “Anti Tibetan Refugee Movement” in Arunachal Pradesh, demanding the expulsion of Tibetan refugees and the rollback of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014. The group claims the policy would deprive indigenous people of government benefits and issued a list of Tibetan-owned shops targeted for forced eviction. While a protest rally occurred with hundreds of students, armed police and military escorts protected Tibetan establishments, and the District 

Administration declared such evictions illegal, imposing Section 144 to restrict gatherings. Opposition leaders criticized the BJP government’s rushed adoption of TRP 2014, but Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Chief Minister Pema Khandu defended the policy, stating it wouldn’t harm indigenous interests and noting that the Tibetan refugee population in the state has decreased to less than 7,500, with many relocating to countries like Canada.