Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 20: The Japanese Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet, which is the largest support parliamentary support group for Tibet, unanimously elected new leadership on Thursday. Member of Parliament Yamatani Eriko has been appointed as the new Chairperson, with Yamada Hiroshi taking on the role of General Secretary.
This leadership transition comes after the group experienced significant membership losses during the October elections. Nearly 30% of its members, including former Chairperson Shimomura Hakuban and former General Secretary Ishikawa Akimasa, lost their parliamentary seats after losing their seats in the election. Both outgoing leaders were members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, the Representative of the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan, told Phayul that the elections to form a new committee were essential given the group’s significant losses. “The new leadership, along with recently joined members of parliament, has pledged to rebuild the group’s strength and intensify efforts for the Tibetan cause,” he said.
Dr. Arya further told Phayul that the outgoing Chairperson Shimomura expressed confidence in his successor, Yamatani Eriko. “The newly appointed Chairperson has been a staunch supporter of Tibet. She visited Dharamshala in 2011 to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has actively participated in the group’s meetings over the years,” Dr. Arya said. He also noted Secretary General Yamada Hiroshi’s commitment to human rights and democracy.
He highlighted the pivotal role the Japan Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet plays in raising awareness about the Tibetan issue. “Our office shares a strong relationship with the group, as it works closely with Japanese parliamentarians and the government to inform the public about Tibet’s causes and struggles,” he added.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Arya thanked the outgoing leadership for their contributions and welcomed the newly elected Chairperson and General Secretary with traditional Tibetan white scarves. “I appraised the committee members of several pending issues and future projects while expressing my appreciation for their continued commitment to the Tibetan cause,” he said.
