Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 11: Tibetan-Canadian activist and human rights advocate Chemi Lhamo has been elected as the spokesperson of the World Liberty Congress (WLC) at its second General Assembly held in Berlin, which brought together over 180 delegates and democracy activists from more than 60 autocratically ruled countries.
The World Liberty Congress, a global alliance of dissidents and pro-democracy movements, held its second General Assembly in Berlin from November 9 to 11 as part of Berlin Freedom Week, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, marking a historic triumph of freedom over tyranny.
Chemi told Phayul that she had initially put her name on the ballot to be part of the Leadership Council again this assembly. “However, this time, I decided to go through another layer of elections to put my name for the Executive Council, upon which the appointment of being spokesperson came about,” she said.
“As a Tibetan, it’s an immense honour for me to represent all these people and their movements because our fight is the same — it’s for freedom,” she added.
As the newly elected spokesperson, she said her primary responsibility will be to manage external communications and media relations for the network. “For far too long, we’ve been taught that the news channel only has time for a short cycle. But together with this network, we will find the connections that platform these movements’ voices, and if the doors close on us, we will create new doors via the Office of Freedom Affairs,” she told Phayul.
Speaking on the significance of her election for the Tibetan freedom movement, Chemi noted, “I will be honoured to represent my Tibetan identity and our movement for freedom in every space I occupy as part of this network.”
She further highlighted the strong sense of solidarity for the Tibetan cause among other movements, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region. “I had the pleasure of chairing the meetings of our region, and there was a great sense of solidarity and acknowledgment of the need to work together,” she said.
Reflecting on the broader vision of the Congress, Chemi described it as a model of what international institutions could aspire to be. “This Congress is a vision of what places like the UN could be, if only they served the interests of the people more than of the authoritarian regimes,” she remarked.
In her address to the delegates, Chemi emphasized the Congress’s mission to elevate the voices of those resisting repression worldwide. “As the spokesperson, I am not your voice. I want to be your microphone because you have a voice — your people have a voice. They have been screaming at the top of their lungs each day they resist. So, I will be your spokesperson who will amplify your voices on the world stage,” she said.
Chemi was also joined by three other Tibetan representatives at the Congress, including Dr. Lobsang Sangay, former President of the Tibetan government in exile; Tenzin Passang, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet; and Gonpo Dhundup, former President of the Tibetan Youth Congress.
