Dharamshala — "Voice of Tibet", an
independent radio station based in Norway transmitting shortwave radio
programmes in the Tibetan language as well as Mandarin Chinese celebrated its
20th anniversary.
The event was celebrated at Imperial
Heights Resort, Khanyara, Kangra valley in Dharamshala, on Saturday evening, May
14. Dongchung Ngodup, former Kalon of Department of Security, was the chief
guest on the occasion.
Other participants of the special event
were Sonam Chomphel Sosur, the Election Commissioner, DIIR Secretaries; Sonam
Norbu Dagpo and Tashi Phuntsok, Maria Dahle, Chairman for the board of the
Stiftelsen Voice Of Tibet, Øystein Alme, the director of the Stiftelsen Voice Of
Tibet, and representatives of the Tibetan media and NGOs.
Dongchung Ngodup spoke about the
importance of defending press freedom and how the exile media should continue
their works in the right direction. He said Tibetan journalists too have equal
responsibility in advancing the cause of Tibet. On the contrary he believes that
VOT has contributed much towards the Tibetan cause through their work in
journalism, while serving the Tibetan Community.
As we are refugees in another country,
the Tibetan journalists also must remember that the Tibetan freedom struggle,
which should continue to always be the top priority,' he said while speaking
about the concept of press freedom in exile.
The VOT, is a radio station operated by
Tibetans living in exile in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, India. VOT has
"trained more than 40 journalists, many ex-VOT are working as journalists in
other media organizations, while serving the Tibetan community," Editor-in-Chief
of the radio station, Tenzin Paldon said while giving a brief history of her
news agency.
Maria Dahle, who is also Executive
Director of Human Rights House Foundation (Norway) talked about the challenges
they faced for many times while trying to improve the news agency. She expressed
her gladness over the Tibetan women, who are playing a great role in their
career. "Tenzin Paldon is the first female editor-in-chief of Voice of Tibet,"
she added.
Øystein Alme praised late Kunsang
Paljor, a former senior reporter of the news agency, best known for his life's
work, saying that "his legacy will remain with them for a long." Mr Alme also
spoken about challenges they faced during two decades, including the Chinese
jamming radio transmissions from VOT and saying it is "a violation of basic
human rights."
On behalf of the news agency, VOT's
Senior editor Tenzin Norsang gave a thank-you speech. During the event,
traditional Tibetan songs and dances were also performed, by the Dharamshala
based Thangtong Lhugar Tibetan Performing Arts.
VOT has been airing daily programmes in
both Tibetan and Chinese on shortwave to Tibet and China as well as India,
Bhutan and Nepal since 1996.
In the introduction, VOT said its main
"objectives are to provide a channel for unbiased information and news to the
Tibetans living under Chinese oppression in Tibet.
In Tibet, the Chinese Communist
government have monopoly control over the mass media, and with lack of an
independent information source, the general public have no access to free
information and total lack of a channel to voice their right to
speech."