Czech Legislators Reaffirm Steadfast Support for the Tibetan Cause During Meeting with Representative Thinlay Chukki-led Delegation

On 29 April 2025, Representative Thinlay Chukki of the Tibet Bureau Geneva met with Czech lawmakers and officials to seek their continued support for Tibet and the Tibetan people. The meeting was held in Prague with Jiří Růžička, Acting President of the Senate; Hayato Okamura, Co-President of the Czech Parliamentary Group for Tibet and Member of the Chamber of Deputies; Matyáš Nataniël Barotek, Advisor; and Kateřina Jacques, Secretary of the Czech Parliamentary Group for Tibet. The Czech side reaffirmed their steadfast support for the Tibetan cause.

Representative Thinlay Chukki was accompanied by Professor Michael van Walt van Praag, author of Tibet Brief 20/20, and UN Advocacy Officer Phuntsok Tobgyal.

In her opening speech, Senator RNDr. Jitka Seitlová warmly welcomed the Tibetan delegation and reiterated the Czech Republic’s unwavering support for Tibet. She also outlined the upcoming activities planned by the Czech Parliamentary Group for Tibet in 2025.

Representative Thinlay Chukki highlighted that as His Holiness the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday this July, Tibetans around the world are preparing to celebrate his life and teachings for whole year. However, she expressed concern that commemorations within Tibet are likely to face restrictions.

Professor Michael van Walt van Praag urged Czech parliamentarians to recognise the Tibetan issue not only as a matter of cultural and religious preservation, but also as an unresolved issue of international political justice. He underscored Tibet’s historical independence, stating that Tibet was never a part of China in the past until its occupation by PLA.

Following the meeting, Senator Jiří Oberfalzer hosted another meeting at the Czech Senate with the Tibetan delegation to clarify certain issues and explore future courses of action. Later in the afternoon, the Tibetan delegation met with Jakub Klepal, Executive Director of the Forum 2000 Foundation, for an in-depth discussion on promoting Tibet-related issues at upcoming international forums.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Tibetan delegation presented His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent publication, Voice for the Voiceless, and renewed their appeal for continued support of the Tibetan cause.