Tsewang Choegyal Tethong

Tsewang Choegyal Tethong
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central Tibetan Administration
In office
April 1997 – August 2001
Preceded byTashi Wangdi
Succeeded byLobsang Tenzin
Personal details
Born1935 (1935)
Chamdo, Tibet
Died12 March 2024(2024-03-12) (aged 88–89)
Canada
NationalityTibetan
OccupationAcademic

Tsewang Choegyal Tethong (1935 – 12 March 2024) was a Tibetan academic and politician.[1] He was a representative of the Offices of Tibet in New Delhi and a minister within the Central Tibetan Administration.

Biography

Born in Chamdo in 1935, Tethong was the son of Gyurme Gyatso Tethong [fr] and Dolma Tsering (née Rong Dekyiling).[2] He went into exile in 1949, shortly before the Battle of Chamdo.[3] In 1959, he became a volunteer at refugee camps for Tibetans who fled after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, attracting the attention of the 14th Dalai Lama, for whom he became personal interpreter.[3] In 1968, he became leader of the Mundgod refugee camp,[4] where he met his wife, Judy.[5]

In the 1970s, Tethong was invited to teach at Pearson College UWC in Canada.[3] On 17 December 1996, he became the new representative of the Bureau of the Dalai Lama in New Delhi [fr].[6] He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central Tibetan Administration from April 1997 to August 2001.[7] He then retired and was named an honorary professor of the University of British Columbia. His daughter, Lhadon Tethong, founded Students for a Free Tibet.[8][9]

Tsewang Choegyal Tethong died on 12 March 2024 in Canada.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Foreign ministers A-D". rulers.org.
  2. ^ "The Girl & the Golok Chiefs". Phayul.com. 25 January 2005. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Cernetig, Miro (20 April 2008). "Vancouver has a pivotal role in the Tibet debate". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  4. ^ "8. Canada Tibet Committee BOD meets in Kananaskis, Alberta (CTC)". Canada Tibet Committee. Calgary. 14 September 2004. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  5. ^ Canadian Saturday Night: A Magazine of Business & National Affairs, Volume 85. Parkan Publications. 1970.
  6. ^ "5. China urges courage from Tibetan officials implementing party line (AFP)". World Tibet News. 24 December 1996. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Department of Information & International Relations". Central Tibetan Administration.
  8. ^ Current biography yearbook, Volume 69. H. W. Wilson Co. 2008. p. 568.
  9. ^ "Fighting for Lhasa in Victoria" (PDF). mountdouglas.ca. March 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Obituary: DIIR Deeply Mourns the Loss of Kasur Tsewang Choegyal Tethong". Central Tibetan Administration. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.