Former Tibetan Political Prisoner Namkyi Arrives in Munich, Calls for International Support
On 15 February 2025, Namkyi, a former Tibetan political prisoner, arrived in Munich, Germany, accompanied by Dukthen Kyi, head of the Tibet Advocacy Section at the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and Phuntsok Topgyal, the EU Advocacy Officer of the Tibet Bureau Geneva. The delegation was warmly received by Tenzyn Zöchbauer, Executive Director of Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID).
Upon her arrival, Namkyi provided a powerful testimony detailing her experiences as a Tibetan political prisoner. The session took place in the presence of Hon. Markus Rinderspacher, Vice President of the Bavarian State Parliament, and Wolfgang Grader, Chairman of TID. Also in attendance were Tenzyn Zöchbauer and David Missal from TID. Additionally, Namkyi participated in an extensive interview conducted by TID, which lasted over an hour.
Later in the day, Namkyi addressed the public at Kulturzentrum GOROD, located at Arnulfstraße 197, 80634 München. More than 80 attendees, including both Tibetans and non-Tibetans, gathered to hear her firsthand account of the struggles faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule. Among the participants were Zumretay Arkin the Vice President of the Uyghur World Congress and representatives of the Christian Chinese community and the International Society for Human Rights. Her speech, which lasted approximately one and a half hours, included a Q&A session, allowing for meaningful dialogue on the ongoing human rights situation in Tibet.
During her testimony, Namkyi courageously stated, “I am fully aware that by publicly sharing my testimony, my family and relatives in Tibet may face severe consequences. However, despite these risks, I have chosen to speak out because silence would only prolong the suffering of many Tibetan political prisoners. I am here today to seek support from the international community and human rights organisations to stand with the Tibetan people enduring hardship under Chinese oppression.”
On 16 February 2025, Namkyi and her delegation are scheduled to hold a courtesy meeting with Representatives of the Asia-Pacific Division of the German Foreign Office.
The meetings took place concurrently with the Munich Security Conference, which brought together high-ranking international political representatives. This timing provided a strategic opportunity to highlight the urgent situation of Tibetan political prisoners. The event served as a vital platform to raise awareness of their plight, expose the ongoing human rights violations in Tibet, and call for stronger international solidarity in advocating for their fundamental freedoms and self-determination.
