Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, August 15, 1996

Submitted by Bhuchung Tsering, ICT

(During His Holiness the Dalai Lama's recent visit to Chicago, the Illinois State Governor proclaimed July 29 as the Dalai Lama Day. The proclamation was read at the Conference on Religion, Politics and Non-Violence, organised by Buddhist-Christian Studies Conference, at Depaul University on July 29, 1996.)

Whereas, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people; and

Whereas, he was born Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6, 1935, in a small village in north eastern Tibet; and

Whereas, His Holiness began his education at the age of six and completed the Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy in 1959; and

Whereas, he was called upon to assume full political power after Tibet was invaded in late 1950; and

Whereas, in 1963, he officially announced a democratic constitution, based on Buddhist principle and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as a model for a free Tibet; and

Whereas, in 1987, His Holiness proposed a Five-Point Peace Plan as a step toward resolving the future status of Tibet and he elaborated it in 1988; and

Whereas, in 1989, His Holiness accepted the Nobel Peace Prize;

Therefore, I, Jim Edgar, Governor of the State of Illinois, proclaim July 29, 1996 as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso Day in Illinois.

In witness, whereof, I have here. 25th day of July 1996.