Former Tibetan political prisoner Tanak Jigme Sangpo cremated with honours and prayers in Switzerland

Geneva: Tibet’s longest political prisoner Tanak Jigme Sangpo was cremated today with honours and prayers in Winterthur, Switzerland. His casket was wrapped in the Tibetan National flag as a mark of respect and honour for all the sacrifices and sufferings he endured for the freedom of his homeland, Tibet.

Tanak Jigme Sango passed away on 17 October 2020 at an elderly care home in Turbenthal, Switzerland, where he had been based since receiving political asylum in 2003, a year after he served 32-year imprisonment sentence in Chinese prisons.
Around 120 people gathered to pay their respects to one of the true patriots of Tibet; Tanak Jigme Sangpo at the funeral service organized the Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Lichtenstein.

Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration Mr. Chhimey Rigzen from Tibet Bureau Geneva; Venerable Abbot Geshe Thupten Legmen of Rikon Institute; Members of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Samdo Jampa and Wangpo Tethong; President and Vice-President of Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Lichtenstein Norbu Tsamda and Phuntsok Chokchampa respectively; several executive members and section-heads of Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Lichtenstein; President of Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association Thomas Buchli and executive members; former members of Tibetan parliament-in-exile; former Tibetan political prisoners including Sonam Dorjee and Phuntsok Nyidron; monks from Rikon Institute and several members of the Tibetan community attended the funeral service.
The funeral service began at 8:30 am with public gathering and chanting of prayers.
Representative Chhimey Rigzen addressed the gathering and paid his respects to Tanak Jigme Sangpo followed by sharing of personal accounts of Tanak Jigme Sangpo la by his former prison cell-mate Sonam Dorjee.

People came forward to offer traditional Tibetan scarfs to the casket of Tanak Jigme Sangpo which was wrapped in the Tibetan national flag.
All Covid-19 precautionary measures were taken for the funeral service which was also broadcasted live on TibetSwiss FB page.
The Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Lichtenstein will organize a memorial and prayer service in memory of Takna Jigme Sangpo on 25 October 2020 between 2 to 4 pm at Rikon Institut, Winterthur, Switzerland.

-Filed by Tibet Bureau Geneva