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His Holiness prays for victims of Nepal helicopter crash
Saturday, 2 December 2006, 11:00 a.m.
Crash site |
Washington, D.C. (ICT): In a message to a memorial service organized by WWF US at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on 30 November 2006, which was read by WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he would join the ceremony "in remembering all those who died in this untimely tragedy."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has offered his condolences and prayers to all the families and loved ones of the 24 people from Nepal, Canada, Australia, the United States, Finland and Russia who died in a helicopter crash in Nepal on 23 September 2006.
The accident took place when the group, which included a Minister of the Nepalese Government, officials of USAID, and staff of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was returning after inaugurating a conservation project in the areas surrounding Mt. Kanchenjunga.
Calling himself a "long-term admirer of the work of the WWF" His Holiness said "the loss of seven dedicated and experienced members of your team will be a great blow to their colleagues and will be sorely felt by many others working with them."
Among those who died was a Tibetan, Yeshi Choden Lama, who was working as a Senior Program Officer of WWF Nepal.
Following is the full text of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message, as circulated by WWF.
Message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama
I have been deeply saddened to learn about the twenty-four people who lost their lives in Nepal as a result of the tragic helicopter accident on September 23, 2006.
We have, as requested, offered prayers here on their behalf and I shall join with you during the memorial service in remembering all those who died in this untimely tragedy. I am a long-term admirer of the work of the WWF and I imagine that the loss of seven dedicated and experienced members of your team will be a great blow to their colleagues and will be sorely felt by many others working with them. Above all, my hearfelt condolences and prayers go out to all the families and loved ones of those who died on this tragic occasion.
The Dalai Lama
November 21, 2006
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)
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