Tibetan writer-activist Langtsa Tsetan Dorjee gets The Free Spirit Award 2013a

Dharamsala, October 22, 2013: The Free Spirit Award 2013 was given to Tibetan writer-activist Langtsa Tsetan Dorjee, who embarked on a "peace march to Tibet" from McLeod Ganj, and has been missing since early June, in a modest ceremony in McLeod Ganj on Monday evening.
His mother, Dombu Kyi, received the award, which is a citation, on his behalf at the opening of the annual Free Spirit Film Festival. Three Indian film directors attending the festival from Kolkata, Pune and Delhi presented the award to Kyi.
The awards committee head Lobsang Wangyal, Tibetan entrepreneur said, “Langtsa Tsetan Dorjee started his 'Peace march to Tibet' on 10 March, the Tibetan Uprising Day. The purpose of the march was to tell the Chinese government that China and Tibet need to have a dialogue. March last year ended after he was imprisoned in Nepal for eight and half months. His mother, Dombu Kyi, and younger sister, Lhamo Kyi, also walked with him. They were all detained by Nepal police at the India/Nepal border. While in detention, Dorjee escaped to complete his quest to go to Tibet, while his mother and sister had to abandon the march due to health issues.”
Dorjee has been missing since early June. His mother said, “I am unable to contact my son since 8 June, and I do believe that he disappeared from Siliguri in West Bengal.”
Lobsang Wangyal said, “The Free Spirit Award was started in 2003 to honour and show appreciation for the works of artistes and individual supporters of Tibet working for the cause of Tibetan people in particular and world peace, social and environmental issues in general.”
He further said that The Free Spirit Award winners so far 2003: Richard Gere, 2004: Meghan Claire Howard, 2005: Han-Shan and Liam Phelan, 2006: Katie Mallin, Omi Hodwitz, and Kathy Ni Keefe, 2007: Students for a Free Tibet, 2008: Martin Wyness and Jimmy Jump, 2009: Martin Jahnke, 2010: None, 2011: Russel Norman and 2012: Loten Namling.
The Free Spirit film festival which begun at Mecleodganj on Monday 21 showing Indian films ‘Dalai Lama and China’-8 min English Documentary, ‘Neti Neti’ 27 min Short film in  English and Bengali,‘On Perception and Environment’5 min Experimental from UK , ‘Illusive Peace in Kashmir’30 min Documentary, ‘Koan of Spring’80 min Vietnamese Feature, ‘Connection Failed’ 11 min Thriller, ‘Tofael - the Tea Stall Boy’ of  Bangaldesh, ‘Cursed’13 min of UK, ‘Vartul (Circle)’19 min Marathi, ‘Sheftishy’8.20 min from Egypt, ‘Once Again (Phir Vehi)’ 48 min Hindi from USA, ‘The Secret Ingredient’ Documentary 65 min from Isreal, ‘Villari’17 min Hindi from India, ‘Absolute Value’, ‘The Beat World’ ‘Before the Car Arrives’ from Ireland, ‘Maria ki Behen Jen, ‘Songs in Oblivion’ and ‘Arise’27 min US. The festival ends on Wednesday. www.cityairnews.com