He explained that the Miss Tibet pageant has no political agenda and is
organised as a platform for empowering young Tibetan women. "It is unfortunate
that China is meddling in the event with political motives."
The Malaysian pageant, Miss Tourism Pageant 2005, is being held in Sarawak,
Malaysia, July 9-24. The grand finale will take place in Miri City July 23.
Contestants from 32 different countries are participating in the pageant.
The Miss Tourism Pageant was started in 2003 to promote tourism, friendship and
to create a platform for young women as an opportunity to help promote their
respective countries' goodwill, the organisers say.
Miss Tibet Tashi Yangchen, who is studying for an MBA at Huron University in
London, was ousted from the pageant in Zimbabwe in February after the Chinese
embassy in Harare pressured the organisers of the pageant.
Tashi was crowned Miss Tibet 2004 in October last year in Mcleodganj, located
in Dharamsala. Miss Tibet 2005 will be held in October 2005.
The Tibetan government in exile is based in Dharamsala.
IANS
China has pressured the organizers of a beauty pageant in Malaysia to drop Miss
Tibet from the event, said a spokesman of the Miss Tibet pageant.
