Democracy in Tibetan Exile Community Turns 48

Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Tibet.net

Tibetans observe the 45th Tibetan Democracy Day at a function organised at Tsuglagkhang, main temple, in Dharamshala, India, on 2 September 2008.

Dharamshala: Marking the occasion of 48th Tibetan Democracy Day, the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration, underlined that the "Tibetan people living in free world should work towards cultivating a culture of openness, freedom and transparency and they should give more importance to their democratic duties than rights."

On 2 September 1960, a 13-member Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (then the Commission of Tibetan People's Deputies), with representatives from the four Tibetan Buddhist traditions and three provinces (and later from Bon), took office for the first time - the day since marked as the Democracy Day.

Top officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, including chief justice commissioner, justice commissioners, speaker, deputy speaker and members of the Kashag at the 45th Tibetan Democracy Day celebration.

"The Tibetans should give more importance to the national and community's benefits than individual's and organisation's and strive towards combining their collective energies in order to challenge the forces of division," said acting Kalon Tripa Ven Tsering Phuntsok while addressing a gathering of Tibetans at the Tsuglagkhang, main temple, on Tuesday morning.

He said: "On this special occasion of the 48th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's extraordinary efforts to transform the Tibetan polity into a genuine democracy, the Kashag - as a way of expressing its immense gratitude to His Holiness - makes obeisance to him."

The acting kalon tripa said that "the Chinese autocratic government's ultra-leftist policies are responsible for the repression of basic rights of the Tibetan people, including their political, social, religious and cultural rights."

"Therefore, until and unless the nature of the People's Republic of China's polity does not become more open, free and transparent, it is difficult for China to be able to resolve the problem of Tibet," he added.

Encouraging the women to partake in the in the Tibetan administrative and political work in order to establish a robust democratic society, he said: "The Kashag will soon come out with a policy to strengthen women's power in our society, and we request all of you to co-operate with us in this regard."

Paying homage to many heroic Tibetan men and women, who have sacrificed their precious lives for the sake of Tibetan religion, culture, national identity and freedom, the Kashag appealed to all Tibetans to learn from their sacrifices and continue the rightful and non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people until the issue of Tibet is resolved once and for all.

Describing the democracy for Tibetans as not a reward of labour, but a gift bestowed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Speaker Karma Chophel said: "active participation from the Tibetan populace in the democratic processes, including elections, is the need of the hour."

Underlining the need for every Tibetan to study and understand the value of democracy, the speaker said, "One should strive to move forward in strengthening the Tibetan democratic polity and to remain vigilant not to indulge in acts on the pretext of democracy, which would go against the democratic principles."

Winners of the 7th Gaden Phodrang Students' Award

Three students who scored top marks in the class XII exams this year - Ms Ngawang Yangzom with 81 % (Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie), Mr Thubten Rigzin with 86.8 % (Commerce/TCV Bylakuppe) and Ms Sonam Dolkar with 86 % (Arts/TCV Gopalpur) - were also honoured during the ceremony. In addition to others, the Education Department also awards a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 to the toppers.