Mar 24, 2016 Shyamal Sinha, New Delhi ALSO IN THE NEWS Comments Off on First elected head boycotts exile Tibet govt election
By S Gopal Puri | TNN
DHARAMSHALA, India, 21 March 2016
There are signs of resentment against the way elections are being fought for the top democratic post of the Tibetan government in exile. On a day when nearly 90,000 exiled Tibetans voted to elect their new leader for sustaining the demand for a free Tibet, the first elected head of the exiled government, Samdhong Rinpoche, refused to cast his vote, giving the argument that the entire election process was moving away from the ideals of a party-less democracy .
Samdhong Rinpoche, 77, who fled Tibet just four days after the Dalai Lama, said he was hurt by the practices being adopted by exiled Tibetan leaders to compete in the elections.
“I didn’t cast my vote as the exiled government was based on the principles of Swaraj of [Mahatma] Gandhi Ji. It didn’t involve competition or opposition. But, nowadays, representatives are involved in opposing each other through their individual campaigns. Therefore, I think, the exiled government is not heading in the right direction,“ Rinpoche told TOI over the phone from Mysore.
Rinpoche was first elected the Kalon Tripa (head of the Tibetan cabinet in exile) in 2001. The post is now known as that of the Sikyong, or prime minister. “I had left Tibet on March 21, four days after the Dalai Lama fled to India on 17 March 1959,“ he said.
The post of Sikyong was a low-profile role before the 80-year-old Dalai Lama devolved power in an attempt to lessen his own status and foster a democratic set-up to keep Tibet’s freedom movement alive after his death.
Rinpoche said the views on how the elections were being fought were his own. “The next generations of Tibetans, however, must know that the exiled set-up, which was founded in April 1959, was based on the principles of co-operation and not of competition. The practices being adopted by our contenders now are the same as regular political parties. These are not going to benefit in any way,“ he said.
Jan 25, 2021 Comments Off on Kargil to be developed as adventure tourism destination: Union minister
Jan 25, 2021 Comments Off on Urge India to refrain from complicating situation along border, says China
Jan 23, 2021 Comments Off on Brazil President thanks India for ‘Sanjeevni Booti’ against Covid
Jan 22, 2021 Comments Off on Sikyong congratulates US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on inauguration
Jan 25, 2021 Comments Off on Urge India to refrain from complicating situation along border, says China
Dec 31, 2020 Comments Off on Buddhist Eco-monks and Tree Ordination
Dec 09, 2020 Comments Off on Mount Everest is now 8,848.86 metres tall after measurement
Apr 13, 2020 Comments Off on Karmapa donates to help fight coronavirus pandemic in India
Nov 27, 2019 Comments Off on Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai Lama, Dies
By Staff writer Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, 1927–2019....Aug 29, 2019 Comments Off on Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand
By Staff Writer On behalf of all members of the...Feb 07, 2018 Comments Off on Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned
By Staff Writer On behalf of all members of the...Feb 17, 2017 Comments Off on Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies
Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche On behalf...Jun 27, 2016 Comments Off on Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero
Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero General...