The largest Tibetan Settlement in exile, last afternoon, witnessed a major Panel Discussion on, "The Significance of 2011 & The Status of Our Democracy” organized by National Democratic Party of Tibet.
Despite a hot early summer afternoon, Dekyi Larsoe Tibetan Community Hall in Bylakuppe was thronged with over 800 people to participate in the panel discussion on the topic that currently adorns every Tibetan discussion.
The latest awareness campaign on the promotion of democracy focussing specially on the upcoming Kalon Tripa and Chitue election and the means for further advancement of democracy in Tibetan exile and its' system and the structure concluded successfully after over 3 hour-long discussion including hectic and interesting Q & A.
The panelist for the current discussion by NDPT included Choekyong Wangchuk, Tibetan MP and Executive Director of TPPRC, Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, Tibetan MP and President of Tibetan Womens Association, Pema Delek, Former Tibetan Parliament member, Lukar Jam, Independent Research Scholar, Lobsang Yeshi, Former Vice President of Tibetan Youth Congress and Independent Researcher and Chime Youngdung, President of NDPT. The Panel discussion and the Public debate was moderated by Utruk Tsering, General Secretary of NDPT and Geshe Loga from Sera Mey University.
President Chime Youngdung in his introductory address briefed the audience on the importance and the objectives of the awareness campaign.
Lobsang Yeshi in his address stated that Democracy in Tibetan exile which is a blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is one great achievement that we can fluent against China. The undemocratic China still remains one reason why world supports us and hates China. Democracy in China could also be a major turning point for freedom and independence in Tibet. He further stated that looking back, Tibetan democracy has attained great strides towards perfection. And if there still are drawbacks in our democracy, a major reason could be that we have failed to follow every other advice and guidance of His Holiness on the same.
Chime Youngdung in his speech stated that Tibetan democracy is far from having realized perfection as Tibetan Parliament still has only one house. He stressed that for a democracy to be called genuine we must have 2 houses of Parliament and also build multi party system. In the present environment, public do not know even the 43 Chitues as the interaction and the commitments is almost non-existent. We need to share the burden of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and work towards contributing to its perfection. To implement His Holiness's wish, Our Parliament must initiate measures to work towards realization these goals. Until then we cannot call ours a perfect democracy.
In the future eventualities of absence of His Holiness, perfect Tibetan Parliament consisting of 2 Houses involving representatives directly elected by people would carry forward the struggle to its fruition.
The final speaker, Lukar Jam in his deliberation stated that while mentioning the Democracy as a gift of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we must remember the contribution and sacrifices made by numerous Tibetan patriots, scholars and writers like Dawa Norbu and Jamyang Norbu etc. Our next Kalon Tripa being an open minded as well as sincere, must be a strong advocate of Rangzen. We must to put it straight vote for a candidate who aspires and fights for Tibetan Independence. Until a candidate for a Kalon Tripa comes out specifically with a clear declaration of his intentions to fight election and the presents various views on issues related with Tibetan struggle, we must not vote for anybody. I will not vote for anybody and I appeal everyone not to vote for anybody.
This talk was followed by intra-discussions and Q & A wherein speakers clarified each others views and questioned each other.