DHARAMSHALA: Crimson robed monks and nuns lined up in schools, government buildings and the compound of the main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, along with thousands of men and women to cast their votes for the post of 'Sikyong' and 45 members of the 16th Tibetan parliament-in-Exile, on March 20.
The poll was undertaken in 85 different places across world, in the second such election since His Holiness the Dalai Lama handed over his power as a political leader to a democratically elected leadership four years ago. Around 94 candidates contested for 45 seats. Over 90,000 registered Tibetans in exile took part, with voting held in the US, Japan, Russia, and Australia. The two main contestants for the post of Prime Minister are incumbent Lobsang Sangay, whose five-year term expires next month, and Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Penpa Tsering. Speaking to the media, both candidates conveyed their commitment to the Middle Way Approach and said resumption of meaningful dialogue with the Chinese government their main priority. “The dialogue with China will be the main initiative. I hope Chinese President Xi Jinping in his second term in 2017 will relook at the Tibet issue,” Sangay said.
A spokesman for the Tibetan Central Administration said that a delegation comprising members of the European Parliament is in Dharamsala as part of the Tibetan election observation mission. Speaking on the development of Tibetan democracy in exile, Dr Sangay said "It is possible for China to embrace democracy. Kindly see our good example of Democracy. If implemented, it will benefit both China and Tibet." Speaking on why Tibet is an important issue in India-China relations, he said that Indian government sees Tibet as an issue, not just on human rights front but also from geopolitical, environmental and climate change point of view.
"The reason why we are in exile today, is because of the political situation inside Tibet, so we have to find all ways and means to reach out to the Chinese leadership, to resume negotiation," the incumbent speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Penpa Tsering said. He further added that "I will try every possible means and ways to resume dialogue and resolve the Tibetan issue as soon as possible."
Tsering said that the only possibility for Sino-Tibetan dialogue is to engage through His Holiness the Dalai Lama's personal representatives. "Since the incumbent Tibetan government has made clear that Beijing won't engage with CTA's representatives, the only other way is through His Holiness's representatives."
Summary of the results:
Lobsang Sangay 22,546
Penpa Tsering 17,026
Total: 39,572
Official results will be announced on April 27.
