By Phurbu Thinley
Phayul Correspondent
Dharamsala, September 2 – Today marks the 46th Anniversary of the Tibetan democracy day.
With the official ceremony commemorating the exile democracy before a large public gathering, Tibetans here in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE), Northern India, celebrated the day in high spirit and optimism at the courtyard of the main Tsuglag-khang temple.
Democratic system of governance was for the first time introduced in the Tibetan polity by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1960, soon after coming into in exile, as a major reform in the Tibetan political administration.
Accordingly, a popularly-elected a 13-member Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (then the Commission of Tibetan People’s Deputies), was initially established on 2 September 1960 and took office for the first time. The day has since been marked and celebrated as the Democracy Day by Tibetan Diaspora.
Speaking at the official function today, the recently re-elected Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said, “The democratic Tibetan polity in exile became possible due to the singular effort of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. Rinpoche further added that the day is also an occasion for all the Tibetans to express our deep sense of gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Last year, on the 45th Anniversary of the Democracy Day, Kalon Tripa said “Democracy will serve as a major gift for the Tibetan people inside Tibet when we are reunited in future”.
The Chairman of the Tibetan Assembly, Mr. Karma Choephel, also spoke at the function.
Other dignitaries of the Central Tibetan Administration present at the ceremony included the Chief Justice Commissioner, Justice Commissioner, Chair and Vice Chair of the Assembly, and members of the standing committee of the Assembly.
Three students who scored top marks in the class XII exams this year, each in Science, Commerce and Arts, were honoured with awards during the ceremony.
The official ceremony also witnessed the performance of Tibetan songs and dances as a mark of celebration in traditional Tibetan style.
Later in the evening, taking note of the special occasion of the day, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), organised an exclusive panel discussion titled, “Is the exile Tibetan democracy a genuine democracy?”
Mr. Tsering Phuntsok (Tibetan Parlimentarian), Mr. Dawa Tsering (Tibetan Parliamentarian), Dr. B. Tsering (President, Tibetan Women’s Association) and Mr. Tenzin Tsundue (Tibetan activist and the General Secretary of Friends of Tibet, India) were the speakers in the discussion.
The panel discussion was aimed at finding ways to improve and strengthen the already evolving Tibetan democratic system and, to identify possible loopholes and draw backs in the present Tibetan democratic process.
The TGIE, today, is a fully functional democratic government with the organs of Legislature, Executive and Judiciary along with independent Election Commission, Audit and Public Service Commission. It operates in accordance with a constitution, known as the Charter of Tibetans in Exile.
Today, Tibetan exiles all over the world exercise their franchise by electing their representatives and the Assembly consists of members representing the traditional three provinces of Tibet (Kham, Amdo and U-Tsang) and from the five sects of religious lineages including Bon.
This proportionate representation, in a unique blend of religion and geographic origin, reflect Tibetans’ strong identification with their religion and the importance they accord to regional balance.
Today, while Tibetans who fled into exile have developed a thriving democratic form of government, Chinese and Tibetans inside Tibet continue to live under totalitarian Communist Chinese rule.
