DHARAMSHALA, September 29: Gu-Chu-Sum, the organization for former Political Prisoner’s of Tibet, elected its new executive members Sunday at the concluding day of its sixth General Body Meeting that started Friday.
Passang Tsering, a teacher at the Sarah Institute of Tibetan studies, was elected the new President along with 14 other executive members for a three year term.
During the three day meeting, the members of the organization changed its original political stand of complete independence to ‘Middle Way Approach’, a political stand in line with the exile Tibetan government’s policy of seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the People’s Republic of China.
“Though the organization has changed its political stand by way of majority, I think it is not a change in individual member’s political stand,” said Lukar Jam, the outgoing vice President. “In the future, executive members should carry out campaigns related to MWA, however, in our organization, there can be different political views and opinions.”
The meeting also discussed the organization’s activities and achievements, human rights situation inside Tibet, future campaigns and strategies of the organization.
Over 130 former political prisoners attended the meeting.
Gu Chu Sum was established in 1991 in Dharamshala by ex political prisoners who had been subjected to oppression and torture under the Chinese rule. The NGO was formed to provide assistance to the Tibetan political prisoners in Chinese prisons and to work for their release. It also strives to provide assistance to the ex political prisoners living in exile.
Gu Chu Sum is based in Dharamsala, the hill town headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile. The NGO is named according to the months in which major demonstrations took place in Lhasa, capital of Tibet. “Gu” (Nine) is for September 27, 1987, “Chu”(Ten) is for October 1, 1987, and “Sum”(March) is for March 5, 1988.
