By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 3: The Election Commission (EC) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on Thursday clarified nine points of Article 24 of the Tibetan electoral rules indicating that a candidate shall be dealt accordingly if proven guilty of breaching the rules.
“There are possibilities of individuals misunderstanding the rules and regulations laid out for the upcoming elections,” said Sonam Choephel Shosur, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), accompanied by the two Additional Election Commissioners, at a press conference here today.
The announcement, Shosur said, was solely intended to make the rules clear and ensure uniformity in understanding the code of conduct during the elections.
Explaining how and what actions will be deemed as breach of code of conduct, the EC urged everyone to help curb negative campaigning, character assassination and distribution false propaganda documents.
“There are many unverified and unauthorized documents and pamphlets being circulated and we would like to urge the people to consider all such documents invalid,” said Shosur.
Clearing the air regarding the recent open letter by the Tibetan National Congress, a pro independence group based in the US, the Election Commissioner said that it has no jurisdiction over recognition of any organization and that only Kashag holds the authority to do so. Only 11 organizations, recognized by the Kashag, are allowed to carry out any candidate announcements or spend on campaign activities.
The EC urged the people to extent their help in policing the upcoming elections. They also asked to help them root out those who are not abiding by the laws and those trying to reate disharmony within the society through groundless accusations.
During the press conference, the Additional Commissioners also presented the announcement of time sheet of the Syikong and Parliamentary Elections.
The EC’s clarification include following nine points
1: If an individual resorts to physical intimidation or verbal coercion to vote in favour of a certain candidate, the democratic rights of voting of the individual will be withdrawn for 10 years.
2: If a candidate or supporters of a candidate resorts to character assassination or defamation of another candidate with intention to sow seeds of discord on the basis of religion, region, community, etc, (if proven) the votes accrued on that particular candidate’s name will be nullified. Moreover, the individual who resorted to such tactics will be denied their democratic rights of voting for the next 10 years.
3: If a candidate or his/her supporters resort to circulation of false propaganda materials during campaign, he or she will be denied their democratic rights of voting for the next 10 years.
4: Once the election commission announces the electoral rules, an incumbent Sikyong, Kalon or Member of Parliament cannot use his/her good offices and the staff of Central Tibetan Administration or official visits, for personal electoral benefits or to influence voters in their favour. He/she is also prohibited from participating, in an official capacity, in debates and discussions organised by non-governmental organisations. If a Sikyong, Kalon or Member of Parliament breaches this rule, the votes accrued on their name from that particular place/region will be nullified.
5: Other than NGOs officially recognised by the Central Tibetan Administration, no other individual or organisation can endorse or spend money for campaign without the written approval of the candidate. If an individual is found guilty, he or she will be denied his rights of voting for any democratic organization.
The non-governmental organistaions officially recognized by the CTA are Utsang Cholka, Dotoe Association, Domey Association, Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement, Ngari Tibetan Association, Association of Former Tibetan political prisoners, Pokhra Lodrik Welfare Association, and Tibetan Chikdril Tsogpa.
6: Total campaign expenses of a candidate should be submitted to the office of the local election commission before the results of the final election is declared. If the candidate fails to submit the expense details on time, 10% of the votes accrued on the candidate’s name will be nullified.
7: Campaign posters and pamphlets for the election of Sikyong and Tibetan parliament should specify the names of the individuals who printed and circulated the material. If the individual fails to do so, five years of voting rights will be denied.
8: Candidates are prohibited from using His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s images, the official emblems or logos of the CTA, or flags/ maps of Tibet for election symbols. If a candidate is found violating this regulation, 5% of the votes accrued on the candidate’s name will be nullified.
9: Candidates should conduct their campaign abiding by the laws of the host country. Posters of candidates and pamphlets should not be used in politically sensitive regions. If this regulation is violated, the candidate is barred from standing for elections for the next five years. The individual who pasted the poster would be denied voting rights for the next five years.
