By Tenzin Monalm
DHARAMSHALA, October 5: Lobsang Sangay, the incumbent Prime Minister of the Tibetan exile government, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration, on Monday officially announced that he will run for the highest office of the exile Tibetan government in the 2016 Tibetan elections.
Reiterating his three guiding principles from last elections – unity, innovation and self-reliance – the Harvard graduate said his quest for attainment of meaningful autonomy through Middle-Way Approach, the exile administration’s policy regarding future of Tibet, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet will top his list on his manifesto.
Speaking for the first time to the media as a candidate of 2016 elections, Sangay responded to questions regarding his tenure as Sikyong and allegations against him including the cancellation of 34th Kalachakra, procurement of his house in the US and him being conferred upon with an honorary award by Local Tibetan Assembly of Mundgod during his visit to South India.
When asked what his cabinet (Kashag) had done so far for progress in Sino – Tibetan dialogue process in comparison to nine visits by the Dalai Lama’s envoys to China during his predecessor’s tenure, he said, “Unlike previous attempts, we are holding talks with China without special envoy. Our efforts and relations remains at par with them, if not better than the previous attempts.
“We are ready, whenever China is willing, with our proposals of meaningful autonomy and it now depends on the willingness of the Chinese leaders whether they want to move forward with it or not.”
He also welcomed US President Barack Obama encouraging Chinese President Xi Jingping to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama indicating it as a direct affect of his administration’s constant effort.
