DHARAMSHALA, January 30: Former speaker of the Tibetan parliament and one of the longest serving Tibetan legislators, Karma Choephel, has passed away after a prolonged illness at his residence here. He was 67.
Karma Choephel, a member of the current Tibetan Parliament in exile for Kagyu constituency and a two time speaker of the highest lawmaking body of the Tibetan polity, was known for his knowledge of the Tibetan Charter and the rules and regulations of the parliamentary proceedings. He had been on several committees, often as chairman, set up by the Tibetan parliament over the years.
Choephel stood in the election from U-Tsang Province in 1991. After finishing his studies from Central School for Tibetans, Mussoorie, Mr. Karma Choephel, did his B. A. (Hons) from Delhi University. Later he attained Bachelor of Education degree from Bangalore University and then taught at Bylakuppee Central School for Tibetans. During that period he also served as the Secretary of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), Bylakuppee.
Later he served as the Rector of Central School for Tibetans, Shimla, and Central School for Tibetans, Mussoorie. He was elected as a deputy from U-Tsang province to the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies (as the parliament was called then) and as a Kagyu MP to the 15th and current parliament.
He is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.
