By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, March 16: The speaker of the Tibetan parliament and a prime ministerial candidate for the 2016 elections for the highest office of the Tibetan polity reiterated his stand on many issues; chief among them the row over the reason for the postponement of the Kalachakra religious event, at an event with the press earlier today.
The issue of Dhue-khor-wang-chen (Wheel of Time Religious event) has been the subject of contention among the Tibetans in exile ever since the two 2016 PM candidates came forth with different disclosures for the reason over the postponement of the ‘the religious event’ considered the most sacred in the Buddhist calendar.
When asked who the Tibetan people should believe and where the key to unlock the deadlock over the issue of Kalachakra lies, the incumbent Speaker of the Tibetan parliament Penpa Tsering responded, “The truth over the matter will not surface before the 20th of the month as any disclosure by Gaden Phodrang will affect the outcome of the voting but the fact of the matter will be revealed eventually. The solution to clarify Kalachakra issue lies with Gaden Phodrang.”
He added, “I have not lied while disclosing the details of the issue and have revealed whatever I know of the issue. Whatever I have spoken on the issue, I have mentioned them from the vantage of a Sikyong candidate and never used an official platform. The attempt by incumbent Sikyong (PM)to malign me through an official platform is untoward.”
Speaker Penpa Tsering also issued copies of the official correspondence between him and the Kashag Secretariat over the issue to the press.
Incumbent Sikyong Lobsang Sangay led Kashag maintains that the postponement of the Kalachakra is solely to ease His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s schedule in the face of demanding itinerary. At a press conference dated August 31, 2015, he said, “The preparation for next year’s Kalachakra requires longer time than other rituals to be performed by His Holiness, which are highly strenuous. The Central Tibetan Administration has requested His Holiness to reduce his schedule to which he has kindly agreed.”
Sikyong candidate Penpa Tsering reiterated his stand on the issue recounting his campaign talk in Minnesota in January where he said that a nongovernmental organization had requested to be included as one of the sponsors for the longlife offering (Tenshug) to His Holiness. According to Tsering, Kashag’s reluctance in giving ‘the NGO’ a platform to offer long-life prayer was deemed a religious event turning political by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who expressed disappointment.
The two sets of disclosures by the two candidates have posed an enigmatic dilemma for the Tibetan electorate. The three public debates and many public statements have failed to cast clarity over the truth surrounding the matter.
The Tibetan people will cast their final votes for the Sikyong 2016 and the 16th Tibetan Parliament in exile members on March 20, 2016. The Election Commission has directed the two candidates that all campaign activities must cease by March 18, 2016.
