By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, March 19: The 2016 Tibetan general elections that will elect the Tibetan PM (Sikyong) of the 15th Kashag and members of the 16th Tibetan Parliament in exile will culminate on Sunday when the exile Tibetans around the world will cast their ballots.
The election season that extended over many months beginning July last year has come to its business end and commotion within those months saw many a positive as well as avoidable un-necessaries. The campaigning strategies and developments by the candidates of both the offices have ended and the Tibetan people in exile whether informed of valid awareness or misconstrued by the fanfare of the proceedings are all set to vote tomorrow.
Tenzin Sangmo, a Tibetan student in Dharamshala, told Phayul that the current election is an opportunity to set a positive precedent by choosing a candidate who “senses the aspirations of people and pulse of our struggle”. “For a Tibetan, election is not just about figuring out who should lead us but where we are heading. I support a candidate who shows resolve to create a road map for and one that senses aspirations of people and pulse of our struggle,” she said.
Namgyal Tashi, a youth living in Australia, opines that oneness of the struggle should be at the core of things and not divisive differentiations seen in the Diasporas. He said, “It’s not about Lobsang Sangay or Penpa Tsering. It’s not even about complete independence or middle path approach. It’s about choosing someone who can create a system which can enable to produce plenty of well qualified and specialized youths who will fulfill our purpose of struggle. Let’s vote for the cause of ‘our Tibet’.”
Another Tibetan student, Dolma Sinon, sees it as a personal milestone of involvement in the exile democracy. She said she felt an “appalling guilt” for failing to vote for the previous Sikyong elections and that she is determined this time around to set things right. She, however, pointed out that the negative developments in the current election season is setting a dangerous standard. “Our society is heading towards a junction where sycophancy is appreciated and ‘Lhaksam’ (dedication) is a tool to do all melodrama. I fear the day when our small exile community fragments upon various lines and fail to unite as one and strive collectively,” laments Dolma.
More than eighty thousand registered voters are expected to participate in the elections.
