By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 19: The 16th Tibetan Parliament in Exile based here today began its fourth session; the second of the year to discuss and legislate issues relating to the annual work report of the seven departments of the Central Tibetan Administration, the exile Tibetan government.
The resolution to mourn the passing away of the 103rd Gaden Tripa Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, 33rd Kyabje Menri Trizin, spiritual head of Bon tradition; self-immolators Pema Gyaltsen, Wangchuk Tseten, Chagdor Kyab and Jamyang Losel; self-immolators Tenzin Choeying and Dhondup, as well as former Tibetan parliamentarian Zongkhatsang Tsering Dolma was unanimously passed. Another unanimous resolution to express solidarity with the plight of the Tibetan people inside Tibet under China was also passed.
The Speaker of the TPiE, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel urged Beijing to resume dialogue with the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA.
Independent petitioners filed pleas urging their cases on first day of the ongoing session. Jhonang activists urged the parliament members to reconsider their appeal to recognize the school of Tibetan Buddhism as the fifth prominent sect of Tibet. Earlier last year, Jhonang monks undertook a hunger strike at the entrance of the Parliament, and later discontinued on the assurance by the then Speaker of the TPiE.
Also rights group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy submitted a report of their survey that was collected within the exile community. A petition to look into the case of MP Dawa Tsering and the Yongling School was also submitted along with signatures from 2660 Tibetans who signed the petition.
“The main agenda of the 4th session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament will be the presentation and discussion of the annual work reports of the seven departments of the Central Tibetan Administration. It will also deliberate on the urgent situation prevailing inside Tibet and discuss the burning issues within the Tibetan community in exile,” a report form CTA run Tibet.net stated.
