Dharamshala May 31 – After hours of deadlock over the ATPD chairman’s post the members of the Tibetan exile parliament went for the middle way as it decided to divide the chairman’s term into two between contenders deputy Karma Choephel and deputy Penpa Tsering, both of whom do not have the majority.
Karma Choephel became the first chairperson of the 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies this afternoon. After two and a half years deputy Penpa Tsering will takeover as the Chairperson of the Tibetan parliament. The actual session of the 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies will begin tomorrow.
Later in the day votes were cast for the vice chairperson’s post and deputy Gyari Dolma with highest number of votes retained the vice chairperson’s post. She was followed by deputy Yungdrung Gyaltsen and deputy Dolma Tsering.
Those who have been keeping a close eye on the developments in Tibetan politics on the local cable network, courtesy audio visual section of the Department of Information and International Relations, say that the 14th Assembly is unique in that it has a Vice Chairperson with the majority and Chairperson without a majority.
Karma 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 Tibetan School. 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, Mussorie. He was elected as a deputy from U-Tsang province to the 11th, 12th and 13th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies. He again got reelected to the 14th Assembly this year. Mr. Choephel is the current president of National Democratic Party of Tibet. He earlier held the Chairperson’s post in 2001.
Gyari Dolma finished her schooling from Central Schools for Tibetans, Darjeeling before joining Punjab University from where she graduated with honors in Political science. She took active part in Tibetan political movements in Delhi. Her door to the Tibetan Political stage was opened by the election to the 11th assembly for which she won a seat from Dotoe in 1991. She was elected for the second time in the 12th assembly. The people of Dotoe elected her for the third time to the 13th assembly of which she was the vice chairperson thus making her the first lady in Tibet’s community to achieve the post.
