Dharamsala, December 23 – The first opening session of the newly formed Public Discussion Forum was successfully carried out here today. At the session, the Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche (Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile) dwelt at length on the assigned topic-“Significance of Democracy and its Implements.”
The 50-minute long talk by the Tibetan Prime Minister was followed by 30 minutes of open question-answer session.
The Forum is a first of its kind jointly organised by the Dharamsala based National Democracy Party of Tibet (NDPT) and Phayul.com.
Prof. Rinpoche, while talking on the implements of healthy and evolving democracy, touched on the significance of rule of law, freedom, equality and justice and reasoned out how these doctrines correlate with each other.
Honourable Rinpoche noted that these principles of democracy in their entirety are in close proximity with benign Buddhist principles and tenets.
Rinpoche, however, noted, “While rights seems to be the pre-requisite of western democracy, it would be a more healthy democracy if people place more importance on corresponding duties first”.
Duty to active participation by individuals is the foremost requisite of a healthy democracy in order to seek and realise ones rights in democracy Rinpoche said. He also added duties to oneself and towards society as important responsibilities to bring about a healthy running democracy.
Mr. Chime Yungdrung, President of NDPT, in his opening speech said through this Forum, a series of discussion programmes will follow in future which will create more awareness on politics and other issues of contemporary concerns within Tibetan community.
In his concluding thanks giving statement, Phayul.com’s Dharamsala correspondent, Mr. Phurbu Thinley, while thanking Rinpoche for giving his precious time, asked Tibetan public for active participation in the Forum’s successive series in future.
Around 200 Tibetans turned up for the opening session, including representatives from prominent NGOs. Ven. Palden Gyatso, one of the longest-serving former Tibetan political prisoners in Chinese gulag was also present during the session.
NDPT is the first Tibetan political party formed in the exiled Tibetan community.
