Dharamsala, March 18 – The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today expressed need for the Tibetan parliamentarians to garner support to the Tibetan cause by educating the international community about Tibet.
In a statement to the seventh session of the fourteenth Tibetan parliament in exile, dated March 17, 2009, the 73 year old Tibetan leader said it is important for the members of the Tibetan parliament to “work harder than ever to disseminate information in (these) countries and also initiate relevant constructive programmes so as to obtain their effective support.”
Acknowledging the recent support to Tibet displayed in the European Parliament and the United States congress, he said the resolutions passed in these two houses of representatives have clearly demonstrated their solidarity with the Tibetans.
“Not only has this gesture served as the source of inner strength for all the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet, but it has also helped the cause of Tibet considerably”, the Tibetan leader who fled his homeland 50 years ago on yesterday’s date said.
Calling the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile the most important institution of Tibetan democracy in exile, he said it should do its best to establish contacts with the union and state parliaments of the countries who cherish justice.
He also urged the Tibetan legislators to have frank discussions in order to enhance the progress of Tibetan democracy and for the effective functioning of legislative process.
Democracy in exile
This year marks 49 years since the exiled Tibetan leader declared democracy for Tibetans in 1960 and promulgated a constitution for a future Tibet, based on the principles of modern democracy.
To support his declaration of democracy, the Dalai Lama established a Tibetan Government-in-exile, with a parliament directly elected by the people, although he initially had had the sole constitutional power to appoint cabinet ministers and department heads.
As part of democratic reforms, the Dalai Lama, in 1991, announced the “Charter for Tibetans in exile”, whereby, amongst other things, the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, (now changed to Tibetan Parliament) was expanded and was empowered to appoint the Cabinet (Tib: Kashag).
As part of further democratization, in 2000, the Tibetan supreme leader instituted another reform, requiring exile Tibetans to directly elect their Prime Minister with full administrative power. In 2001, for the very first time, Tibetans from 27 countries voted on a single day, with more than 80 percent electing Professor Samdhong Rinpoche as the first Kalon Tripa.
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche is currently running his second consecutive term after being re-elected in 2006, securing a landslide majority of over 90 percent of the total votes cast.
Since the introduction of democracy, Tibetan community in exile experienced a constantly evolving vibrant democratic system, founded on “harmonious blend of spiritual and political values” as they call it. Much of the credit for this is attributed to the Dalai Lama by the Tibetans.
