By Tenzin Nyinjey
This morning I heard a breaking news of sorts. Some Chitues (MPs) have sponsored a motion in drotsog (Tibetan Parliament in Exile), seeking a change in the clause of Chatrim (Tibetan Charter) that would allow Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche to contest for the third term.
If I am not mistaken or misunderstood, the reason why Chitues sponsor this motion is because they have received many samshogs (signed petitions) from Tibetans in Tibet, urging Rinpoche to continue as the Kalon Tripa of Tibetan government in exile.
According to what I have heard, Tibetans from Tibet who signed this petition are of the opinion that the Chinese leadership is eagerly waiting for Rinpoche to disappear from the scene of exile Tibetan leadership. The implication behind it is that Rinpoche is indispensable to the Tibetan movement. In other words, without him the movement will die its ‘natural death!’
Sadly, I can’t help but see a ‘personality cult’ being developed around Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche. Perhaps, honorable Katri himself must be cringing in embarrassment, since he himself has said many times that the Tibetan Charter is not a child’s play that can be tampered with for the sake of a particular individual.
We all claim to make a better future. However, there’s nothing in future. What matters ultimately is the past. Only by controlling the past can we control our future. So, history matters, according to Milan Kundera!
Therefore, if we were not suffering from a collective amnesia, we would take care to remember that similar samshogs from Tibetans living in Tibet were also received by the Tibetan government in exile many years ago, endorsing His Holiness’ decision to change the course of our struggle from Rangzen to Rangkyong.
However, these samshogs or signed petitions have never been made public by the Tibetan government in exile, thus falling short on one of the most important principles of democracy: transparency and accountability!
Now that the spectre of samshog is back to ‘haunt’ us again, this time seeking a change in the clause of the charter, we have no choice but to ask ourselves some serious, depressing and even conspiracy-theory questions.
Firstly, are the concerned Chitues willing to go public with the samshogs? If not how can we convince ourselves fully that they have indeed received some samshogs from Tibetans in Tibet?
Secondly, If indeed they have received samshogs (my gut feeling is that this must be true, although in politics gut feelings and motivations are the most dangerous things one should avoid), how many people have signed it?
And lastly, how can the people (they might not be numbering more than 300 I think) who have signed the Samshog represent the wishes of the entire six million Tibetans?
[OPINION-DISCLAIMER]
