By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 28: A Tibetan students’ group had been denied permission by the Tibetan Children’s Village school to hold a student’s debate on the upcoming Sikyong elections at the TCV Youth Hostel in New Delhi on September 27. Student General Improvement Group (SGIG), moved the venue for its debate which it said was aimed at creating awareness among the Tibetan college goers about the Tibetan elections to another venue at the Samyeling Tibetan colony Majnu ka Tilla.
Phuntsok Dhundup, a student of Hindu College and the President of SGIG, told Phayul, “We have come across many Tibetan college students who don’t know much about the elections and the candidates. Some are even unaware of who are the candidates running for Sikyong, let alone their stance and visions. So, we hope to spread awareness and clarity through our initiative.”
Ten students of the Delhi University on Sunday took part in the debate speaking for and against the five candidates, their responsibilities, political stance and future prospects (if elected) to the highest office of the Tibetan government.
The administration of the TCV Youth Hostel, where the debate was to be held, intervened after receiving a letter from the head office. Phuntsok said, “The letter mentioned that all TCV affiliated organizations will not entertain political events. So, we had to settle for the Chushi Gangdruk community hall at Samyeling Tibetan Settlement in New Delhi.”
The denial of permission to hold the debate comes days after Gyurmey monastery in Hunsur, Dalai Lama Institute in Bangalore and Gaden Monastery in Mundgod barred Lugar Jam, one of the five candidates for the Tibetan PM’s post and a strong advocate of Rangzen (complete independence), from holding talks inside their premises. “TCV schools and its affiliated bodies are institutions of education and there is no place for political events. We are not singling out any individual and the rule applies for all,” said Thupten Dorjee, General Secretary, TCV Head Office.
Some sections of the society see the denial of space for Lugar Jam in their premises by the TCV school and two monasteries as justified act for his ‘unacceptable comments’ on the 80 year old Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama while others see this as an obstruction to freedom of expression.
“It’s entirely unfair and unjust to undermine his freedom of expression and the students’ right to receive information. Lukar has full right to speak his mind but it’s up to the public to make a choice. That’s the beauty of democracy,” Kelsang Tsering, a former TCV student, wrote on Facebook, after news of Lukar Jam being denied permission to speak at Dalai Lama College were posted.
He may have been at the receiving end of numerous criticisms but he stands adamant on his clarification about not being an ‘anti-Dalai Lama’. “Running for Sikyong this time has given me an opportunity to tell people about my true stand and my views on His Holiness. I am happy for that,” Lukar told Phayul in an interview on September 7.
SGIG was the latest to express their disappointment over denial of permission since their sole intention were to discuss the responsibilities, political stance and future prospects of all the five candidates for the college students who it said needed more such awareness programs.
Ganden Lachi, a joint body of Ganden Jhangtse and Shartse Monasteries in Mundgod, said in a statement dated September 22, said, “With religious and cultural sentiments of the general public in consideration and after a special meeting of senior monastic staff the monastery unanimously resolved to cancel the program.” Gyurmey Monastery of Hunsur had told Lugar Jam not to hold any events in their premises due to his alleged comments on CTA and the Dalai Lama. They also cleared that due to the ongoing Yarney, summer retreat, the monastery is unable to accommodate his campaign rally.
“The Election Commission has laid out no mandate over institutions barring any candidates from organizing their rally in their premises. Decisions to allow or not are prerogative of the concerned organization,” said Sonam Choephel Shosur, Chief Election Commissioner.
Meanwhile, even as the Election Commission urged the public to refrain from character assassination or defamation of others’ candidates there are video clips, memes and unauthorized materials being circulated increasingly on the Internet about various candidates, often spewing unwarranted and abusive criticisms.
Thought the EC has requested people to consider such materials as invalid its affect could be seen with more people viewing those materials and sharing over the cyberspace.
