By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 29: The two 2016 Sikyong candidates met ‘face to face’ for the first debate event speaking on a range of issues at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts at an event organized by the Voice of America Services on Monday.
The incumbent Sikyong Lobsang Sangay and Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile Penpa Tsering engaged in the first public debate for the highest office of the Tibetan polity. While the rhetoric and allegations over range of issues were exchanged over the course of the campaigning from both sides, the approach of the debate was cautious, politically correct and with the occasional confrontations.
The organizers allocated a two part questioning sessions; the first part on the situation inside Tibet and the revival of dialogue between the exile government and Beijing. Gu-Chu-Sum Tibetan Political Movement’s former President Ngawang Woebar expressed dismay over the absence of any discussions over the 2081 known political prisoners languishing in Chinese prisons. He said, “Although with the time constraint and the questions modeled on specific issues restricted the debate to some extent, it is unfortunate that the issue of Tibetan political prisoners were not raised in the whole debate.”
The second part saw questions raised on the exile government comprising its administrative priorities and the welfare of the exile Tibetans. Tenzin Nyingjey, Senior Researcher at the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy says, “It was good to see the two candidates having a face-face debate for the first time, after all the controversies that erupted over the social networking sites. Such open face to face debate is what we need for democracy. The fact that two candidates shook and hugged each other gave some relief to the general public, because this shows the love and respect they share for each other. But as far the serious issues are concerned, as far as the core freedom struggle is concerned, there’s been hardly any discussion. And that is, frankly speaking, disappointing to me.”
He further added that the core issue of Middle Way Approach which is endorsed by both the candidates was not explored as it ought to have.
The mood of the public on the social media and micro messaging sites has largely been of apprehension as the organizers citing operational reasons decided to curtail the guest list and has no open questioning platforms. Tenzin Minkyi, a Tibetan college student says, “It is disappointing to see that the public weren’t allowed despite the event being labeled a public event. It’s disconcerting that all the questions come from the organizers and not the public who has lots of questions”.
With the first debate event successfully concluded, the ‘face to face’ time between the two Sikyong candidates seen necessary by the participants of the Tibetan polity has been brought to fruition. The candidates will further engage in another public debate organized by the National Democratic Party of Tibet on March 8, 2016.
