By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, March 18: Following what many in the social media and micro messaging sites claimed was an incident of battery by a supporter of one Sikyong candidate on another, the Settlement officer of Orissa Tibetan settlement Chonor Samdup told Phayul that the incident has been “misconstrued” and “twisted”.
“The incident has been misconstrued in we-chat and other social medias. Although it is true that one Chemi Dhondup has physically assaulted another person by the name of Jamphel Dhondup, it is not an election related incident, much less a spiteful assault by the supporters of one Sikyong candidate on another,” said Samdup.
“Chemi Dhondup was under influence of alcohol on that day and he hit the other person over a disagreement not related to the elections. I only knew of the incident after it was widely circulated and someone from Dharamshala sent me a clip of a voice recording later. After probing the incident, I knew that the incident happened on March 8. I called both the persons involved to my office in the presence of two executives of the office here. Both of them assured me that it was not a factional incident and that they had settled the disagreement. Chemi Dhondup had apologized to the other person,” noted Samdup.
On the descriptions in a voice recording circulated in micro messaging sites, the assault had resulted in one person being admitted to hospital after a supporter of Sikyong candidate Lobsang Sangay beat few supporters of his opponent Penpa Tsering. “It is untrue what that person said in the voice recording. Both of them have settled the incident and nobody has been admitted to hospital. Such acts are frankly disheartening. Even the people of the settlement here are shocked at how the incident has been blown out of proportion,” regretted Samdup.
He further said, “The Tibetan settlements here faced real problem in 2013 and 2014 when we had problems with the locals and we couldn’t cultivate any crops for two years. Even while the settlement faced difficulties, nobody showed interest or even concern of this magnitude. Now I am receiving calls from so many people regarding the incident. It is just strange the way the platforms like WeChat and Facebook are being used. It is truly unfortunate.”
Regional Election Commission in Orissa headed by the Settlement Officer Chonor Samdup revealed that as per the directive from the Central Election Commission for a report of the incident, he has submitted it on March 16.
Central Election Commission Sonam Choephel Shosur acknowledged that the office received the report. “We have to deem the incident as it is stated in the report,” added the Commissioner who concurred that the Settlement officer has stated the same details in the official report.
Both the individuals involved in the incident are from camp no. 5 of the Phuntsokling Tibetan settlement in Chandragiri located in the Indian state of Odisha.
The Tibetan people will cast their final votes for the Sikyong 2016 and the 16th Tibetan Parliament in exile members on March 20, 2016.
