Dharmashala: The third session of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile commenced today on 21 March in Dharamshala where the issue of Tibet’s environment was highlighted and discussed in length by the members of the parliament.
The Parliament session proposed emergency resolutions to the environmental issue of Tibet. Since 2008, the parliament has proposed and adopted numerous resolutions to address the dire situation in Tibet. During the five-day second session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, the parliament has proposed an official resolution of solidarity with the sufferings of Tibetans inside Tibet and it was then the parliamentarians have unanimously proposed a resolution to address the critical environmental situation in Tibet.
Presiding over the session, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel continued to raise the ongoing alarming crisis in Tibet which was extensively discussed during the second session concluded just two days ago.
“The tension in Tibet continues and in particular, the sinicization of Tibetan language and Tibetan Buddhism poses a dangerous and serious situation for the survival of Tibetan identity,” the Speaker remarked in his commencement address.
“Despite being one of the smallest refugee communities in the world, our system of democracy and governance is widely appreciated by the international community. Against all challenges and uncertainties that are often associated with being a refugee, we have thrived and succeeded entirely because of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visionary leadership and guidance. We owe our profound gratitude to His Holiness for he bestowed upon us the gift of democracy to empower and strengthen our political struggle”.
“Our democracy has been established for more than 60 years which makes us old if not the oldest democracy in the world therefore the Tibetan people must ensure not to neglect the valuable democratic system that has been gifted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Moreover, the elected parliamentarians have a greater responsibility to defend the trust of the masses and exercise their participation in the proceedings with a sense of responsibility and with the interest of six million Tibetans in heart,” the Speaker continued.
Among the agendas today as briefed by the Speaker were budget presentation by Finance Kalon, the precis budget report presentation by the Chairman of the budget estimate committee, legislative amendment, and the financial status of CTA.
The Speaker adjured the house to raise constructive deliberations on the issues of cultural genocide, suppression of rights in Tibet, the environmental situation in Tibet and similarly, the welfare of Tibetans in exile while also coercing the advancement of unity among Tibetans in exile. He called upon the parliamentarians to maintain the respect of the parliament proceedings and the ethics of the charter during their deliberations.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Finance Kalon of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), presented the 2022-23 Budget of Central Tibetan Administration proposing an amount of Rs. 2,535.14 million, followed by Parliamentarian Ngodup Dorjee, the Chairman of the Budget Estimate Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, presenting the Précis report of the Committee.
The motion for debate on the Central Tibetan Administration’s 2022-23 Budget was tabled by Parliamentarian Geshe Ngaba Gangri and supported by Parliamentarian Choedak Gyatso.
The 11-day third session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will conclude on 31st March 2022.