Mr Penpa Tsering, (2nd R) Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, addressing the delegates on the closing plenary session of the four-day Tibetan National General Meeting in Dharamsala, India,on 24 May 2011 |
DHARAMSHALA:
The landmark Tibetan National General Meeting which was successfully
concluded today unanimously approved a proposal to beseech His Holiness
the Dalai Lama to assume the role of ceremonial head of state.
4-day meeting attended by Tibetans from across the world deliberated
the draft amendments to the charter on the devolution of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama’s political and administrative powers to the
democratically elected Tibetan leadership.
meeting also endorsed another proposal to request His Holiness to
accept the inclusion of the new Preamble and responsibilities assigned
to him in Article 1 in case if he turns down the proposal on ceremonial
role. The Article 1 makes him the protector and symbol of the Tibetan
nation.
the proposed Charter, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s duties would
include his “engagement in the efforts to reach a satisfactory solution
to the question of Tibet”, “to meet with world leaders and bodies to
speak on behalf of the Tibetan people”. He would also have to “appoint
envoys and special envoys to serve the interest of the Tibetan people”
and “to provide guidance to the exile Tibetan administration in matters
of importance to the Tibetan people”.
will present the final outcome of the meeting to His Holiness the Dalai
Lama tomorrow (25 May),” Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Tibetan
Parliament, told reporters after the meeting. His Holiness the Dalai
Lama will address the delegates on the same day, he added.
meeting also discussed other amendments to the charter, which include
the executive powers assigned to His Holiness in Article 19. The 9
provisions under Article 19 would be pass on to the Kashag and the
Parliament.
his closing remarks, Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan
Parliament, said the general meeting has sent a very strong signal to
the Chinese government that the Tibetan people are united on the
fundamental issues of Tibet.
underscored that the newly elected Kalon Tripa and the new members of
Parliament will have even greater responsibilities to shoulder in the
near future.
Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche delivered his closing statement on an
auspicious note by announcing the prophesy of the State Oracle of
Tibet, Nechung, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama would live up to 113
years. His Holiness will live up to the predicted age if the Tibetan
people could successfully maintain morality, unity and enhance their
collective merit, Kalon Tripa told the delegates.
Over
418 delegates representing Tibetan communities living across the world,
including Asia, the United States, Europe and Russia, participated in
the meeting.
Delegates representing Tibetans across the world at the closing plenary session of the four-day Tibetan National General Meeting in Dharamsala, India, on 24 May 2011 |