New Tibetan Legislators Sworn In

Ms. Dolma Gyari, Vice-Chairperson of ATPD, presiding over the ceremony.

Dharamsala, 13 August: The three newly elected Tibetan legislators today took oath of office of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies from Ms. Dolma Gyari, the vice-chairperson of ATPD.

Mr. Karma Yeshi from the Utsang constituency, and Mr. Chapdrak Lhamo Kyap and Mr. Tenzin Gonpo from the Amdo constituency won the bye-election held on 2 July after the resignation of three previously elected deputies.

	Mr. Karma Yeshi won 68.33 percent of the total votes cast from the Utsang constituency. Electoral regulations state that a candidate must secure a minimum of 33 percent of the total votes cast.
	Mr. Chapdrak Lhamo Kyap won 69.01 percent of the total votes cast from the Amdo constituency.
	Mr. Tenzin Gonpo won 53.26 percent of the total votes cast from the Amdo constituency.

The Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies is a democratically elected legislature of the exiled Tibetans. It has total 46 members. Of them, 43 are directly elected by the Tibetan people, and three members with distinction in the fields of art, science, literature and community service, are nominated directly by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Any Tibetan who has reached the age of 25 has the right to contest elections to the Assembly. Elections are held every five years and any Tibetan who has reached the age of 18 is entitled to vote.

Oath or affirmation for the members of the Tibetan Assembly

I, (so and so…) having been nominated/elected as a member of the Tibetan Assembly take oath/affirm my faith and confidence in the Charter of the Tibetans in-exile and I shall perform the duties as a member of the Tibetan Assembly as laid down in the Charter, in letter and spirit, without any lapse, self-interest, fear, attachment and hatred, and with altruism and honesty, to the best of my ability.

…………….I swear in the name of the Triple Gem.

or

……………..I solemnly pledge.