Assembly Back on Track, Kashag Unconditionally Reverses its Decision
Dharamsala, 16 September 2003: The past two days were marked with an apparent cloud of tension over the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies’ sixth session. The Tibetan Parliament saw a much-awaited relief today after Deputy Sonam Topgyal, who earlier on 13 September cast ‘doubt’ over the moral integrity of the Kalon Tripa, read out a statement withdrawing his allegation against the Kalon Tripa.
Deputy Sonam Topgyal told the house that the Kalon Tripa had cleared his doubts and that he withdraws his allegation of doubt against the Kalon Tripa.
” ….I do not have any doubts over the person of the Kalon Tripa, I had said I doubted the Kalon Tripa because the Kalon Tripa had repeatedly said in this house that he could not question Rinchen Dharlo since that would be an interference into the matter of a registered non governmental organisation….”, Deputy Sonam Topgyal said.
” …the Kalon Tripa had yesterday clearly said that the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibet Fund do have differences and that he had never tried to justify Tibet Fund in the Assembly, hence I am cleared of my doubts and I withdraw my word….” he continued.
The Kalon Tripa had earlier said that bringing Tibet Fund under the administration’s control and making it accountable to the Auditor General’s Office was not possible.
A signed statement by the Deputy had been sent to the Kashag yesterday. The Kashag attended the house today and gave its statement in response to Deputy Sonam Topgyal’s statement of withdrawal of ‘doubt’.
The Kalon Tripa also said that the ‘unprecedented’ decision of the Kashag stemmed from the very fact that the Kalon Tripa’s moral integrity was doubted and that it has now reversed its decision since the Deputy’s statement has said the ‘doubt’ has been cleared.
The Kalon Tripa, in his statement to the house, said, “since the signed statement of the Deputy pointed out that his doubts had been cleared and that he is withdrawing his words the Kashag, hereby, withdraw its decision to remain absent from the Assembly and henceforth will be, unconditionally, attending the house. Our walkout seems to have wasted the Assembly’s time and caused many Deputies to worry for which the Kashag expresses its deep concern”.
The Kalon Tripa appealed to the Assembly that it could not implement the bill on Tibet Fund’s status and audit.
“Kashag does not want to be blamed for interfering in a non governmental organisation registered under the United States’ law, the Kashag, therefore appeals the Assembly to take whatever necessary steps required to implement the bill passed concerning the status and audit of Tibet Fund,” the Kalon Tripa said.
The Assembly continued with its normal proceedings today which included questions by Deputies on agriculture, drug abuse among Tibetan juveniles, and reimbursement of airfares paid in advance for Tibetan refugee settlers in the US by the Department of Finance.
At the time of this report going online, the Assembly was discussing a bill on review of rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission. The bill was presented before the Assembly by the Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche and supported by Kalon Lobsang Nyandak.