ATPD’s Seventh Session Begins
 Kalon Tripa addressing the house |
Dharamsala, 17 March: As the seventh session of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies began today for some grueling days of debates and discussions in a newly renovated hall the deputies today gathered with a renewed energy to test the Kashag’s budgetary accountability for the new fiscal year. The session commenced with the singing of the Tibetan national anthem and offering of traditional sweetened rice (a symbolism for auspicious beginning)
Mr. Pema Jungney, the chairman of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, in his opening address to the house, expressed hopes that the deputies will set a good example of parliamentary proceedings to the 31 presidents of local Tibetan assemblies present in the house as observers. He welcomed the new Gelug deputy Ven. Jigme Wangyal who replaced Ven. Tenzin Sherab (Ven. Tenzin Sherab resigned. Ven. Jigme Wangyal had the second highest votes after Ven. Sherab)
Mr. Jungney also said that it is important for the deputies to see how far the Kashag has proved efficient in implementing the earlier resolutions passed by the house and that the house should concentrate more on the important national issues rather than harping on trivial matters.
Meanwhile, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration, presented its report on the various facets of Kashag’s accomplishments and decisions.
Questions over the Kashag’s holding and taking part in the fourth Tibet Support Groups’ conference in the Czech City of Prague in view of the Central Tibetan Administration’s policy of creating conducive atmosphere for dialogue with China was raised in the house. The question relates to the Kashag’s appeal to the Tibet Support Groups to refrain from resorting to protests and demonstrations during the then Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s visit to the United States at a time when the relation with Beijing was taking a positive note with the visit of a Tibetan delegation to China and Tibet after almost a decade-long deadlock.
The assembly will be in session till 30 March.
