Deputies meet for 4th session of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
Monday, 24 September 2007, 4:58 p.m.
Mr Karma Chophel, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile presiding over the first day of the 4th session of the Parliament this morning (Photo: Sangjey Kep) |
Dharamshala: The members of the 14th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) meets here earlier this morning to convene the 4th session of the parliament.
The proceedings of the first day session included presentation of annual work reports by all the departments and offices of Central Tibetan Administration during the year 2006-07.
Speaking on the opening session, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Mr Karma Chophel spoke on the overall development regarding the issues of Tibet, since the last session of the Parliament held in March this year.
The Speaker apprised the members of the sixth-round of discussions held between the Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the Chinese leadership from 29 June to 5 July.
Citing the latest round of talks as an important development, the Speaker added that the report of the Task Force review meeting held earlier this month on the comprehensive analysis of the dialogue process will make its submission to His Holiness on his return to Dharamshala after the concluding the Europe visit.
He further lauded the series of life-long prayers offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama earlier this year by the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan populace.
The Speaker also applauded the Tibetans living in Tibet for celebrating this year’s birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in unique Tibetan ceremonial traditions.
He further lauded the Rongye Adak’s call for return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, and the release of Panchen Lama and other Tibetan political prisoners under the detention of Chinese communist regime.
The Speaker spoke on the visit of members of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile to British Parliament earlier this year, and the forthcoming visit of United Kingdom’s parliament members under the exchange program between the two parliaments.
He further spoke on the upcoming visits of parliamentary delegations from Trentino region in South Tyrol and Piemonte in Turin, Italy.
The Speaker also spoke on annual visits of members of the TPiE to the Tibetan settlements across India to assess the overall conditions, and to impart education on democratic systems of Central Tibetan Administration to the general populace.
Speaker Mr Chophel also spoke on the conferment of US Congressional Gold medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 17 October, and urged Tibetans residing accross the world to celebrate the momentous occasion.
The 4th session of the Parliament will continue uptill 4 October.