Eighth ATPD Session Begins Tomorrow
Dharamsala 7 September: The 8th session of the 13th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies will begin tomorrow. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will attend the session on 9 September. The Assembly meets twice a year for its summer and winter sessions.
The Assembly will have three new deputies replacing one Utsang deputy and two Domed deputies who had earlier resigned.
As per the Assembly rules and regulations in the Charter of the exile Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama must attend at least one session in a year and that if His Holiness is unable to attend at least once in a year, a statement from His Holiness must be sent to the assembly. It also says that a deputy must attend the assembly at least once in a year and that a deputy can not remain absent for two consecutive sessions.
According to Mr. Ngawang Tsultrim, the parliamentary secretary of the ATPD, there has been no deputy seeking leave from the eighth session. All 46 deputies are expected to attend this session. However, he said that last minute procurement of leaves cannot be ruled out.