DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today provided a detailed clarification on behalf of the 14th Kashag on the floor of the Tibetan parliament.
The clarification primarily focused on the advisory issued by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the centenary celebration of Mentseekhang on 23 March. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed concern over the decaying morality of the Tibetan people and the deplorable health situation particularly the lack of preventive measures in the Tibetan settlements.
Addressing the parliament, Sikyong admitted the declining of morality among Tibetans, which came into particular prominence in the days leading to the recently concluded Tibetan election. He said: “Declining morality is a serious issue in almost all communities these days. However, it is really unfortunate that the Tibetan community is also witnessing a similar trend when we have a leader like His Holiness the Dalai Lama who always advise moral upbringing and compassion.”
“It is even more unfortunate that the Chinese government used election related issues to criticise the Central Tibetan Administration. Even the New York Times has run an article recently denouncing the issues that were mainly focused during the election. All these are a dangerous development for the Tibetan movement and we should be very careful,” Sikyong said, adding that all those who participated in the Tibetan election should bear it in mind.
Speaking about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s concern over the situation of health in the Tibetan community, Sikyong said: “The Kashag accords highest of the highest importance to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s observation of deplorable health condition and the lack of preventive measures in the Tibetan settlements. Since the advice from His Holiness on 23 March, the Kashag held a series of discussions and provided unanimous directives and advisories to the health Kalon.”
Sikyong affirmed a vigorous health campaign in the next three years and assured concrete results in ensuring robust public health in the Tibetan community.
Besides these two focal issues of concern, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay further spoke about the Kashag’s efforts to alleviate poverty in the Tibetan community with particular emphasis on older Tibetans who are under the care of old age homes.
Sikyong also highlighted the changing political and economic situation in China, India and other neighboring countries, and its impact on the Tibetan movement. He expressed his solidarity with the sufferings of the Tibetan people inside Tibet, particularly the self-immolators and the Tibetan political prisoners. He explained that there is no change in the repressive policies of the Chinese government in Tibet and that the Tibetans living in the free world should exert more effort to alleviate the sufferings and fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people inside Tibet. “It is only because of the valour of the Tibetans inside Tibet that Tibetans outside Tibet can walk with their heads held high,” Sikyong said.
