Parliament Opens Deliberation on Charter Amendments[Thursday, 26 May 2011, 4:53 p.m.]
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DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Parliament has begun deliberation on the recommendations made during the recently concluded Tibetan national general meeting on the draft amendments to the Charter on the devolution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s political responsibilities to the elected Tibetan leadership.A three-day additional session which opened this morning will approve the amendments to the Charter.In his opening address, Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, informed the House that the proposed amendments to the Charter, including proposals for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to remain as the ceremonial head, was presented to him yesterday.“His Holiness the Dalai Lama categorically refused to retain the post of ceremonial head of state. Nevertheless, we have conveyed to him the appeal as the genuine aspiration of the Tibetan people living in and outside Tibet,” the speaker told the House.The speaker said His Holiness has accepted the Preamble and the roles assigned to him under 3 clauses in the Article 1.His Holiness agreed to clauses 1 and 2, but said he will look into the third clause, the speaker said.In the proposed Charter, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s duties would be “to provide advice and encouragement with respect to the protection and promotion of the physical, spiritual, ethical and cultural wellbeing of the Tibetan people, remain engaged in the efforts to reach a satisfactory solution to the question of Tibet and to accomplish the cherished goals of of the Tibetan people”.The second responsibility assigned to His Holiness would be “to provide guidance in various forms to the Assembly of the Tibetan people’s Deputies and Kashag in matters of importance to the Tibetan people, including the community and its institutions in exile”.His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered suggestions on the third responsibility which is “to meet with world leaders and bodies to speak on behalf of the Tibetan people, to explain and discuss their concerns and needs as well as to appoint envoys and special envoys to serve the interest of the Tibetan people”.Speaker Penpa Tsering said the Tibetan people living inside Tibet need not worry as His Holiness has reiterated that as a Tibetan he would remain committed to play his part in the just cause of Tibet.He called on the Tibetans in exile to bolster efforts and unity towards resolving the issue of Tibet and fulfilling the aspiration of the Tibetans inside Tibet.The House passed a condolence resolution to mourn the passing away of Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu.The House has been adjourned till 9:30 am tomorrow.
