Seventh Session of the ATPD Ends, Kashag’s Expansion Marred
The assembly in session |
Dharamsala, 30 March: The seventh session of the 13th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, which concluded today, was about to expand the 12th Kashag by one Kalon but could not.
The Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche faced a setback today as he did not get the support he required for the induction of Domed Deputy Penpa Tsering in his Kashag. Kalon Tripa proposed Deputy Penpa Tsering for Kalon but was objected by one of the deputies leading to secret voting (no objection from any of the deputies to the proposal allows it to be passed unanimously without voting). Through the secret ballot, 15 deputies supported Kalon Tripa’s proposal of Domed deputy Penpa Tsering as new Kalon and 22 deputies vetoed. Deputy Penpa Tsering is currently the Director of the Delhi based Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre.
A budget of over 90 crore for the fiscal year 2004-2005 failed to secure unanimous support with one deputy cutting off his support. The budget therefore had to be passed with the support of the majority.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Pema Jungney, the Chairman of the Assembly said that the deputies should follow proper parliamentary behaviour laid down by the rules and regulation of the house. He said that they should not be bothered by any particular individual when passing a resolution in the house and that they should not bother about the person who has submitted certain resolution but that think of ways to benefit the entire Tibetan community and Tibet’s cause.
“We should not set bad examples of ourselves to the local assemblies whose representatives are present here”, Mr. Jungney told the house before declaring the session closed till further notice.