DHARAMSHALA: The 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile concluded its 5th session which is the budget session for the fiscal year 2018 – 2019. The session approved a consolidated budget of INR 2,65,25,55,781.00 for the fiscal year 2018- 2019 for the activities and functions of the CTA’s seven departments, autonomous bodies and offices of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Besides the budget proposal, the 11-day session deliberated comprehensively on the political and human rights situation inside Tibet, global Tibetan movement and the activities of the seven departments of the CTA. It passed three resolutions of mourning, one resolution of solidarity, amended one legislation and also approved Dr Pema Yangchen as Kalon of the 15th Kashag following nomination by CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay.

In his concluding remarks, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel expressed his satisfaction at the wholehearted participation of the parliamentarians and emphasised that the budget passed should be implemented effectively to fulfill the stated objectives. He noted the improving standard of discussions taking place in the Tibetan parliament over the years. At the same time, he reminded the parliamentarians about the decorums that need to be maintained during the parliamentary proceedings such as seeking approval of the Speaker before using non-Tibetan terms or calling out names of private individuals, and addressing all opinions and remarks to the Speaker rather than to particular individuals or fellow members of the Parliament.

Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel further urged the Kashag, as the executive authority, to work strenuously towards resolving the Tibet issue, securing the welfare of the Tibetan exile community, and preservation of Tibetan environment and culture. He particularly highlighted the changing global political scenario  – as acknowledged by CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay in his remarks – and said that we should be alert to grab the opportunities to amplify the Tibetan movement and face the challenges that could arise from these global trends.

Speaker also highlighted the immense sacrifices and contributions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan cause and said that whatever activities that we, the leadership as well as the general public, undertake, we should always feel a sense of gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and follow his guidance to fulfill his sacred aspirations.

Reiterating the importance of unity to the Tibetan cause, he spoke about the unity of the three traditional provinces of Tibet and its significance to the Tibetan movement to restore freedom for the Tibetan people. He explained that the greatest service that Tibetans can carry out to repay His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his service to the Tibetan people would be to maintain the iron-clad unity of the Tibetan people. “That would be our greatest fulfillment of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s aspiration,” he said.

He also called on the Tibetan public to refrain from posting unsubstantiated articles, cartoons, and doctored-images with an intention to create disruptions in the society. He said that the Tibetan community is dependent on the support of friends and well-wishers across the world, and in such a scenario, he noted that our internal fights are detrimental to our movement.

Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel expressed the Tibetan Parliament’s congratulations to Dr Yeshi Dhonden, a Tibetan medical doctor, and Jetsun Pema, sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who have been honoured by the Indian government recently for their service to the general public through medicine and education respectively.

Following the concluding remarks, the Speaker concluded the 5th session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, with the traditional striking of the gavel.