Tibetans in Exile Commemorate 49th Democracy DayWednesday, 2 September 2009, 6:27 p.m.

Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche honours a Tibetan student with merit  certificate who topped in class XII board examination this year/Photo:Sangjey Kyap

Dharamshala: Marking
the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan democracy day today, the Kashag
underscored education, intellectual freedom, tolerance among the
various ideologies and eschewing parochialism as some of the conditions
indispensable for Tibetans to attain greater heights towards democracy.Since,
on 2 September 1960, a 13-member Commission of Tibetan People’s
Deputies with representatives from the four Tibetan Buddhist traditions
and three provinces (and later from Bon), took office for the first
time–the day is marked as Tibetan Democracy Day.The Kashag
extended its affectionate greetings to the Tibetans inside and outside
Tibet; to the governments, parliaments, peoples and the Tibet support
groups who are supportive of Tibet and the Tibetans; as well as to all
the peace-loving people cross the globe. The Kashag also expressed
immense gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for bestowing the gift
of democracy on Tibetans.The highest organ of Tibetan
democracy, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, has been elected 14 times
and the political or the Kalon Tripa twice by the general Tibetan
populace thus far.

Senator Jean Francois Humbert addresses the    gathering

Going
by the conditions as set forth in the Charter of the Tibetans in exile,
the Tibetan democracy in exile has today become complete both
institutionally and system, Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche said.The
Kashag also appealed to the Tibetan people to make efforts not to
create any differences and animosity between the Chinese and Tibetan
nationals. Speaking on His Holiness the
Dalai Lama’s visit to Taiwan, Kalon Tripa said the spiritual service he
is conducting in Taiwan is not only aimed as the well-being of all
sentient beings but also at the improvement of relations between the
Chinese and Tibetans. The Kashag emphasised that younger
generation of Tibetans in exile, who are equipped with both traditional
and modern education, should take up political responsibilities. The
visiting delegation of French senators felicitated the Tibetans for
establishing a robust democratic institution under the guidance of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. In his address on the occasion, Senator Jean
Francois Humbert thanked the government and people of India for
extending invaluable support to the Tibetans since last five decades.

Cultural performance by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts

Mr
Humbert said the people of France share the concern of the
international community on the critical issue of Tibet. He said the
Tibetans in exile should keep their hopes alive and be united in their
approach towards resolving the issue of Tibet. The speaker of
the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile hailed the two outstanding milestones
in the step towards establishing genuine democracy – the promulgation
of the Charter of Tibetans in 1990 which became the supreme law
governing the administration and the introduction of direct election of
Kalon Tripa or the political leadership by the Tibetan people in 2001.

Speaker Penpa Tsering
said every Tibetan should exercise their franchise in the forthcoming
elections of Kalon Tripa and members of Tibetan parliament. He appealed
to the administration, non-governmental organisations, teachers,
students and parents to made concerted towards the education of young
Tibetans, particularly the specialisation in different academic fields.He
reminded the Tibetans living in exile of their primary responsibility
to support and free their brethren living under the repression of the
Chinese government.