‘World’s Smallest Democracy’: The Challenges
By Dhundup Gyalpo
If words are food for thought, Dharamsala has had the Assembly of Tibetan’s People’s Deputies for breakfast, lunch and dinner half this September as the video footage, uncensored and unabridged, of its daily session was relayed in the local cable channel twenty-four seven. Soon the Tibetans across the globe will follow suit.
Assembly in session |
The 13th Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies held its monsoon session from 8-17 September. Present were all 46 deputies, including the three recently elected.
Perhaps for the first time, ordinary people get the rare chance to see their chithues (Deputies) in the thick of action-their tempers, pouts and sulks, anguish and nonchalance exposed during feisty debates on issues rife in the Tibetan community.
Sessions of the Assembly are held twice every year, with an interval of six months between the sessions. In case of national emergencies, His Holiness the Dalai Lama can summon special sessions.
Although there was no dearth of passion and fury, as chithues took turns to debate on various fronts in their most persuasive way, they did not betray their respect for order, composure and civility. There were occasions when the temperature inside the Assembly hall soared high to a melting point as individual discourses wriggled nasty twists and turns. But at no instance was there any filibustering, hurling of shoes, or exchange of blows-a common sight in today’s parliaments. Fortunately, at least in this aspect, what is arguably the world’s smallest democracy is still in its adolescence and has not matured to that phase. The most extreme form of expressing dissent (or in many cases neutrality) notable during this session was silent walkouts.
Thirteen resolutions and two amendments in rules were made during this eighth session of the Assembly. The most important of these resolutions were the withdrawal of the previous resolution to review the Middle-Way Aproach and the passing of the education policy.
Gone are the days when the Assembly served as an avenue for “personal attacks” or when the proceedings were hijacked by hare-brained, piety rows aimed at smearing the character of an individual deputy. Now are the days when solid, hard-core issues are being tabled for debate-debates that are open and unfettered, carried with an unmatched zeal.
His Holiness addressed this eighth session of the Assembly on 9 September. He said: “I have nothing new to say today, there is no need for anything to be said as everyone is performing their own duties at the best possible level. There may be mistakes made, but I appreciate the hard work with which everyone carries out his or her responsibilities. I thank everyone for that.” [The complete text of his speech will be published in the coming issue of Tibetan Bulletin.]
“Deputies today have two main responsibilities”, says Chithue Dawa Phunkyi. “The first is to assist the Kashag [the highest executive body of the exile Tibetan administration] in the implementation of its own policies and in promoting the general wellbeing of the people. And secondly, as our system of governance has no political or opposition parties, the onus to see that the Kashag does not transgress its own policies and the provisions of the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile [the supreme law governing the functions of the Central Tibetan Administration], therefore falls squarely on the shoulders of the deputies. It is a must that we be aware of the distinction between these two responsibilities.”
Of the total 46 deputies, 43 of them are elected directly by the Tibetan community in exile. Refugees belonging to the three traditional provinces of Tibet, namely U-Tsang,Dotoe and Domed, elect ten representatives each. The ecclesiastical communities of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith elect two members each. Three members are elected by the Tibetan communities in the West: two from Europe and one from North America. In addition, three members with distinction in the fields of art, science, literature and community service are nominated directly by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The first challenge that comes in the way of a deputy is to divest himself of the identity of his own electorates and rise above the differences in the provinces and religions, and act as a true representative of the whole Tibetan people, says Chithue Ugyen Tenzin. “We must see things through the prism of collective interest rather than the narrow interest of our own electorates from the day we pledge:
I shall perform the duties as a member of the Tibetan Assembly as laid down in the Charter, in letter and spirit, without any lapse, self-interest, fear, attachment and hatred, and with altruism and honesty, to the best of my ability.”
Any Tibetan who has reached the age of 25 has the right to contest elections to the Assembly. The elections are held every five years and any Tibetan who has reached the age of 18 is entitled to vote.
Most chithues say that for an informed, independent decision-making, they need to keep abreast of both local and global issues. “It is imperative that when issues are tabled for discussion, individual chithues are able to make their own judgements, rather than follow the lead of another”, says Chithue Dawa Phunkyi. When the members of the local assemblies from across India, who were invited as observers during a previous session, were asked for their observations at the farewell gathering, one had this to say: The way I see it, when hands were raised for voting in the Assembly, I see people who first glance at their friends and then choose whether to raise hands.
More than 60% of chithues today are below 50 years of age. The Assembly draws its strength from a harmonious blend of the rich experiences of the seniors and the knowledge and new ideas of the younger generation. This certainly has injected vigour and competency in its functioning. But many young chithues do admit that they need to have more of the qualities usually attributed to the younger generations-new, free and independent of heritage.
“We need to make only constructive criticisms”, says Chithue Pempa Tsering. “We must look at the broader issues rather than cavil piety disputes. Besides, there is a lot of misinterpretations and misunderstandings on various issues these days. It is imperative that we first get to the facts, understand them, and then to indulge in criticising the Kashag, or for that matter anybody else, if we think fit.” He laments that so much time and energy has been wasted on the clarification of the misinterpretations and misunderstandings of
the many new and progressive undertakings of the Kashag.
When the Assembly is not in session, there is a standing committee of twelve members: two members from each province, one member from each religious denomination, and one member directly nominated by His Holiness. The Standing Committee is vested with all the functions and powers of the ATPD except those concerning legislative and financial business.
There is a need for broader representation, says Chithue Ugyen Tenzin. “There are places from where we have more than one deputies, and places where we have none. It therefore becomes difficult for the wishes of the people of the places with no deputies to reach the Assembly. Discussions on the feasibility of having two houses, where the lower house is elected on the basis of population, have not made headway thus far. Although the Assembly had passed a resolution to assign areas to each of 46 deputies, which will enlarge the scope of its activities and mobilise sufficient views for its decision-making, so far we have not acted upon it.”
In addition to making laws for the Tibetan exile government, deputies of the Assembly undertake periodic tours to Tibetan settlements to make an assessment of their overall conditions. On their return, they bring to the notice of the Administration any specific grievances and matters needing attention.
Chithues who are not in the standing committee need to play a more active role when the Assembly is not in session, says Chithue Pempa Tsering. While a member of the standing committee receives a monthly honorarium of about Rs. 9,000/- per month, other chithues receive only Rs. 800/- (during Assembly sessions, all members receive Rs. 273.30 per day). Besides, when it comes to representing the Assembly in public occasions, chithues have to secure prior-approval of the Assembly. “Although it does seems like there is not much for a chithue (who is not in the standing committee) to do, if one were to assume responsibility and initiate things, there are always ways to do that”, agrees Chithue Ugyen Tenzin.
Perhaps the greatest challenge before the Assembly is to represent the wishes of the Tibetans in Tibet. As Chithu Pempa Tsering points out: “We must not loose track of the aspirations of the Tibetan people both within and without Tibet. Any diversions between the two will only be an invitation to open Pandora’s box”. Chithu Ugyen Tenzin agrees: “There aren’t sufficient mediums to convey the wishes of the Tibetans in Tibet into exile. However what we do know for certain is that the Tibetans in Tibet have absolute trust and faith in His Holiness and his Administration. Therefore, if we follow the wishes of His Holiness and the policies of the Administration, it would in a way amount to the representation of their aspirations.”
The Assembly was instituted in 1960 as part of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s efforts to introduce a democratic system of administration.
Most chithues say that reforms that have come from the voluntary initiatives of the Assembly are but rare to find. From its institution in 1960, all the major reforms-promulgation of the Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile, increased representation in the Assembly from 13 to 46 deputies, and most recently the direct election of the Kalon Tripa-invariably have come directly from His Holiness.
The Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile provides for institution of a Local Assembly, “scaled-down replicas of the Assembly”, in a community of not less than 160 members. As of now there are 37 local assemblies functioning across India and Nepal.
Loitering through these 44 years of democratic governance in exile, one may comfortably surmise that we may have approached the zenith for an exile administration, but when it comes to laying foundations for a democratic future Tibet, we still have miles to go before we snooze.
To be published in the upcoming issue of the Tibetan Bulletin. The writer is editor of Tibetan Bulletin. He can be reached at [email protected]
The main powers and responsibilities of the ATPD are:
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