Are the Speaker and Kalon Tripa stifling free speech?

[Ensapa]

Yup. CTA's influence and smokescreens are waning and people are wisening up to their tricks. They are more aware now of what is going on and they are not blind or dumb. Their influence is starting to wane and their grip on people is getting weaker and weaker. they can no longer misuse the Dalai Lama's name to control others and people are questioning their wrongdoings. This is the beginning of the end for CTA!

Are the Speaker and Kalon Tripa stifling free speech?
Phayul[Monday, September 24, 2012 21:04]
By the editorial board of The Tibetan Political Review

A certain defensiveness is settling over the elected leadership of the Tibetan government-in-exile (TGIE). The self-immolation crisis in Tibet and the resignations of the Tibetan Envoys have placed extreme pressure on the TGIE leadership’s signature Middle Way policy of asking China for Tibetan autonomy under Chinese sovereignty. At a time when this policy is becoming more challenging to defend, a new campaign has emerged that – rather conveniently – could drastically curtail any criticism of the TGIE leadership.

This campaign involves resurrecting a year-old debate over the controversial restructuring and re-naming of the TGIE. Ironically, it was launched at the Tibetan Democracy Day celebrations on September 2, when Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay and Parliamentary Speaker Penpa Tsering condemned unnamed individuals who caused “hurt” to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Details of the Campaign

On August 3, 2012 at a teaching in Ladakh, His Holiness made comments on the nature and origin of the term “Tsenjol Bod Shung” (TGIE), and the effect of separating “Ganden Phodrang” (technically, the institution of the Dalai Lama) from “Bod Shung” (the Tibetan government or administration). His Holiness also stated that it was incorrect to say that “Bod Shung” was disbanded (his phrase was “dubsok gyap” or packed up), and that claims to that effect made him disappointed (“lo phampa”). As always, His Holiness gave a detailed and logical explanation.

What His Holiness did NOT say – and this is very important – is that he wanted his words to be exploited by others to stifle free speech. Nor did His Holiness say he wanted his words to be exploited by others to insulate politicians from criticism.

Unfortunately, that appears to be what is happening.

At the Democracy Day celebration on September 2, Kalon Tripa Sangay condemned some unnamed people who, “either knowingly or unknowingly”, are creating divisions among the Tibetan people. (Parliament changed the title of Kalon Tripa to Sikyong or ‘political leader’ as this article was going to press.) Speaker Tsering similarly attacked “baseless claims made by a small group of Tibetans causing distress to His Holiness the Dalai Lama”.

In recent a speech to Parliament, Speaker Tsering further elaborated:

“Instead of doing their duties, a small group of Tibetans have engaged in making groundless claims on matters concerning the general meeting, special parliament session and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s devolution of political authority to the democratically-elected CTA leadership, to create discord in the community”.

Thus, in a neat rhetorical move, Speaker Tsering brought Parliament’s decisions under the umbrella of His Holiness. Criticism of Parliamentary decisions are now attacked for creating “discord” and hurt to His Holiness.

Speaker Tsering issued a warning to his fellow Parliamentarians: “f you expressed own personal views, then you are not carrying out your responsibilities of being a parliamentarian”. Apparently, Speaker Tsering now believes that individual members of Parliament are obligated to support the official line. Such a philosophy, however, runs counter to the ideals of liberal democracy – the very ideals for which His Holiness has worked for over sixty years. The duty of a legislator is to their constituents, and they absolutely can disagree with their parliamentary leaders. If not, the system would be a one-party dictatorship.

Speaker Tsering also issued a challenge to the Tibetan media. He warned the media not to be “a medium to spread discord within the community”. Specifically, he said that “some people write under pseudonyms articles and comments in websites to destabilise the community and denigrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. He called on the media to “properly verify the contents of and intentions behind such articles and comments”.

The Speaker sounds (intentionally or not) uncomfortably close to authoritarian regimes that seek to control popular opinion by controlling or intimidating the media. This is unacceptable in a genuine democracy. The media should be a “Fourth Estate” that investigates and challenges any powerful institution and holds such power accountable.

In a related development, a new group has suddenly formed called Tsokpa Chukchik (Eleven Associations -including the Shopkeepers Association and the Restaurants Association), made up of eleven rather small associations based in Dharamsala, some of which are quite new. Its ostensible goal is to defend the TGIE’s controversial name change but with the threat to "strictly deal[] with" any person making "baseless" claims against His Holiness, even challenging to take those who hurt His Holiness to court. In a press conference held on this issue, when a journalist asked who are these persons hurting His Holiness, the Eleven Associations told the reporter to go and ask His Holiness.

Really?

It should be needless to recall the numerous times that His Holiness has spoken out in favor of democracy and free speech. In fact these are His Holiness’ life-long mission and when His Holiness handed power to the Kalon Tripa on August 8, 2011, His Holiness said that his ‘long awaited heartfelt wish was fulfilled.’ Therefore, His Holiness’s deeply-held pro-democracy position could not be clearer.

It should also be unnecessary to re-state that Sikyong/Kalon Tripa Sangay’s S.J.D. dissertation contained strong language asserting that “free speech, and various other forms of participation strengthen and sustain the government in exile.”

Given these principles, it is almost incomprehensible that this campaign of attempted intimidation is now being carried out by top Tibetan politicians in the name of His Holiness.

It is even odder considering that Sangay, Tsering, and the Parliament itself have actually engaged in the same “crimes” they now denounce:

Sangay campaigned on adding the word “shung” (government) back to the TGIE’s Tibetan name, criticizing the name-change that he now strenuously defends.

On March 18, 2011, the Parliament itself went against His Holiness’s wishes, when it passed a resolution “strongly beseeching His Holiness the Dalai Lama to continue to remain as both the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people” (even though His Holiness had already stated his desire to step down).

On May 24, 2011, the participants of the Special General Meeting of Tibetans unanimously called for His Holiness to remain as symbolic Head of State of the TGIE. Speaker Tsering is quoted in an official press release bringing this resolution to His Holiness. The unanimous recommendation of the Special General Meeting (in which Sangay, Tsering and most of the Parliamentarians participated) went against His Holiness’s expressed wish to step down.

This year on March 20, 2012, a majority in Parliament challenged the TGIE’s name-change by supporting a resolution to change the TGIE’s Tibetan name back to include the word “shung” (in this case, the proposal was “'U Bod Mi Shung”, loosely: Central Tibetan Government or Administration). The resolution failed to reach the required 29 votes (2/3 majority). However, it received 23 votes in favor, over a 50% majority.

Perhaps the Tibetan leadership should now criticize itself? Or perhaps this suggests that something else is at play; that this campaign is not really about the restructuring and re-naming but rather intended to silence critics of the TGIE leadership and its policies?

Interestingly, the conclusion that this campaign’s true goal is to protect the current administration comes directly from Kalon Tripa Sangay’s cabinet. Home Minister Dolma Gyari was recently quoted as asserting that the Tibetan people should “accept whatever policies are decided upon by the government”. Regarding criticism of the administration’s policies, she noted that “some actions appear like those of an opposition party which wants to destroy the authority of our current administration, and we must carefully consider, who stands to benefit from that?”

Conclusion: This Embarrassment Should End

This campaign is farcical at best and dangerous at worst. Since the 2008 uprising in Tibet, there has been a growing voice in the Tibetan exile community that is publicly challenging the current approach to China and criticizing the methods that the TGIE has employed for the last few decades. Some in the exile community appear threatened by this criticism. Now the Tibetan people are seeing an attempt to turn criticism of the TGIE leadership into disloyalty to His Holiness. In this current exercise, His Holiness’s statements made in Ladakh (and also in Italy) are grossly misinterpreted and misused.

This campaign raises the specter of traitors in our midst, who are guilty of saying that which the administration’s own leaders have already said. Criticism is turned into disloyalty to His Holiness, the media is chastised, and a mysterious Tsokpa Chukchik begins making threats.

These tactics create a chilling effect among Tibetans who may fear that they will be wrongfully labeled anti-Dalai Lama simply because they disagree with policies of the TGIE leadership or hold different political views. There is now reportedly an air of "us and them" hovering in many Tibetan communities and especially Dharamsala.

Hopefully the Tibetan people will rise above this bait. There is no real threat to “denigrate” His Holiness, who is more revered than ever in the Land of Snows and in exile. Indeed, the Tibetan people are more unified than ever thanks to the inspiration of brave Tibetans inside Tibet, who are willing to risk everything for their country and for His Holiness.

The only threat to Tibetan unity that we see here is the threat posed by those who (intentionally or not) exploit His Holiness’s name to stifle free speech and democratic debate. Such anti-democratic actions run counter to His Holiness’ dedication to democracy and civil rights.

These actions are an embarrassment that should end now. The broader Tibetan cause is harmed when the leadership uses tactics that are associated in most people’s minds with systems other than democracy: equating disagreement with disloyalty, condemning an unnamed “small group of people” for stirring discord, demanding that all legislators uphold the party line, intimidating the media, etc. The TGIE leadership’s experimentation with such tactics is not a proud moment for them, for the Tibetan people, or for His Holiness’s inspired democratic vision.

Article submitted by the Editorial Board of the Tibetan Political Review

[Amitabha]

On August 3, 2012 at a teaching in Ladakh, His Holiness made comments on the nature and origin of the term “Tsenjol Bod Shung” (TGIE), and the effect of separating “Ganden Phodrang” (technically, the institution of the Dalai Lama) from “Bod Shung” (the Tibetan government or administration). His Holiness also stated that it was incorrect to say that “Bod Shung” was disbanded (his phrase was “dubsok gyap” or packed up), and that claims to that effect made him disappointed (“lo phampa”). As always, His Holiness gave a detailed and logical explanation.

“Ganden Phodrang”  and “Bod Shung” can never be disbanded, it's the tradition of the lama or vajra institutional democracy in its "electoral rights" of government to ensure attainment and smooth function of vajra tradition.   

[Ensapa]

“Ganden Phodrang”  and “Bod Shung” can never be disbanded, it's the tradition of the lama or vajra institutional democracy in its "electoral rights" of government to ensure attainment and smooth function of vajra tradition.   

What's the difference? They still fail to protect Buddhism. They still fail to provide enough support for the monasteries. They still fail to earn their way into international recognition (yes, its earned, not just handed out just because you deserve it) If they were good at their job of taking care of Buddhism, then why is it that we hear so often that the monks of Ganden, Sera, Drepung, Gyume and Gyuto have to go out and organize fundraising exercises so often in other countries JUST to make sure that the monks in the monasteries survive?

And even funnier, the CTA or whatever they call themselves focus on a silly ban on Dorje Shugden, rather than upholding the Dharma. And they call themselves a Buddhist government? oh dear.

[vajratruth]

The exiled Tibetan government (whether they are called TGIE, CTA or Central Tibetan Government/Administration) have long played the role of a victim who has been denied freedom associated with democracy but more and more we see them clearly as people who really do not appreciate the values of a liberal democracy. The CTA has in the past closed down independent newspapers that do not carry their propaganda and recently we see how they silence anyone who oppose their views, via their involvement in Radio Free Asia. Here is a recent article in an Indian newspaper that gives a good insight into how the minds of the CTA people work:

TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL
CHANDIGARH, November 30, 2012

U.S. lawmaker accuses Tibet’s government-in-exile of silencing dissidents

CHANDER SUTA DOGRA
 
A row has broken out between the Dharamsala-based Tibetan government-in-exile (TGIE). Congressman Dana Rohrabacher over the removal of Jigme Ngabo, the head of the Tibetan language service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), earlier this month.

Mr. Rohrabacher has alleged that the government-in-exile was manipulating news coverage of itself and had engineered the dismissal of Mr. Ngabo, who was reportedly not toeing its line on the resolution of the Tibetan issue.

The U.S. lawmaker, whose allegations have been supported by some prominent Tibetan intellectuals, has also suggested that U.S. aid given to the government-in-exile for the welfare of Tibetan refugees might have been misused.

After Mr. Ngabo, a long-time employee of the RFA was fired, Mr. Rohrabacher and some dissident Tibetans critical of the Dalai Lama’s middle-way approach to resolving the Tibetan issue accused the government-in-exile of stifling free speech within the Tibetan community. Demanding an investigation into claims of censorship within the RFA, Mr. Rohrabacher has said, “Jigme Ngabo’s services were terminated for political reasons. RFA needs to continue to be the source for accurate information.”

Mr. Rohrabacher, one of the leading supporters of the Tibetan cause, who had in 2007 called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics over China’s treatment of ethnic Tibetans, in a letter to the elected Prime Minister of the government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, wrote: “Actions taken by you and other Tibetan leaders are eroding the support within the U.S. Congress for the Tibetan cause. I will not tolerate machinations by you or your associates to deprive the Tibetans of the joys of open debate and free exchange of information that RFA has provided.”

He went on to say: “I am also aware of serious accusations that the U.S. funding meant for Tibetans may have been misspent, and perhaps goes into the pockets of Chinese and Tibetan power brokers.” In 2012, the U.S. government gave $7.5 million to the exiled government. .

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has responded to these accusations saying: “Keeping in view the objective of the radio service, we have expressed our opinion and concerns in and outside the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile regarding contents of some programs of Radio Free Asia in the past and we shall do so in future as well, which we consider is well within our democratic rights. We have neither in the past nor will we ever in future interfere in its functioning.”

Parliament’s Speaker Penpa Tsering, in a letter to Mr. Rohrabacher made public on Wednesday, welcomed scrutiny by a U.S. agency over the utilisation of funds. “We wish to state in unequivocal terms that any assistance by U.S. received through the Central Tibetan Administration are accounted and audited through proper democratic mechanisms with full transparency and accountability.”

The crux of the dispute lies in the increasing discomfort within the government-in-exile over the self-immolations by Tibetans inside Tibet (almost 80 till the beginning of this week) that has triggered a debate in the exile community about the usefulness of continuing with the Dalai Lama’s middle way approach. Most of those who immolated themselves had been demanding complete independence and the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet. Those opposed to the Dalai Lama’s policy said Mr. Ngabo irked the government-in-exile by encouraging open discussions on various options for Tibet’s future, including outright independence.

His removal was preceded by several interactions between government-in-exile officials and RFA head Libby Liu.

Jamyang Norbu, a prominent Tibetan intellectual whose contract with the RFA was also cancelled, wrote in his blog this week: “It is an article of faith in the Central Tibetan Administration that if somehow all independence activism and discussion were halted or contained, then Beijing would agree to the “genuine autonomy” solution proposed in the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way policy; or would, at least, resume the negotiations it terminated two year ago.” He went on to say that given the extremely sensitive situation prevailing in Tibet as a result of the immolations “it would not be unreasonable to assume that Beijing wants Dharamsala to stop the “splittist” messaging from exile, particularly from RFA broadcasts, which it firmly believes is fuelling the immolations and protests within Tibet. Dharamsala in turn probably shares Beijing’s concerns as the self-immolation crisis in Tibet and the resignations of the Tibetan envoys have placed extreme pressure on the TGIE leadership’s signature Middle Way policy.”

The government-in-exile’s position, however, is that the steps taken by it in resolving the Tibetan issue are unanimously approved by the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and the “U.S. government has stood firmly behind us.”

The RFA was created in 1996 as a private, not-for-profit corporation funded by the U.S. government to “provide information to people living under repressive regimes in Asia.”

We see that all is not well within the the exiled Tibetan Government and it seems that more time and effort is utilized by the power brokers within the CTA to galvanize their own positions than to care for the welfare of the public. Quite shockingly we also see how loyalty of the Tibetans to the Dalai Lama is being used as leverage by the Tibetan Government against their own people. As Helmus Gassner (former interpreter of the Dalai Lama) has said "...for most Tibetans nothing is more important than the Dalai Lama's life; so if one is labelled an enemy of the Dalai Lama, one is branded as a traitor and therewith 'free-for-all' or an outlaw." We have often wondered why the CTA has refused to uplift the Dorje Shugden ban until now. Is there perhaps a hidden political gain to be had by maintaining the status quo?

[dsiluvu]

I wonder is the CTA really even a government, is pretty much self proclaimed???

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) (Tibetan: Tsenjol Bod Mi Zhung gi Drigtsug), is an organization based in India with the stated goals of "rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and restoring freedom and happiness in Tibet". It was established by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1959 shortly after his exile from Tibet. It is commonly referred to as the Tibetan Government in Exile, but while its internal structure is government-like, it has stated that it is "not designed to take power in Tibet"; rather, it will be dissolved "as soon as freedom is restored in Tibet" in favor of a government formed by Tibetans inside Tibet. In addition to political advocacy, it administers a network of schools and other cultural activities for Tibetans in India. On 11 February 1991, the CTA became a founding member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) at a ceremony held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Tibetan_Administration

The self-proclaimed Tibetan government in exile has called on Tibetans to stop setting fire to themselves to protest against what activists say is Beijing's heavy-handed rule in the region.

[Ensapa]

Mr. Rohrabacher has alleged that the government-in-exile was manipulating news coverage of itself and had engineered the dismissal of Mr. Ngabo, who was reportedly not toeing its line on the resolution of the Tibetan issue.

This is nice. Finally someone seeing the stupid things that CTA has been doing about that they think nobody will know or notice. The CTA has always been pruning people who do not want to tow in line, either by means of firing them or by means of killing them, then blaming it on something else. The more interesting thing is how so many nations actually believe that they're the victims and that they are working solely for Tibet's freedom, as if India has been a very bad host to them. Perhaps very soon CTA will not be a topic anymore in those Euro - American discussions anymore.