The irony of Lobsang Sangay giving lecture about Tibetan democracy

[Celia]

Why in the world would he be qualified to talk about democracy when he clearly doesn’t adhere and respect the true essence of democracy is kind of ironic but Lobsang Sangay (shamelessly) delivered the 2018 Harold J. Berman Distinguished Lecture in Law and Religion at the prestigious Emory University in Atlanta. His talk which was entitled ‘The Tibetan People’s Transition to Secular Democracy’ is reflective of his warped up version of about Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan "democracy" and the "intermingling" of the two to explain the uniqueness of Tibetan "democracy".

For instance, in his talk, Lobsang Sangay associated Tibetan democracy with vague and misleading descriptions like “Tibetan democracy unique among others”; “democracy in itself is one of the most popular forms of governance for a long time, the concept is not without contradictions in the Tibetan context etc”. It is so obvious he still thinks he can cover up the fact that the so-called democratic nature of the exiled Tibetan leadership is a farce.

Anyone observing the policies, actions and behaviours of the Tibetan leadership especially the recent shady controversies, would see that they reflect nothing of a real democratic government. Yet he can still make claims like "CTA being efficient, most frugally ran government agencies etc" in the face of all the Tibetan leadership's monumental failures in delivering any of CTA’s promise to Tibetans or to improve the welfare of Tibetans and also all the explosive monetary and non-monetary scandals.

Then again, since they entered exile in 1959, the Tibetan leadership has taken very questionable actions that are nothing short of breaches of its own constitution. As if that is not bad enough, throughout time, it became more obvious that the Tibetan leadership blatantly with little hesitation, at their whims and fancies, override even the highest law governing the Tibetans in diaspora.

Anyway, for those who can stomach Lobsang Sangay’s twist on democracy:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3JzrV3OeKg

[dsnowlion]

What a joke indeed. Sangay is the last person practising democracy let alone preach it. He should really cut all this nonsense and start resolving the internal issue such as the accounted 1.5mil he used to purchase an office in the US, his sudden firing of his rival Penpa Tsering and the division of his own Tibetan exile community.

He needs to stop all his deception, because how long does he think he can go on lying to his people? Seriously, he should wake up already, his own Tibetan people are trying to impeach him. This is the first we've ever heard and seen where people are going against the Tibetan leadership. Things are certainly not looking bright for the CTA and if they do not wise up, they are going to fast forward their own retirement sooner than they expect.

[Alex]

Yes, I totally agree with you Celia. Which democratic country in the world bans a religion and dedicate a whole section on their official government website telling their people to not practice a certain religion? Its like the United States telling people not to pray to Mother Mary in their official website. This is ridiculous and crazy.

I think Mr Sangay here had forgotten what it means to be a democratic country. He does not respect religious freedom which is a basic human right. On top of that, he is giving a lecture on Democracy. What a joke. No wonder Tibet had stayed in Exile for 60 years , they totally deserved it by electing this joker to be a leader. 

[Rowntree]

His talk which was entitled ‘The Tibetan People’s Transition to Secular Democracy’ is reflective of his warped up version of about Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan "democracy" and the "intermingling" of the two to explain the uniqueness of Tibetan "democracy".

For instance, in his talk, Lobsang Sangay associated Tibetan democracy with vague and misleading descriptions like “Tibetan democracy unique among others”; “democracy in itself is one of the most popular forms of governance for a long time, the concept is not without contradictions in the Tibetan context etc”. It is so obvious he still thinks he can cover up the fact that the so-called democratic nature of the exiled Tibetan leadership is a farce.

Lobsang Sangay's version of democracy: the CTA gives the order, Tibetans around the world will execute WITHOUT A QUESTION. This is a dictatorship. The people have no say but blindly execute with fear, most of the time. The CTA's 'unique democracy' uses fear threat heavily. Anyone who goes against their 'order', they will be punished and sometimes had their lives taken. Lukar Jam, the head of the rangzen movement was denied the rights to run for the CTA "Presidency" and had his car smashed. We have no idea where he is now but he is for sure on the run for fear of his family's safety. Does this sound like democracy to you? Dorje Shugden, a practice of 400 years, is now being banned to cover all CTA's failures. His followers and practitioners are being ostracised and denied basic rights to healthcare, food, education, jobs etc. The CTA even passed a constitution to state this. Have you come across any of the democratic countries that blame a deity for their mismanagement, failures, incapabilities? ONLY CTA, the ONE and ONLY 'unique' democratic country that does this. 

[phyag na rlangs pa]

Rowntree, the points you deliver hit the bullseye. You're so accurate, your arrows split arrows.

[michaela]

Lobsang Sangay and democracy do not match each other. He Sangay does not respect democratic values.There are so many instances where Lobsang Sangay is proven not to appreciate the idea of democracy. He got rid of his opponent such as Lukar Jam in an undemocratic manner.

In addition, Dr. Sangay used the Shugden issue to cover his incapability. He made the situation of the Tibet Cause is worse today than before, and he does not respect the Dalai Lama's umaylam because otherwise he won't go around the world to speak negatively about China in order to appeal for donation.

In addition, he is incapable of doing his job properly, and he blamed the Dorje Shugden deity for all his failures, which results in Shugden practitioners being ostracised and discriminated by the Tibetans in exile.

[Dondrup Shugden]

Ouch!!! painful to even think that Sangay dares to talk about democracy and his audacity to redefine the very basic concept of democracy to suit his conduct and ends.

Sangay is not even prepared to be accountable to the funds donated for the welfare of Tibetans and in real democracy he will be charged with embezzlement and impeached. 

Dictators cannot be impeached but a democratically elected president can. What are you Lobsang Sangay?

[Drolma]

There is no democracy under the leadership of the CTA. The CTA likes to say they are a democratic government and China is a communist government that uses violence to suppress the Tibetans. In fact, the CTA is worse. As a so-called democratic government, the CTA is worse because they don't allow basic religious right to Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Everyone should have religious freedom, to have the right to their belief as long their belief does not cause security issue to the society. Dorje Shugden has been practised for almost 400 years and it has never been an issue, why all of the sudden Dorje Shugden become a trouble maker? People are not only discouraged from practising it, if they continue to do so, they are segregated from the Tibetan community. Their basic rights as Tibetans are taken away.

For people who insist to continue with Dorje Shugden practice, they are not allowed to work in any government department, they are not allowed to use public facilities such as hospitals. Children of Dorje Shugden practitioners are bullied in schools and sometimes lives of Dorje Shugden practitioners are threatened. Is CTA a real democratic government?

[Tenzin K]

This is really the joke of a lifetime! Sangay can lie to the people who don't follow the issues that Tibetan leadership created in India but he can't hide the truth that CTA had created to so many Tibetans for Shugden ban, intercept other spiritual lineages to recognize another leader which doesn't follow the tradition of the respective lineage. 

For Sangay to talk about democratic is really sounds ridiculous. How you want to listen to a person who ripped away from their own Tibetan people's freedom of religious practice and human rights. Anyone who disagrees with CTA will be considered as the public enemy and will face their punishment be it direct or indirect from CTA including violent attack. How could Sangay eligible to talk on democracy which he has not practiced a single bit of it?

[Tracy]

This is really the joke of a lifetime! Sangay can lie to the people who don't follow the issues that Tibetan leadership created in India but he can't hide the truth that CTA had created to so many Tibetans for Shugden ban, intercept other spiritual lineages to recognize another leader which doesn't follow the tradition of the respective lineage. 

For Sangay to talk about democratic is really sounds ridiculous. How you want to listen to a person who ripped away from their own Tibetan people's freedom of religious practice and human rights. Anyone who disagrees with CTA will be considered as the public enemy and will face their punishment be it direct or indirect from CTA including violent attack. How could Sangay eligible to talk on democracy which he has not practiced a single bit of it?

Lobsang Sangay gives democracy a whole new definition. His type of democracy is people must listen to what he says. No one should go against him. For people who don't agree with him, he will make their lives difficult. If needed, he will use violence on them.

Dorje Shugden ban is a very good example. For people who still want to follow Dorje Shugden practice, their basic rights as a Tibetan are taken away. They are not allowed to use public hospitals. They are not allowed to work in the government sector. They are not allowed to attend any talk of the Dalai Lama even if it is not Dharma related.

No country in this world will forbid its people to attend a public talk of their leader. But the Tibetan leaders do that to Dorje Shugden practitioners. Is this democracy? If the Tibetan leaders truly believe in the democratic system, they have to first lift the Dorje Shugden ban and give the basic right of a citizen to Dorje Shugden followers.

[Drolma]

Lobsang Sangay gives democracy a whole new definition. His type of democracy is people must listen to what he says. No one should go against him. For people who don't agree with him, he will make their lives difficult. If needed, he will use violence on them.

Dorje Shugden ban is a very good example. For people who still want to follow Dorje Shugden practice, their basic rights as a Tibetan are taken away. They are not allowed to use public hospitals. They are not allowed to work in the government sector. They are not allowed to attend any talk of the Dalai Lama even if it is not Dharma related.

No country in this world will forbid its people to attend a public talk of their leader. But the Tibetan leaders do that to Dorje Shugden practitioners. Is this democracy? If the Tibetan leaders truly believe in the democratic system, they have to first lift the Dorje Shugden ban and give the basic right of a citizen to Dorje Shugden followers.

There is no democracy in CTA. People who go against the CTA will be penalised. For examples, Penpa Tsering and Dorje Shugden practitioners. Penpa Tsering was questioning the CTA and Lobsang Sangay, what happened next was Penpa Tsering was sacked without given any good reasoning.

Dorje Shugden followers are seen as rebels because they continue to practise the faith that is banned by the CTA. To punish these people, the CTA disallows Dorje Shugden practitioners to attend any public events of the Dalai Lama even if it is a secular talk. The CTA also released a name list of Dorje Shugden followers to encourage Tibetans to attack these followers.

How democratic is the CTA to allow such discrimination to happen in the Tibetan community? We are now in the 21st century but the CTA is still so backward. It is no wonder they can never free Tibet.

[Tenzin K]

Lobsang Sangay gives democracy a whole new definition. His type of democracy is people must listen to what he says. No one should go against him. For people who don't agree with him, he will make their lives difficult. If needed, he will use violence on them.

Dorje Shugden ban is a very good example. For people who still want to follow Dorje Shugden practice, their basic rights as a Tibetan are taken away. They are not allowed to use public hospitals. They are not allowed to work in the government sector. They are not allowed to attend any talk of the Dalai Lama even if it is not Dharma related.

No country in this world will forbid its people to attend a public talk of their leader. But the Tibetan leaders do that to Dorje Shugden practitioners. Is this democracy? If the Tibetan leaders truly believe in the democratic system, they have to first lift the Dorje Shugden ban and give the basic right of a citizen to Dorje Shugden followers.

Tracy, you are absolutely right!

No leaders in the country will create suffering to their people because it doesn't serve the purpose and how would discrimination help to unite and develop the nation? How can ostracisation help to improve the welfare and economic growth? We don't need to talk about democracy because CTA doesn't even understand human rights and humanity. It's a tragic for leaders like CTA which already refugees in India instead of looking after their people and unite them, CTA add salt to the wound by separating them and stop them from getting the essential necessity such as hospital, buying groceries, schooling, even not allow to attend to Dalai Lama public teaching/talk if you are Shugden practitioners.

I really cannot understand how Sangay deliver his speech? probably by telling the audience what they don't is the way to democracy.

[Ngawang]

Lobsang Sangay is probably one of the worst person to give lecture about Tibetan democracy because there is no democracy in the Tibetan society at all. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is already a good example. His instructions are the law and there is no one that can have a different opinion than His Holiness. The Tibetans society has been like this since the 5th Dalai Lama's time. They lied to the whole world saying they are democracy body but in actuality, they are not.

[Tracy]

Lobsang Sangay is probably one of the worst person to give lecture about Tibetan democracy because there is no democracy in the Tibetan society at all. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is already a good example. His instructions are the law and there is no one that can have a different opinion than His Holiness. The Tibetans society has been like this since the 5th Dalai Lama's time. They lied to the whole world saying they are democracy body but in actuality, they are not.

I totally agree with you, Lobsang Sangay and the CTA claim that they are a democratic government but they are not. Look at how they have been segregating the Dorje Shugden followers. They disallow Dorje Shugden followers to attend the Dalai Lama's public talks, they disallow Dorje Shugden to receive medical attention in the public hospitals and they encourage Tibetans to be rude and be violent to Dorje Shugden followers.

How democratic is this if the CTA can take away the basic rights of a Tibetan just because they choose to believe in another faith? There is no religious freedom. This is also a human rights issue.

[DharmaDefender]

I cant roll my eyes enough at this crap. Does this hypocritical tw*t really think no one sees through his nonsense? the only reason why people dont say anything is because their too flippin polite!

Why in the world would he be qualified to talk about democracy when he clearly doesn’t adhere and respect the true essence of democracy is kind of ironic but Lobsang Sangay (shamelessly) delivered the 2018 Harold J. Berman Distinguished Lecture in Law and Religion at the prestigious Emory University in Atlanta. His talk which was entitled ‘The Tibetan People’s Transition to Secular Democracy’ is reflective of his warped up version of about Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan "democracy" and the "intermingling" of the two to explain the uniqueness of Tibetan "democracy".

For instance, in his talk, Lobsang Sangay associated Tibetan democracy with vague and misleading descriptions like “Tibetan democracy unique among others”; “democracy in itself is one of the most popular forms of governance for a long time, the concept is not without contradictions in the Tibetan context etc”. It is so obvious he still thinks he can cover up the fact that the so-called democratic nature of the exiled Tibetan leadership is a farce.

Anyone observing the policies, actions and behaviours of the Tibetan leadership especially the recent shady controversies, would see that they reflect nothing of a real democratic government. Yet he can still make claims like "CTA being efficient, most frugally ran government agencies etc" in the face of all the Tibetan leadership's monumental failures in delivering any of CTA’s promise to Tibetans or to improve the welfare of Tibetans and also all the explosive monetary and non-monetary scandals.

Then again, since they entered exile in 1959, the Tibetan leadership has taken very questionable actions that are nothing short of breaches of its own constitution. As if that is not bad enough, throughout time, it became more obvious that the Tibetan leadership blatantly with little hesitation, at their whims and fancies, override even the highest law governing the Tibetans in diaspora.

Anyway, for those who can stomach Lobsang Sangay’s twist on democracy:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3JzrV3OeKg