Next election - Are exile Tibetan Shugdenpas allowed to vote?

[dsnowlion]

A quick glance on how the next exile Tbetan's election is going to take place. There are some new rules and changes and it looks like Penpa is going to challenge Sangay again in trying to take on the President's seat. We'll be seeing more drama as it gets warmer.

The current Cabinet will complete their term by end of April 2021. Question is: Will Tibetan Shugdenpas be allowed to participate and vote? What is the point in having a new leader/cabinet that is just as crooked if not worse than the current one? 

Tibetan mood warming up for 2021 elections

With one year to go for the next Tibetan general elections, interest is warming up as promotional materials are already being seen on social media.

The current 15th Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration led by Lobsang Sangay will complete its term in the end of April 2021.

Sangay won the 2016 elections over his rival Penpa Tsering by a margin of 9,012 votes, or 15% of the total 59,353 votes cast by Tibetans at 85 locations around the world.

Wangdu Tsering, the Chief Election Commissioner of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), told Tibet Sun that the dates for the next elections are not yet fixed. According to election rules, the first round will have to be held by November 2020.

“There’s a certain procedure. Two additional commissioners will be appointed, after which the election process will be decided,” Tsering said.

He explained that a few amendments have been made to the election process in electing both the CTA President and the members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. The most important change is that no campaigning for any candidate will be allowed by any associations or NGOs.

Another major change is the shortened campaigning time from six to three months between the preliminary and the final rounds of voting.

In the case of the post of president, there’s a big change in the rule, that if a candidate secures more than 60% of the votes in the preliminary round, that person will be declared elected, without having to hold a final round of election.

Should a final round be required, the Election Commission could propose from six to two candidates as the final candidates.

As a democratic system, Tibetans in exile who are 18 years and older can exercise the suffrage. Let's see if Shugden people are allowed to vote as they claim to be "democratic"? They elect the CTA President, as well as the 45 members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. Tibetans in India, Nepal, and Bhutan choose 10 members each from their respective province: Amdo, Kham, or U-Tsang. Out of ten seats in each province, two seats each are reserved for women.

Monks and nuns, in addition to the provincial elections, choose two representatives from their respective religious schools: Bon, Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, or Sakya. Residents of Australasia (excluding India, Nepal, and Bhutan) elect one, and Tibetans in Europe and North America elect two representatives each.

It is widely expected that the main contest for the post of president will be between Penpa Tsering, former Speaker of Parliament and former Representative of the Dalai Lama to Washington DC; and Gyari Dolma, former member of Parliament and former Minister of Home, CTA.

The newly-elected head of CTA and members of Parliament will take their oaths of office at the end of May 2021.

Source: https://www.tibetsun.com/news/2019/12/12/tibetan-mood-warming-up-for-2021-elections[/b][/size]

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[Tracy]

If the CTA really exercise democracy, they will lift the Dorje Shugden ban immediately, they don't have to wait until the next election. It does not matter if the Shugdenpas are allowed to vote or not, as long as the ban is still imposed, Shugdenpas will still be discriminated against. Until today, there is still no Tibetan who dares to voice out on Dorje Shugden issue and demands justice for Shugdenpas. The Tibetans have to realise the ban does not bring any benefit to the community and do something about it. Otherwise, they will still be the same as 60 years ago.

[Drolma]

Dorje Shugden ban does not make sense at all. It does not bring benefits to the Tibetan community but it is breaking the already small Tibetan community apart. Without harmony and unity, it is hard for the Tibetans to move on or progress. That is why after 60 years, the Tibetans are still struggling in India. They are not sure what will happen to them, whether they will be able to free Tibet or if they will remain as refugees for the rest of their lives. If the Tibetans are clever, they should know it is impossible to free Tibet as China is getting stronger everyday. They should really consider to go back to Tibet. After all, Tibet is where they belong to.

[dsnowlion]

If the CTA really exercise democracy, they will lift the Dorje Shugden ban immediately, they don't have to wait until the next election. It does not matter if the Shugdenpas are allowed to vote or not, as long as the ban is still imposed, Shugdenpas will still be discriminated against. Until today, there is still no Tibetan who dares to voice out on Dorje Shugden issue and demands justice for Shugdenpas. The Tibetans have to realise the ban does not bring any benefit to the community and do something about it. Otherwise, they will still be the same as 60 years ago.

Let's see if there will be a change. I am afraid things will not be the same for CTA as China and India's relationship grows stronger by the day. Not so good news for CTA. "As the only two major developing countries with a population of over one billion and two important emerging economies, China-India relations transcend the bilateral dimension and assume global and strategic significance," the envoy said.

Positive effects of 2nd Modi-Xi informal summit are showing

NEW DELHI: China has said that positive effects of the secon

NEW DELHI: China has said that positive effects of the second informal summit between President Xi Jinping (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Xi-Jinping) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Narendra-Modi) are gradually showing and it is keen to promote defence and security cooperation with India for regional peace and stability.

Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong, in a interview to PTI, also said that discussions were under way between the two sides to operationalise a high-level economic and trade dialogue mechanism to further boost bilateral trade and investment as decided by Modi and Xi.

The envoy said China understands and respects India's decision on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and is willing to work with all stakeholders to resolve the issues raised by New Delhi.

On Kashmir, the envoy said China's position on the issue is "consistent and clear" and added that development is "out of question" without a peaceful and stable environment.

"The positive effects of the second informal summit between Chinese and Indian leaders are gradually showing, and the bilateral relations are enjoying sound and steady development," Sun said.

Military sources said there has been greater coordination between militaries of the two countries along the nearly 3,500 km border in the last few months.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit India later this month to hold boundary talks and review implementation of key decisions taken at the Modi-Xi informal summit (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Modi-Xi-informal-summit) in Mamallapuram in October.

The significant outcome of the second informal summit included setting up of a new high-level mechanism to boost trade and investment, enhance defence and security cooperation and work on additional confidence building measures.

"As the only two major developing countries with a population of over one billion and two important emerging economies, China-India relations transcend the bilateral dimension and assume global and strategic significance," the envoy said.

"Both China and India have their own dreams of becoming a great nation. China is on track to achieve the 'two centenary goals', while India puts forward the vision of building a 'new India'," he said.

Sun said both the countries should see their respective development and growth as important opportunities for each other and help to "light up". "It will not only inject strong impetus into the respective developments of the two countries, but also add stability and positive energy to the world."

Referring to Kashmir, he said China maintains that all parties should resolve differences peacefully through dialogue and avoid any "unilateral actions" that may "complicate" the situation.

"China is willing to work with all parties including India to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, promote win-win cooperation in the region and make positive contributions to regional development and security," he added.

Referring to the ongoing joint military exercise between the armies of the two nations, he said:"China is willing to promote defence and security cooperation with India to enhance mutual understanding and trust."

On the Modi-Xi summit in Mamallapuram (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Modi-Xi-summit-in-Mamallapuram), he said it yielded fruitful outcomes, including the establishment of a high-level economic and trade dialogue mechanism.

"It shows that China attaches great importance to the development of China-India economic and trade relations. It is also a positive step taken by China to ease trade imbalance between the two countries and strengthen practical cooperation in trade and investment," he said.

About the boundary issue, Sun said the special representatives of China and India will continue talks based on political parameters and guiding principles reached in 2005 with an aim to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.

"Prior to this, the two sides will continue to properly handle and manage border related incidents through a multi-tiered mechanism, jointly maintain peace and tranquility in border areas, and continue to promote more confidence-building measures," he said.

The two sides have already held over 20 rounds of talks under the framework of SR (special representatives) dialogue which was set up to find an early solution to the border dispute.

The India-China border dispute (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/India-China-border-dispute) covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Asked about India pulling out of RCEP, the envoy said, "We understand and respect India's decision on RCEP."

"RCEP is open, and China is willing to work with all parties, in the spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation, to continue consultations and resolve the concerned issues with India," he said.

After years of negotiations, India last month withdrew from the proposed RCEP over unresolved "core concerns" , saying the proposed pact in its current form would have adverse impact on lives and livelihoods of all Indians.

A number of RCEP member countries including Japan and Indonesia have given clear indications that efforts were on to make India join the mega trade deal which is likely to be signed in February.

The negotiations for the proposed free-trade agreement included 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and six of the bloc's dialogue partners -- China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/positive-effects-of-2nd-modi-xi-informal-summit-are-showing-china/articleshow/72680913.cms

[Ngawang]

I do not think CTA will allow the Shugdenpas to participate in the election. Shugdenpas had been discriminated for over 20 years and there is still no sign of improvement anytime soon. They are not allowed to do governmental jobs, attend public schools and even to be admitted into the public hospitals. Since CTA had denied them of their basic human rights and needs, what make you think that the CTA will give them a chance to choose the new leader in their country.

[dsnowlion]

I do not think CTA will allow the Shugdenpas to participate in the election. Shugdenpas had been discriminated for over 20 years and there is still no sign of improvement anytime soon. They are not allowed to do governmental jobs, attend public schools and even to be admitted into the public hospitals. Since CTA had denied them of their basic human rights and needs, what make you think that the CTA will give them a chance to choose the new leader in their country.

Then that is indeed very said and a FAILURE & FAULT in their democracy. They had better do something about this and not undermine what they cherish = democracy.

Like what one Tibetan said in the comment to the news that finally Sangay and gang has decided to apologise and agreed to pay Penpa's lawyer before they "lose their eligibility to run for office and their voting rights" as warned by the Supreme Court. https://www.tibetsun.com/news/2019/12/27/exile-tibetan-cabinet-offers-apology-to-penpa-tsering-in-case-no-20

Victory to rule of law.
Supremacy of Justice Commissions is very important for any normal society.
Justice Commissioners: utmost gratitude for protecting the institution and there by our nascent democracy.
Congratulations.

Fellow Tibetans: Love your nation. Elect right people to right office.

My respect to all the civil servants of our government, but not to political appointee playing partisan politics like North American Representative Ngodup Tsering always chasing photo opportunities or Australian Representative Lhakpa Tsoko stirring unnecessary trouble in community instead of playing the role of unifier.