India: Tibetans in exile vote to elect new political leader

Tibet’s government-in-exile was formed in Dharamshala in 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule.

Tibet elections India
Exiled Tibetans vote in the first round to elect a new political leader and members of the Tibetan parliament in exile [Ashwini Bhatia/AP Photo]

Hundreds of Tibetans in exile have voted in India’s northern city of Dharamshala, where the exiled government is based, for their new political leader as the current officeholder’s five-year term nears its end.

The voters wore masks, maintained social distance and used hand sanitiser as they cast their ballots during the first round of the election on Sunday. Many assisted elderly voters to fill the correct forms.

In this first phase of voting, two candidates for the top government post of president will be shortlisted, including 90 parliamentarians. The second and final round of voting will take place in April.

“By this, we are sending a clear message to Beijing that Tibet is under occupation but Tibetans in exile are free. And given a chance, an opportunity, we prefer democracy,” said Lobsang Sangay, who will soon be finishing his second and final term as the Tibetan political leader.

“No matter what you do, the pride of Tibetans, the sense of Tibetans, is to be democratic and practice democracy.”

Formed in 1959, Tibet’s government-in-exile – now called the Central Tibetan Administration – has executive, judiciary and legislative branches, with candidates for the office of sikyong, or president, elected since 2011 by popular vote.

China says Tibet has historically been part of its territory since the mid-13th century, and the Communist Party of China has governed the Himalayan region since 1951.

But many Tibetans say that they were effectively independent for most of their history, and that the Chinese government wants to exploit their resource-rich region while crushing their cultural identity.

TIber electyions in India
An in exile Tibetan Buddhist monk rotates prayer wheels next to a path marked with circles for voters to ensure social distancing [AP Photo]

Exiled since 1950s

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetans’ exiled spiritual leader, and his followers have been living in Dharamshala since they fled Tibet after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

Many young Tibetans are contesting the parliamentary election this year. As the Dalai Lama grows older, there is a growing realisation among the Tibetan youth that they should participate more in the government.

“As somebody who has studied technology, I believe I can try and make the parliamentary communications more secure and fill the gaps in information database,” said Lobsang Sither, 38, who is contesting the current election.

Sither said the previous governments have largely focused on the Tibetan diaspora and not enough on Tibetans inside Tibet.

“That has to change. Unless we have reliable information on the situation inside Tibet, we cannot formulate policies to assist Tibetans there,” said Sither.

China does not recognise the Tibetan government-in-exile, and has not held any dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama since 2010. India considers Tibet as part of China, though it is hosting the Tibetan exiles.

Some Tibetan groups advocate independence for Tibet since little progress has been made in dialogue with China.

Source: News Agencies