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Tibetan Parliament unanimously approves Samdhong Rinpoche's Kashag
Dharamsala September 19, 2001: On the first day of the 2nd Session of the 13th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies, the Deputies unanimously approved three Kalons (members of the Kashag, the highest executive body of the Tibetan Administration) as proposed by the new-elected Kalon Tripa, or Chairman of the Kashag, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.
Earlier this morning, new Kalon Tripa placed his candidates before the exile parliament for their approval as laid down by the new amendment in the Constitution. During the post lunch session of the Parliament, the three candidates were approved unanimously by the Assembly.
The three new Kalons are Mr. Thupten Lungrig, Speaker of the Tibetan parliament in exile, Mr. Lobsang Nyendak, Executive Director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy and Mr. Lobsang Nyima, former General Secretary of the Public Service Commission. The Chairman of the Kashag will announce their portfolios at a later date
This is the fallout of the recent elections of the Kalon Tripa. This is the first time in Tibetan history that the Tibetan people have directly elected a Tibetan to this important post.
The recent amendment to the election process was the result of initiative taken by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness the Dalai Lama made known his resolve to further democratise the exiled Tibetan Administration by conducting such an election in his annual March 10 Statement this year. Subsequently, in his address to the Tibetan Parliament, he presented a detailed outline of his proposal. This resulted in amendment of the existing law for the election of the Kalon Tripa and his Kashag. The amendment gave Kalon Tripa the right to elect not more than seven candidates to form his Cabinet, subject to their unanimous approval by the Parliament.
The swearing in ceremony of the new members before His Holiness the Dalai Lama will take place tomorrow.
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