Page 23 - The Indian EYE 010821

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JANUARY 08, 2021 | The Indian Eye 23

>> Continued from previous page... to vote in the 2011 election, of impact of COVID-19 related Support Act 2020, was passed in
uty Speaker; Lobsang Nyandak, whom 48,482 voted, and 90,877 restrictions on public balloting the U.S. Congress. Reached for
former minister based in New registered for the election in held in the many countries in comment by Radio Free Asia,
York; Tashi Wangdu, former 2016, of whom 59,853 turned Europe, North America, India, current CTA president Sikyo-
CEO (Federation of Tibetan out to vote. and elsewhere in Asia where ng Lobsang Sangay welcomed
Cooperative Societies, Banga- The number of Tibetan exiles Tibetans have made their home U.S. acknowledgement of the
lore); and Tashi Topgyal who is registering to vote has climbed after fleeing China’s rule. Central Tibetan Administration
based in Shillong. in recent years, but some have These elections are being and its leaders, calling the move
The 2021 elections will be voiced concern over the possible held after the Tibetan Policy and a “significant signal to Beijing,”
held to elect the president and which had strongly objected to
45 members of the TPiE. Ac- a Nov. 20 visit by Sangay to the
cording to the CTA’s Election White House to meet with ad-
Commission, nearly 80,000 Ti- ministration officials.
betans living outside Tibet have Kashag (Cabinet) is Cen-
registered for voting so far, in- tral Tibetan Administration’s
cluding roughly 56,000 living highest executive office and
in India and 24,000 in other comprise seven members. It is
countries. One last round of headed by the Sikyong (political
registration is pending, and any leader) who is directly elected
Tibetan aged above 18 as per by the exiled Tibetan popu-
one’s identity document called lation. Sikyong, subsequently
Tibetan Green Book is eligible nominates his seven Kalons
to vote following registration. (ministers) and seeks the parlia-
Only Tibetans living outside ment’s approval. The Kashag’s
the subcontinent will elect their term is for five years.
MPs based on their current geo- It was On March 14, 2011,
graphic location. Besides MPs, the Dalai Lama devolved his po-
voters will make their choice of litical leadership and the Char-
the President as well. ter was amended. The political
The Tibetan diaspora is esti- leadership was transferred to
mated to include about 150,000 Kalon Tripa who was called Si-
people living in 40 countries. kyong or president of the Cen-
Among these, 82,818 registered tral Tibetan Administration.

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