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NATION JUNE 11, 2021 | The Indian Eye 8

Tibetans elect a new leader

who faces challenge of an ageing

Dalai lama and a rising china

Penpa Tsering assumes office after Dr Lobsang Sangay’s term come to an end

s GOpal puri

Dharamshala (HP)
n May, around 1,50,000
Tibetans scattered across
Ithe globe who are living in
exile with their spiritual lead-
er Dalai Lama elected Penpa
Tsering (53) as their new polit-
ical representative to pursue Ti-
betan cause against a powerful
country like China. Tsering now
heads the Central Tibetan Ad-
ministration (CTA) as its presi-
dent.
Penpa Tsering is assuming
office in crucial times, when the
Dalai Lama is approaching the
age of 86 years and China is on
the rise. The first challenge be-
fore Tsering is to restore talks
with Beijing. Talks have not tak-
en place since 2010. The other
major challenge is to build alli- Newly appointed Sikyong, Tibetan government in exile Penpa Tsering,
ances with India, US and other and outgoing President Dr. Lobsang Sangay seek blessings from Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama through
major countries. virtual mode, at Songtsen Hall, TSJC, in Dharamshala on Thursday. (ANI)
The term of former presi-
dent Lobsang Sangay ended on Senate, calls for the establish- annual budget of CTA which is influence from the Dalai Lama
May 26 and the newly elected ment of a US consulate in Ti- above US $ 40 million, the 3000– only as he is the only source of
leader (Sikyong) Penpa Tsering bet’s main city of Lhasa and 4000 Tibetans who work for the inspiration for them.
took oath on May 27. underlines the absolute right of administration, and around 70 Penpa Tsering, president of
Harvard scholar Lobsang Tibetans to choose a successor schools, 20 businesses and 46 Central Tibetan Administration
Sangay had assumed the office to the Dalai Lama. settlements in India, Nepal and (CTA) in his inaugural address
of CTA as president in 2011. It is to be noted that only Bhutan. said: “We are very fortunate to
His major achievements include 2% of Tibetans are living in ex- With global politics influx be blessed by the virtual pres-
securing US$9 million and a ile while around 6 million are and rise of China as a super- ence of His Holiness the Dalai
US$23 million grant from the still in Tibet under the Chinese power, the newly elected Tibet- Lama at the inaugural function
US Congress to support the control. The only woman in the an head is assuming the office this morning. It is of utmost im-
exile community. Apart from race for this post of president in very crucial times. Given Chi- portance that all of us Tibetans
this he has travelled extensive- of CTA, Dolma Gyari, came na’s global stature and old age abide by the guidance of His
ly to the western countries and third. The other two remaining of the Dalai Lama, it would not Holiness and the Executive will
during his tenure US congress contenders were Penpa Tsering, be easy for Tibetan leadership make every effort to make sure
had passed two major legisla- former speaker of the exile as- in exile to muster the diminish- that we follow and act in accor-
tions in support of Tibet. The sembly and Kelsang Dorjee Au- ing support from India and oth- dance with the path shown by
important one was Tibetan katsang, who was the special ad- er western countries. Even after His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Policy and Support Act of 2020 viser to leader Lobsang Sangay. a decade, the political leaders in To begin with, I pay my respect
(TPSA), was passed by the US Tsering will now manage the exile are still deriving power of Continued on next page... >>

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