Dharamshala — Dr Lobsang Sangay was sworn-in for the second time as the Sikyong of the Tibetan in-exile government in presence of His Holiness Dalai Lama, thousand of Tibetans and Tibetan-supporters in the oath- taking ceremony Friday, May 27, at the main temple in Dharamshala, India.
The ceremony was attended by thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters including Shri R K Khrimey, MLA and Advisor to the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mr Kargyu Dhondup, the Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission administered the oath of office to the Sikyong elect. It was followed by congratulatory greetings by the two justice commissioners and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in-Exile.
In his inaugural speech, Sikyong of the 15th Kashag (Cabinet), swore to continue the many tasks started by the 14th Kashag based on the founding principles of Unity, Innovation and Self-reliance, and proposed the strategy of five-fifty for the resolution of the issue of Tibet.
He began with expressing gratitude to his Holiness Dalai Lama. "Today, on this occasion of my swearing-in for the second term of Sikyong, we are all blessed with the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama gracing the ceremony as the Chief Guest. With many prostrations, I express my eternal gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for accepting our humble request. His Holiness has assured us of his long and healthy life. The Kashag pledges to strive fully in realizing the aspirations of the Tibetan people in his lifetime" he said.
He further extended his gratitude towards all the Tibetans in exile and swore to serve them to his fullest capacity for the common aspiration that provincially, regionally and religiously diverse Tibetans yearn for.
In the wake of the immoral behavior and misconducts of the candidates during the election campaign, Sikyong apologized on behalf of all saying "In the recent election of the Sikyong and Chithue [MPs], there have been a series of unfortunate events that went counter to the Tibetan tradition of humility and good conduct. This has greatly saddened and disappointed His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We ceaselessly beg His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his forgiveness. We all firmly pledge not to repeat these misconducts in future. Likewise, I strongly urge all Tibetans to avoid divisive affiliations and stand strong in unity and harmony". He also ensured of reforms in the rules and regulations related to elections with the consultations of Election Commission of CTA.
Addressing His Holiness's concern, Sikyong further informed about the setting up of two committees for finding the loopholes and reasons for the weak welfare and health care system for the poor Tibetans in exile community.
He also warned the Dholgyal followers against calumniating His Holiness the Dalai Lama by their baseless allegations and expressed the 15th Kashag's commitment to confront these matters.
Sikyong acknowledged and expressed his appreciation for the patriotic fervor as delineated by the self-immolators calling it as "supreme sacrifices". "Their sacrifices will not go in vain. I stand in solidarity with and express my sincere appreciation for the patriotic fervour that continues to burn in Tibet in all Tibetan hearts particularly the monastics, the scholars and writers, the teachers and students, the singers, the farmers and the nomads. In order to exercise the right to administer internal affairs and be the masters of our own areas, I urge the youths in Tibet to put maximum efforts in their studies" he said.
For the resolution of the Tibetan issue, the Sikyong outlined the strategy of five-fifty on the lines of The Middle Way Policy. Explaining the strategy, he said "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has time and again advised us to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Therefore, I had proposed the strategy of five-fifty. In the next five years, it is clear that we must put maximum efforts in achieving genuine autonomy for all Tibetans based on the Middle Way Approach. However, in case, we have to continue our struggle for many years, we need to strategize in order to strengthen and sustain our cause for the next 50 years."
While speaking about preservation of Tibetan culture and national identity, Sikyong said: "We have to protect and preserve our unique Tibetan identity and tradition. We need to build self-reliance in the Tibetan world, in both education and economy. Five-Fifty is a strategy for success. In five years we can achieve genuine autonomy or in the next fifty years China will gradually change for the better. Either way we will gain basic freedom."
He concluded his speech by thanking the state and central government of India, "the governments, the parliamentarians, the organizations and the individuals who have stood with Tibet" and His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his blessings and guidance.
Speaking to the gathering for the swearing-in of Sikyong, His Holiness urged Tibetans inside and outside Tibet to remain united, telling them that they must avoid the schism that is declining moral ethics.
"If you really consider me as your friend, then please be united irrespective of your region or religious lineage," he told a crowd of over 2,000 Tibetans and supporters.
The ceremony concluded with a cultural performance by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.
