Dharamshala — Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) commences its 5th session of the 17th TPiE on Wednesday and Speaker urged the diasporic Tibetans to appropriately utilise the opportunities of the changing circumstances of international politics and China’s domestic politics which could have a potential impact on resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict.
The fifth session (budget session) of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for the fiscal year 2023-2024, commenced on Wednesday, March 15,2023, in the TPiE Hall, Gankyi, Dharamshala, and is scheduled to be held from March 15 to 25, 2023.
The fifth session is presided over by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering, in the presence of Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the Kalons, the members of the 17th Parliament and the secretaries of the various departments.
Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, in his opening speech presented the agenda of the session, which includes a formal motion on the critical situation in Tibet, presentation of the budget by the Kalon of Finance, presentation of the detailed budget report by the President of the Budget Estimating Committee and others.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, emphasized the importance of unity and harmony among the three provinces to realize the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to advance the just cause of Tibet. He referred to the human rights violations and other restrictions that still exist in Tibet.
Furthermore, while recalling the repression in Tibet, the Speaker urged the diasporic Tibetans to appropriately utilise the opportunities of the changing circumstances of international politics and China’s domestic politics which could have a potential impact on resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict.
The Speaker also acknowledged the growing support for the Tibetan cause from the government, MPs, NGOs and individuals over the years. He further mentioned the significant legislatures on Tibet such as the formation of the Mexican Parliamentary Tibet Support Group, the Inter-parliamentary Group for Tibet in the Spanish Senate, the introduction of a bicameral Tibet bill in the US legislature, along with the endorsement of Tibet’s Middle Way Approach in Canadian House of Commons and successive resolutions on Tibet passed in the UNHRC. Speaker lauded the efforts made by every partaker while imploring a continued and determined effort.
The official motion on the solidarity on the critical situations inside Tibet was tabled by Parliamentarian Khenpo Kada Ngedup Sonam, and supported by Parliamentarian Phurpa Dorjee Gyaldhong. The seven-point official motion on solidarity on the critical situations inside Tibet applauds the courageous Tibetans who have sacrificed their precious lives for the cause of Tibet, calls for the discontinuation of the CCP’s brutal and destructive policies, and the release of all political prisoners including the 11th Panchen Lama.
It further calls for dialogue between Tibetan and Chinese counterparts and extends gratitude to nations, governments, parliaments, organizations, and individuals, especially India and its people, for supporting the just cause of Tibet.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Finance Kalon of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), presented the 2023-24 Budget of the Central Tibetan Administration proposing an amount of Rs. 3034.01 million.
Followed by Parliamentarian Youdon Aukatsang, the Chairman of the Budget Estimate Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, presented the Précis report of the Committee.
Source: TPiE
