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Photo : TPiE

The fourth session, the general session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) was held for ten days from September 7 – 16 in Dharamshala, presided over by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering and attended by Sikyong (President) Penpa Tsering, Kalons (Ministers), members of the 17th Parliament and the Secretaries of the departments of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).The general session saw the Kalons of the each department of the CTA presenting their annual reports for 2021- 2022, followed by discussion and questioning by the members. “The present members here are formally nominated by the people, therefore, are entrusted with a moral responsibility to defend public’s confidence and trust”, said the Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel in his opening remarks.

On September 10, the fourth day of the session, the House paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch, with an obituary. On the same day, Sikyong Penpa Tsering proposed amendments to article 63 of the Charter of Tibetans in exile, the Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. Some members of parliament brought up the issue of the 16th parliament’s resolution that impeached all Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice, and which led to a deadlock last year. Two parliamentarians called the incumbent Justice Commissioners ineligible to hold the post. Members, led by Dawa Phunkyi and Dawa Tsering, objected to their statements on the Justice Commissioners and walked out of the session, followed by other members. With no two-third minimum attendance of the members present, the session was halted for two and half days. The differences were resolved through an internal meeting with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and the session resumed on September 13; the disputed issue was not mentioned again.

On the final day of the session, Kalon Norzin Dolma, Minister of the Department of International Relation and Information (DIIR) was applauded for the overall working of the department following her presentation of the report, however the parliamentarians stressed the need for lobbying in support of the bill recently introduced in the United States Congress, Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act.

An official resolution to extend gratitude to India and its people was also passed, particularly noting the work of the Central Tibetan School Administration (CTSA) educating Tibetan children in India over many years, while preserving and promoting Tibet’s culture and heritage. Currently, all schools under the CTSA have been transferred to the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS) which is administered by the CTA’s Department of Education (DoE) – the schools were previously administered by the Government of India’s Ministry of Education.

Photo : TPiE

A resolution was tabled by parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, regarding the continued operation of the Gang Jong Development Finance Private Limited (GDP) which was praised by the GDP Review Committee (committee of parliamentarians) for their detailed research on financial scope and risks faced. An amendment to the resolution was suggested by Sikyong Penpa Tsering recommending the GDP to run as an independent company, autonomous from the direct control and supervision of the CTA. The resolution passed by a majority and will appoint committee of five, consisting of three parliamentarians appointed by the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, and two members appointed by the administration. The committee will work on the transition of GDP to an autonomous company and submit a report on its future course of action to the fifth session of the parliament.

According to tibet.net, the official website of the CTA, GDP is an initiative under the CTA’s Department of Finance, established in 2015 as a for-profit enterprise with an aim to boost the economy of the Tibetan exile community and enable it to become self-reliant. It was registered as for-profit in 2017 and then certified by the Reserve Bank of India in 2018 as a Non-Banking Finance Company (Non-Deposit Taking).

In the closing speech, the Speaker stressed the need to draw attention to the issue of Tibet on global platforms, using opportunities arising from China’s current changing dynamic, and the importance of unity among Tibetans in strengthening the common cause of Tibet.