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Stormy scenes forced parliament to adjourn

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Amdo representative Dolma Tsomo leaving the Tibetan parliament-in-exile meeting hall after the house was adjourned due to lack of quorum for a session on 19 September 2009, Dharamshala, India. A group of MPs staged a walkout yesterday over a motion demanding to scrap reimbursement of travelling expenses of MP Sonam Topgyal from Australia.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

In an unprecedented drama, the eighth session of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile ended without the usual business on the last day, and without formal concluding remarks by the Speaker, leaving the future looking bleak for the house.

The house saw acrimonious uproar over a reimbursement of travelling expenses motion proposed by Amdo representative Dolma Tsomo. The motion was supported by U-tsang member Dolma Tsering. Twelve other members also put their signatures supporting the motion to table.

The motion questioned the standing committee’s approval to reimburse the travelling expenses of Kham member Sonam Topgyal, who travelled from Australia to attend the eighth session of the parliament. Sonam moved to Australia earlier this year in a government programme to resettle former political prisoners to the country.

Sonam was a former political prisoner, and was elected as one of the 10 representatives from Kham to the parliament since the 11th parliament in 1991.

The motion suggested that there were no such rules to reimburse travelling expenses if a member to the parliament was first elected from India, Nepal or Bhutan, but later travelling from abroad.

Dolma Tsomo argued that members coming from other countries to attend parliament sessions in Dharamshala, have paid their own expenses in the past.

The standing committee accepted a request made by Sonam Topgyal for reimbursement of his travelling expenses, saying he moved to Australia in a government programme and that he is attending the eighth session of the parliament.

Acrimonious debate ensued after the motion was tabled yesterday.

Karma Choephel, who shared half the tenure of the Speaker’s post with the incumbent Penpa Tsering, announced the walkout after he rejected the motion.

He was followed by more members, mostly from Kham province and Khampas representing religious sects, which led to the adjournment of the house.

As the house assembled today at 10 a.m., the Speaker announced that due to lack of a quorum of two-third of the total strength of the house, he adjourned the house till 11.15 a.m. At least 28 members out of 43 total are required to fill the quorum for business in the house. Only 25 members were in attendance.

When the house gathered after the tea break, it was again attended by the 25 members. The Speaker adjourned the house further until after lunch.

The meeting at 1.30 p.m. saw an increase of two more members, making the attendance count 27, but the Speaker declared that there was no quorum to have a session, and adjourned the house indefinitely until further notice. The next session of the parliament will take place in March of 2010.

With a sense of optimism and hopefulness, Speaker Penpa Tsering said that there is still six more months before the next session.

“I am sure there will be more dialogue and openness, and probably amendment to the motion.”

He said it is important to be open to agree to disagree.

He, however, expressed disappointment over the stormy session, and the manner in which some MPs behaved.

MP Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok voiced a different view.

He said there wasn’t any business and the parliament was not able to conclude properly. “What is the guarantee that the members who walk out will return to the next session in March.”

“I think the current parliament should have been dissolved, and seek a fresh election.”

Tibetan-American Representative Tenzin Choedhen says that all the members will be present in March. “It may not be a good idea for MPs for their next elections if they didn’t return.”

“There are loopholes in the rules and therefore the whole issue needs more time to review before coming to any conclusion.”

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun