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NDPT announces PM, MP nominees for 2011 elections

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

National Democratic Party of Tibet announces three nominees for the post of Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile) for the 2011 general election, in Mcleod Ganj, India, on 29 March 2010. The nominees from left are: Lobsang Sangay, Law Researcher at Harvard University; Tethong Tenzin Namgyal, former prime minister and a visiting professor at Stanford University and Tashi Wangdue a former minister and the current Tibetan Ambassador to France.File photos/Photographers unknown

Launching the hunt for the next Kalon Tripa or the Prime Minister (PM) of the Tibetans in exile, the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT) announced three nominees for the post. A list of 45 nominees for the position of member of parliament (MP) for the 2011 general elections was also announced Monday.

Chime Youngdung, the president of NDPT, released the names, which he said were finalised after its 3rd two-day General Body Meeting in Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Lobsang Sangay, Law Researcher at Harvard University; Tethong Tenzin Namgyal, a former prime minister and a visiting professor at Stanford University; and, Tashi Wangdue, a former minister and the current Tibetan Ambassador to France, are the three nominees for the PM’s post.

The list of 45 nominees for MP positions, 15 from each of the three traditional provinces of Tibet, will be finalised in mid April only after they accept two conditions — to help strengthen the democratic process and their acceptance to participate in activities of NDPT at various times and places.

Chime said that the nominees were proposed by 33 of the 44 regional chapters of the party, and are judged upon their ability and commitment to work for the Tibetan cause, rather than their political views, for example whether they work for independence or autonomy for Tibet.

NDPT, the only political party in the exile Tibetan Diaspora, was founded 16 years ago. It’s own mission is the restoration of Tibet’s independence.

Among the three nominees for the post of PM, Tashi Wangdue had announced his intention to withdraw from running for the post after he was nominated on a website promoting the 2011 PM elections.

Since democratic election for the position of the exile PM was introduced in 2001, Samdhong Rinpoche has been elected twice. His current second five-year term will end in August 2011.

Preliminary voting for the MPs is likely to take place in November/December with the final in February/March. Preliminary voting for the PM’s position could take place on the same day as that of the MP’s final vote in February/March next year, while the final round must be held within 120 days of that.

Exiled Tibetans above the age of 18 are eligible to vote, provided they pay tax to the exile government.

President Chime said that unlike in the past, NDPT will carry out better organised and bigger campaigns for their nominees to win in the elections.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun