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Droves of Tibetans turn out for preliminary elections

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Exile Tibetans cast their votes in preliminary round of voting to elect the successor of Prime Minster Samdhong Rinpoche and the members of the 15th Tibetan parliament-in-exile, in Mcleod Ganj, India, on 3 October 2010.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Flourishing their green books, exile Tibetans jostled in queue on Sunday to cast their ballots to shortlist candidates for Kalon Tripa or Prime Minister and members of parliament of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

The exiles will participate in two rounds of elections to choose their leaders. These preliminary elections will nominate candidates for the prime minister, and members of parliament of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The final vote for the short-listed candidates will be held on 20 March next year.

The voting station in Mcleod Ganj was open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The large number of voters at the Tsugla Khang temple in Mcleod Ganj, overwhelmed the facilities, with the local police providing security.

Sunday’s vote is the third direct election of the prime minister since election for this highest post of the exiles was introduced in 2001. The election will also decide the members of the 15th parliament, now numbering 47.

Jamphel Choesang, the Chief Election Commissioner, said that the results for this preliminary election are expected to be out in mid-November. The results will be compiled after data is received from 56 different locations, in India, Nepal and Bhutan, and Europe, North America, and Australia.

In the case of the prime minister, a maximum of six and minimum of two candidates will be short-listed from this preliminary election for the final round of voting. Twenty candidates will be short-listed for the final election for members of parliament.

The incumbent prime minister Samdhong Rinpoche, serving his second term, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

Dabey, a new-arrival Tibetan refugee, who participated in the exile elections for the first time since coming in to exile in 2009, said, “I saw and experienced that there is genuine democracy, as we are electing our leaders directly.”

He said, however, that he was not sure how well democracy is understood and exercised by the people.

The huge number of voters may have been due to three main influences — two positive and one negative — Dabey said.

“People’s willingness to participate in democracy and the good campaigning for elections could be the two positive reasons. The provincial mentality of trying to put a candidate from person’s own region could be the third reason, which is a negative one,” he said.

Lobsang Choejor, another new-arrival scholar, said, “I have come to vote by holding the Tibetan movement to my heart as it is passing through a crucial period, and secondly, I have come to exercise my democratic right.”

Palden Gyatso, a former political prisoner, said that he is hoping to have an honest, unbiased, and educated new prime minister. “He/She should be able to take the responsibilities to run a nation.”

A few people were barred from voting as they had not registered to vote. The number of people who have not registered is reportedly high, particularly among the youth. Chief Election Commissioner Choesang said that although enough time had been given for people to register, those who have not registered may still get a chance to vote in the final elections, as eligible voters will have a new date to register.

All exile Tibetans over the age of 18 are eligible to vote. According to the Election Commission 79,449 people have registered to vote. In the last general elections in 2006, 72,771 people registered to vote, but the number who actually voted remained less than 50 percent of those registered. The official figure of the exile Tibetan population is about 150,000.

The Tibetan parliament-in-exile has 47 members. Three traditional provinces of Tibet — Amdo, Kham and Utsang — elect 10 members each, including two women members for each province. The four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith elect two members each. Tibetans in Europe and North America elect two members each.

Voters likely will put more youth in parliament this election as the youth have been actively engaged in campaigning — using the internet, mobile phone services including sms, posters and banners, and debates and conferences — for the next prime minister and the 15th parliament.

Tibetans attach much importance to the next leadership considering the age of the Dalai Lama, now 75.

As many as 17 names have been suggested for the post of Kalon Tripa through a privately-initiated website . Some of the top contenders for the prime minister’s post include Lobsang Sangay, senior fellow at Harvard Law School, Tenzin Namgyal Tethong, a former prime minister, Penpa Tsering, Speaker, and Dolma Gyari, Deputy Speaker.

Two former Tibetan Youth Congress Presidents, Tseten Norbu and Kalsang Phuntsok, have also entered the race for prime minister.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun