Dicki Chhoyang, the minister of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration, at the Fifth Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19 February 2013. File photo/EPA/MAXPPP/Jean-Christophe Bott
By Lobsang Wangyal
DELHI, India, 28 February 2016
Minister for the Department of Information and International Relations for the Central Tibetan Administration, Dicki Chhoyang, has resigned from her post, a few months before her term ends.
She wrote in her press statement at CTA headquarters in Dharamshala: “With a sad heart, I resigned today as Kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations for the Central Tibetan Administration.”
“My decision was made with careful deliberation, bearing in mind our collective interest and the significant challenges that lie ahead. It has been a tremendous honour to serve the Tibetan people as Kalon.”
She refused to take any questions from the journalists, but said more details will come in due course of time.
Her resignation fuelled much speculation at a time when the Tibetan election for Sikyong (Prime Minster) 2016, in three weeks on 20 March, is already rife with controversies.
Incumbent Sikyong Lobsang Sangay and his contender Penpa Tsering are the two candidates in competition for the coveted post.
Dicki Chhoyang was under tremendous pressure to resign due to poor leadership qualities exhibited by the current Sikyong, Lobsang Sangay. These can be truly reflected through his speeches and behaviour too. When he says he did this or he did that, he’s taking every credit for the good works done by everyone collectively.
I truly admire her dedication and she did the right thing, not only to educate him but also to the general Tibetan public, by outlining the nine leadership qualities which the candidates standing for the final Sikyong position must possess, at least to a larger extent.
And by openly supporting Chithue Speaker, Penpa Tsering, humiliates Lobsang Sangay for failing to lead the CTA towards the cause of Tibet, in true sense!
I feel that this is treating her resignation like a personal family matter. If she had felt it was not convincing to witness the current working procedures of cabinet, she should have divulged this ostensibly on the table at the right time, for the interests of the government and the people. Just think what people’s reaction would be if she resigned with some sceptical reasons coinciding with an on-going election campaign of two competitive syikongs.
Her resignation indicates that there is a problem in Kashag. It must be a serious problem. Too bad that Dicki Chhoyang didn’t come out with clear information. I don’t understand why she’s creating suspense.
It’s bad timing as she’s left only a few months and the elections just a few weeks away; she must have a valid reason to resign. But please clarify the reasons soon. It’s bad politics from the way she just leaves like that.
Dicky la certainly has some reasons to tender her resignation all of sudden. Let’s wait for a while and see what she is going to do in the coming days. It is useless jumping to conclusions without giving her sufficient time to explain her side of the story.
Many Tibetans living outside Dharamshala have very little knowledge of her, and I only hope that dedicated members of the exile goverment should continue to serve our people as long as they are in a position to do so. The CTA should create a conducive atmosphere to retain them, as losing educated, hard-working, and sincere manpower would be a great loss to our people and cause.
In his statement at the press conference, Lobsang Senge asserts that Dicki Chhoyang came to his home to inform him of her resignation. This is very intriguing, because she works for the government and by all means it should have been done at the office. If she is a secretary to a private sector or entity run by Lobsang then she is maybe entitled? What is your thought? What do others speculate?
It is only wise to know the facts and not gather public thoughts or assumptions.