Dhardon Sharling poses for a photo at her desk on the second day of her term as Information Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration, in Dharamshala, India, on 5 October 2016. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
MCLEOD GANJ, India, 5 October 2016
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay has appointed Dhardon Sharling as the new Information Secretary of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Sharling’s first appointment, as a minister, was voted out by a majority of the members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile at the end of September.
In June, when Sikyong Sangay had proposed her as minister, the Parliament approved the appointment, but it was later found that she didn’t fulfil the age requirement. Sikyong then withdrew her from his cabinet after the Parliament questioned her age.
The exile Tibetan Charter requires a person to be 35 years of age to be appointed as a minister.
Speaking to Tibet Sun about her current appointment as Secretary, Dhardon said, “I got a phone call from Kashag on the 26th of September asking if I would like to serve DIIR. I have been mentally prepared to do that for the last couple of months, and immediately said yes. On 30 October, I was given the appointment letter to serve as Information Secretary.”
“It is giving me a platform to hone the skills that I already have developed over the years — my experiences and expertise.”
Asked about her priorities as Secretary, Dhardon said, “Good communication strategy, how you win supporters, and how you make people who are hesitant about touching the Tibetan issue to hold it up with a badge of honour. Secondly, dialogue with China.”
With regard to the issue of her age in the previous appointment, she said it was an oversight. “My conscience is clear. I know what really happened. If I have intentionally done that, I am the kind of person who would admit to it and apologise. But I still to this date stand by what I said on June 3rd that it was unintentional. It was a sheer oversight.”
Sincère congratulations on this appointment ! According to all her previous dédicacions to the cause of Tibet, she really deserves it. She is the right person for the right job. We could see several workshops such “Youth empowerment” and “women’s Leadership training” etc. They are excellent and Tibet need such a competent and effective officials.
Moreover Ex MP Sharling Dhadon la was élected by more than 16000 U-Tsang voters so we have to respect public opinion in a true Democracy. His Holiness the Dalaï Lama always encouraged the women to have the equal opportunity than the men. As we are all conscious that our country needs our solidarity and never forget those who sacrified their lives, our sens of gratitude for their sacrifice. We just have no Time to waste since HH is already 81 years old.
Free Tibet Bögyallo !!!
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Taking all these recent surprises into consideration, sometimes you wished the other candidate had won the election. It got bit boring with all the usual suspects at the helm.
I wish Tibetan media does an investigative reporting on such issues rather than merely reporting. When Tibetan media fails to report to clarify matters social
Media conspiracy theories become sources.
How come Sikyong and Dhardon did not know age requirements for kalon positions? If it was an oversight or negligence then where’s the apology? If deliberate then parliament has not done anything. Can Sikyong appoint a secretary of a department that is usually considered as a bureaucrat position? Is it morally correct?
Media should ask these questions especially independent media if we want peace in community and not let gossip over taken harmony.
I wonder how much guts is required to sit on this DIIR chair and face the media even after all those events occurred.
It looks like the person before has used my identity to comment as there is no other Tashi Wangchuk than me in our area. Thank you K Tashi la, Bay Area for bringing this to my attention.
Tashi Wangchuk
VOA, VA
During the election, the majority of Tibetan civil servants, many of those who spent their entire lives in the service of the CTA opted Lobsang Sangay out. It is perhaps an unusual thing to occur when the people you led denounce your leadership. So many palatable reasons surfaced for such disappointing election result from Gangyki, and regardless of whether those reasons were true or not, one thing for sure was that CTA staff weren’t happy with Sikyong Lobsang Sangay.
LS recent appointment of Sharling Dadon to Secretarial post is another blow to the dedicated staffs of CTA. LS chose to pull those who were rejected by the general populace. Karma Yeshi who was thrown out by U-Tsang people is now Paljor Kalon. Choekyong Wangchuk who was rejected by Dotoe people is now Health Kalon. Sharling, who lost the Kalon seat with overwhelming votes against her by Chitues is now DIIR secretary.
Sikyong la, don’t you see we have so many able Shungshabpas in our CTA who are more capable than Sharling and who worked their entire lives for CTA? There are plenty of CTA staffs who sacrifice the luxury of living aboard and serving CTA in any possible position that they felt is contributing to the welfare of the Tibetan people. Not like you, Sikyong la who came to India only after huge campaign to serve as Sikyong only.
Tashi Wangchuk la,
Though I am a critic of Sikyong LS, you just can’t accuse him on such appointments. These appointments had been approved by the Parliament. Sikyong just can’t appoint Ministers or Secretaries without approval from Parliament.
As far as Karma Yeshi la and Choekyong Wangchuk la are concerned they have been approved to be Kalons by Parliament. As far as Sharling Dhadon la is concerned, her appointment is in consonant with law approved by Parliament regarding appointment of 18 CTA staffs directly by the Sikyong office.
I think he is doing the necessity.
Thanks.
Appointment of kalon is passed by the majority of members of parliament. But appointment of secretary level staff on a contract does not need any approval from parliament. It is the wish of Kashag headed by Sikyong has the power to do so. There are so many senior staff of CTA who have spend their entire life to reach such a level. APPOINTMENT OF Sharling as a secretary level is politically correct and morally incorrect.
Surely dramatic one. Looks like LS likes to make buzz whether necessary or not. The one who is serving are neglected of rights and not recognised. By bringing outsiders in the illusion of talents surely is grass looking greener on the other side and this case of the outside hype.
I totally agree with you.