Thinley Kelsang from New York City speaks during a press conference to announce a mass protest against CTA President Lobsang Sangay and member of Parliament Tenpa Yarphel in McLeod Ganj, India, on 16 March 2018. On the right is fellow protester Thinley Namgyal from New York City and on the left is Chime Dorje from Nepal. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
MCLEOD GANJ, India, 16 March 2018
A mass protest against President of the Central Tibetan Administration Lobsang Sangay was announced by members of the group “Truth-Seeking Volunteers”.
The protest seeks the impeachment of Lobsang Sangay for actions which the protesters say are akin to those of a “dictator”. They are also calling for resignation of member of Parliament Tenpa Yarphel for speaking against the state oracle Nechung and denouncing the Dalai Lama.
They are also seeking a reply from Sangay and his Cabinet in response to the reply of former Representative of the Office of Tibet in Washington DC Penpa Tsering to the 10-point reasons for his termination from the office by the Cabinet.
Penpa Tsering was terminated from the office on 7 November 2017, one year and three months after his appointment.
Thinley Kelsang, one of the foremost protesters calling for Sangay’s impeachment, said that Sangay has taken many decisions without the approval of the exile Tibetan Parliament. “There are more than enough reasons for his impeachment,” he said.
A petition has been submitted to the members of the Parliament to initiate his impeachment. The Parliament is currently holding its 10-day budget session.
Kelsang also said that the 10-point reasons given by the cabinet to dismiss Penpa Tsering were complete eyewash. “The reasons lacked substance.”
Droves of protesters from India, Nepal, Europe, and the US are expected to gather at the CTA premises tomorrow while the exile Parliament is in session. The protest will go on till the Parliament session ends on the 24th.
During a press conference announcing the protest, Thinley Kelsang said, “We are not against the Dalai Lama, we are not against the Central Tibetan Administration, but we are against Lobsang Sangay for his unjust and irresponsible actions.”
“We hope that the ongoing Parliament session will discuss our petition seeking impeachment, and our demand to appoint a committee to review the issue around termination of Penpa Tsering.”
While making his annual statement on the Tibetan Uprising Day on 10 March, Sangay said that it is the Cabinet’s prerogative to appoint or terminate the representatives, and that those who are unable to digest Penpa Tsering’s dismissal could go to court to seek justice.
Responding to that statement, Thinley Kelsang said that a remark like “go to court” is a clear sign of being irresponsible. “We are like a family. All internal matters should be tried to sort out through dialogue first. Next could be discussion in the Parliament. Court should be the the last resort.”
“To speak about the issue of the termination of Penpa Tsering during the 10 March uprising commemoration is a clear sign of irresponsibility.”
It is believed that the immediate cause of Penpa Tsering’s ouster was his raising the issue of a 1.5-million US dollar loan taken from the Tibet Fund in New York City to purchase the new Office of Tibet building in Washington DC.
Penpa Tsering was said to have questioned Sangay about the non-existence of a corresponding document at the Office of Tibet showing that they owe that amount to the Tibet Fund.
Sangay clarified in the Parliament on Thursday that 1.5 million was “not a loan” but “a grant”.
Thinley Kelsang argued that the Tibet Fund has shown 1.5 million as “a loan” over the years in its financial statements, but Sangay is using the word “grant”.
He further added that the all the deals with Tibet Fund have been signed by former representative Kaydor as from the Office of Tibet, whereas the building has been purchased under the newly-formed Tibetan Community Development Fund.
“There certainly is an issue, and there are some journalists in the US inquiring about the issue. If the US government comes to know about the issue, who will be in trouble. Wouldn’t His Holiness the Dalai Lama be in trouble?”
About 50 people were seen during the press conference. Interacting with them, Tibet Sun learned that some have travelled from Nepal, Bylakuppe, and Dehra Dun. One of them said they are expecting about a thousand people tomorrow to join the protest.
Speaking alongside Thinley Kelsang, Thinley Namgyal from New York City said he is a Khampa himself like Lobsang Sangay. He said that he is protesting to support truth and justice. “I didn’t see any merit in the termination of Penpa Tsering.”
Another speaker, Chime Dorje from Nepal, said that he also supported the impeachment of Lobsang Sangay and Tenpa Yarphel.
Silent protest should not be taken literally, they are not senseless people sitting without any objective. Silent in sense in peaceful means but with cause. If Indian papers publish their reasons to protest, we should not be complaining to silent protesters but Kashag: this bunch led by arrogant LS is reason. He is pivot point of exile disunity. Instead responsable Tibetan should be more concerned about the manner in which LS and his like minded so called MPs are behaving in parliament. Even worrisome is his denial of wrong doing on one side and refusal to set up independent committee.
these protesters call themselves silent protest, but they give all negative messages to to indian journalists, it was in himachal pradesh newspaper and tribune of india, maybe in some other newspapers.
this is really dangereous to the tibetans living in himachal and around. if they face problems in future, the indian authority will definitely not trust our CTA. so who is the looser, our normal tibetan people. i hope they will not put in karnataka newspaper too, so our tibetans in south will face difficulties. if this is an internal matter and they are protesting infront of cta, why do they give such damaging and defaming news to foreign journalists? they really don’t care about tibetan people, they only want to harm our society, what a pity.
why is dolma c khoza not included in their banner? she has caused more disrespect to his holiness than tenpa yarphel.
i think tibetan people should also protest agains the protesters to give us the right.
Due to recent disunity created by the protesters, we have clearly seen the negative on our cause. Have a look at this http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=40289&article=Another+jolt+to+CTA%2c+Global+lawmakers%e2%80%99+meet+on+Tibet+called+off
This is not because of CTA competencies and capability but its all because of this unwanted protest created by PT supporters.
We really have to understand that we are not in Tibet and we have to show unity to outside for our cause, and what Thinley Kelsang will do now he is an American citizen and he will live peacefully because he has done his job of creating this mess. Where is PT now? We appeal to PT now, please come to the public before it is too late. If you don’t show up then i feel you will never get any good position in future.
Protesters on the Gangkyi grounds are not “misguided potheads” as described here and in the Parliament. I was especially impressed by a lady speaking on the basketball ground. She called herself uneducated, but her public speaking skills could put our parliamentarians to shame. Thinlay Kelsang turned out to be an efficient spokesperson in both Tibetan and English. The volunteers seemed sincere and determined in their mission to seek truth.
Those protesters are a small group of misguided potheads led by alcoholic Penpa Tsering.
They are less in number than Shugden practitioners. I heard many older Tibetans say that if Lobsang Sangay sets up a committee to investigate the Penpa Tsering affair, then many will come and ask for similar adjudication for Shugden people.
Then, Jonang people will come and protest for two reserved seats for their sect in Parliament. Then next comes Kashmiri semi-Tibetans asking for 10 seats in Parliament.
Then U-Tsang people will protest and fight for 30 MPs in Parliament because they are thrice in number compared to Amdos and Khampas.
Sikyong will have to set up a committee, bear the brunt of meaningless protests, every time he takes a decision to replace or fire a civil servant.
Sikyong will be totally powerless. so, Lobsang Sangay, your protesters are only Amdo/U-tsang fundamentalists. Not a single Khampa, either Mimang or MP, are opposing you for dismissing PT.
So, be strong. and don’t listen to PT protesters and Shugden protesters who bring division in our society.
We respect you, Sikyong La. May you live 113 years.
It is very disturbing for 99% of Tibetan public in exile after reading your article: very prejudice, partisanship, unfairness and one sided story is making more confusing amongst our people. About 60 people, so called ‘the public ‘with unsubstantiated basis staging accusation demonstration against the hororable Sikyong is unwanted and disgusting! The honorable Sikyong was an elected leader by the majority, and His Holiness on numerous times stated in public that LS has His full trust and doing job well!! And we the 99 % the public have our full believe and trust on him too!
At the end, we must unite for our cause, or our enemy will continue make us a laughing show!!! United we stand for Free Tibet!
Bodh Gyalo! CTA Gyalo, Sikyong Gyalo! Long live His Holiness!
Thupten Anyutsang or whatever here, you should stand for Sikyong election. You will make a perfect successor to LS. He is liar no. 1 and you are the only one who out beats him.
At least he won’t stretch the truth to claim that 99% of the readers here find Lobsang Wangyal’s report biased. They say, proof is in the pudding. Look at the rejoinders below. Except for few like you, majority of the posters here are against the corruption and mismanagement of LS.
May be you are good at fudging the math but don’t stretch the truth too much it will easily show your hand. Behind your back, people these days make comments like there goes the stupid son of a great father!
What happened during the Sikyong’s election was put to rest when Tsoksur Penpa Tsering la was appointed as the new Representative in Washington, what prompted or transpired immediately after – is anyone’s guess.
So, let’s not shoot the messenger, but ask the perpetrator WHY did he back stab Sikyong after shaking hands to work alongside for Tibet’s cause. We have to judge his motivation behind his act. Trust is the fundamental basis of any relationship, so, how do you expect Sikyong to act, put yourself in his shoes, what will you do?
I am also requesting the editor of Tibetsun to provide a fair and balanced article. One sided information will only hurt our community at large.
Hello fellow Tibetans: Listen very carefully. This is India, not Tibet. So it is Indian generosity that they are tolerating all this shit activities created by few Tibetans. Please don’t make Indians to go against Tibetans by your dirty politics.
We are not yet free country. So let Tibetans in India live peace and harmony.
Dear Editor of Tibetsun
If you don’t mind, please edit the opening words “MASS PROTEST” in the article. There were few number of people sitting on Gangkyi Basketball Ground protesting against Siykyong LS. They can not, and they have no right to represent as geneal Tibetan mass. General mass TIBETANS in and outside Tibet are united as one, and fighting peacefully against the Communist CHINESE Rule only.
Thank you
Peace Seeker
Sikyong’s clarification on Dhardon Sharling did not help clean her reputation. He said when he asked about the rumor of PT saying bad things about LS, she said yes and also said many other things. So, basically it confirms that Dhardon used the inside information that she had against PT to make her friendship with LS stronger.
LS also said it is not fair that people judge girl sharing information as bad while the same does not apply to man. Well, PT suffered termination for what he told Dhardon and his whatever sharing with Dhardon became one of the ten reasons for termination. Sharling escaped free. She is still being the secretary despite many many lapses in her CTA duties.
LS considers PT’s information sharing with Sharling as reason for termination. LS considers Dhardon’s information sharing with him as a virtuous act.
I know Dadon Sharling’s parents. In the beginning, they were eternally grateful to LS for raising her profile sky-high by naming her as Kalon. I assume in their mind, they were singing this version of very popular Tibetan children’ song, ང་ཚོའི་བོུ་། ཡག་པོ་ཡོག་རེད། ཡག་པོ་ཞེ་དྲག་ཡོག་རེད། སྲིད་སྐྱོང་བློ་བཟང་སེང་གེའི་བཀྲིན།
Now, I don’t know whether they feel the same. Gradually, it is sinking into them that their daughter was bit immature. Now her value has both gone down as a person and in matrimony. If I am a cartoonist, the picture that keep coming back to my mind is:
Scence one. Her future husband : This is my wife, Dadon Sharling.
Scence two. The person/ friend to whom she is introduced: Nice. Tashi Delek ( but the blurb in his mind) Oh, right! Acha Yama Kalden or Gangkyi Ani Nyemo!
But it is not all lost. She did make one big contribution to future female leaders by becoming a text book example of how loose lips sinks ship. In this case her plan was to sink the ship of PT’s future so that she can become the front runner for the chance to become first female Sikyong of Tibet. Result: ?
In the text book of LS and his Kashag and Dhardon Sharling, the word “sorry” does not seem to exist. Every misdeed is explained away. I am kind of getting confused about what is right and wrong at this stage. Instead of being shameful about one’s act causing problems in the society, LS and Dhardon are kind of agitated about being told about their wrongdoings.
As for Sharling as future female sikyong and that Washington girl as Kalon, a big NAMASETEY with folded hands and bended knees!
I am all for girl power but not such girls who sell integrity for power.
Yup, Penpa Tsering has no hope of getting a job in the US employment market. Even graduates from Ivy league colleges often had to rely on social security benefits. Will any Tibet-related organizations give him a job? he can only count on that.
so, welcome back to india, my penpa tsering.
Thank you Tibetsun.com and appreciate the “Truth-seeking volunteers”.
With foreknowledge of the protest in and outside the exile parliament in session, and having cooked the accounts with Tibet Fund, the Sikyong is lampooning the parliamentarians as if a father was scolding his siblings with total disregard to the firmly set legislative process thanks for the who adopted the Charter of the Tibetan administration by the 11th exile parliament under the stewardship of Samdhong Rinpoche. And the chairman of the parliament makes no efforts to take charge of the situation. He lakes the rudiments of stewardship to say the least. All his does is listening and roll calling.
Aware of the protest ahead, the Sikyong probed the idea of staging a counter event in the name of the Dalai Lama on the same day – that is March 17th which was cancelled at the last minutes. One suspects Gaden Phodrang prevailed to undo Sikyong’s nefarious efforts to counter the protest.
As to the Sikyong-Tibet Fund fiasco, here is the core issue: Even if the fund in millions of dollars meets the test of donation or grant, Tibet Fund must answer where the money came from?
I hope the current parliament in session will ask Sikyong for an answer. If what we hear from the Sikyong’s monologue is any indication, the Board of the Tibet Fund might find themselves in hot water before long.
I just learned also, about the CTA’s or Sikyong’s daring plan to woman Kalon nomination as suspected some months back when the woman (What is her name?) in question reportedly left a comfy job in Washington DC, joining Sharling Dadhon club! Sensing the parliament might not approve
the move, Sikyong dispatched her back to America, waiting to set up a special position in the DC Office of Tibet which could trigger another financial fiasco similar to Tibet Fund’s.
I know who runs Tibet Sun what news he runs – I don’t like Lobsang Wangyal news covering the negative issues only.
He thinks this is Miss Tibet show which is bullshit show and no good to Tibetan cause at all. It is just a show where he can make his living from donations. If we have to dig down lobsang wangyal’s story, then it will be painful like he try raping foreign tourist along with his friend who are now in Europe.
Question to Lobsang Wangyal? Do you want to stop writing all this shit or you want me to post the complete journal about you.
Jigmey la from Nepal,
Ram Rho Tso,
If you don’t like Lobsang Wangyal news covering negative issues only, then go read Dadon Sharling led Tibet.net filled with shallow achievement of Sikyong Lobsang Kim Jong Un Sangay’s photos and his not so glorious Kashag.
If you still need only good tiding news listen to * Kalden Lodroe led RFA Tibetan service program. These program will keep faithful like you stupid for at least another generation.
Lobsang Wangyal happens to be early promoter of Sikyong LS but I think he has stopped eating lotus and when you stop being a lotus – eater, you will see the reality. Wake up Tibetan brethren, LS is fake, so is his soon to be named minister of sort Tenzin Palkyi. Butt of jokes.
There is a very popular saying in the American wild west here where I live in Montana, which goes something like this, “Patriot is the one who protects his country from his government!”
Like it or not gun rights in US is called second amendment. First amendment is rights to free speech. Founding fathers gave so much importance to right to hold guns because they feared that if one’s own government become repressive people can fight back! Get some education here.
You want to protest against Sikyong Lobsang Sangay because your candidate Penpa Tsering was unceremoniously fired from his job, that’s your choice. But what is with this wanting resignation of Tenpa Yarphel. You think you can score some brownie points by implying that since he stated his reservations about the significance of Nechung oracle that he is against HHDL? Dont even try that coz you ain’t going nowhere with that.
They are zombie foot soldiers of Penpa Tsering. Now, he is out of the power, Penpa Tsering has become the worst enemy of the Tibetan people and anti-CTA. When in power, he was always talking about the need to eliminate people who are against CTA. Now, Penpa Tsering and his chamchas are busy instigating anti-CTA and anti His Holiness in the guise of being anti Tenpa Yarphel. Penpa Tsering is out of power also out of a job, and can’t find a job as a jamadar. Nachung is no more thanJadur Madur and ghost. How sick and power hungry these people are, hope everyone ignores these idiots.
Thinley Namgyal from New York City said he is a Khampa himself like Lobsang Sangay. He said that he is protesting to support truth and jusstice.
Great. We need smart khampas like him who rise above aro Khampa regionalism. I am sure many khampas will not take kindly to his actions.
Dear editor,
I appreciate this wonderful platform for impartial news coverage. Kudos to your great work!
I am wondering if you have any plan make comments in form of jpg pictures?
Best
Tenzin