Tibetans casting their votes to elect a new Sikyong and the members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile in McLeod Ganj, India, on 3 January 2020. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
McLEOD GANJ, India, 3 January 2021
Tibetans around the world cast their votes to elect a new Sikyong (political leader) and members of their 17th Parliament.
Voters lined up in droves at polling stations in the exile capital McLeod Ganj to cast their ballots. Some were seen offering prayers as they vote.
An estimated 7,000 people have registered under the Tibetan Settlement Office of Dharamshala, that includes McLeod Ganj, making it the largest electorate in the exile Diaspora.
Barring some minor problems the voting has been smooth in the entire Dharamshala area. Some people have heard of instructions that no mobile phones would be allowed to copy the details of people they are voting for. This has caused some difficulties.
A few people had been told to go to different polling stations, due to their address, causing them to miss their voting rights.
“The voting has been conducted smoothly and fairly in Dharamshala. We do not have any figures to give now without the consent of the Election Commission,” said Kunga Tsering, the Tibetan Settlement Officer of Dharamshala.
The counting will begin from the 5th morning and the results will be announced at the respective localities by the Regional Election Commissions.
Australia and New Zealand results will be known first as they are ahead in time. The overall results will be published on Tibet Sun after they are announced at the respective places.
Tibetans from around the world have shared photos and their voting experiences on social media. A voter from Belgium has this entry on his Facebook: “I VOTED. Feeling thankful to His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama for gifting us this beautiful democratic system.”
Speaking to Tibet Sun, a voter from Bylakuppe, which also has a large electorate, said that the voting has been conducted successfully, with a large number of people taking part in the elections.
Voting has been similarly conducted peacefully in Dekiling, Dehra Dun. “People were happy and came enthusiastically to cast their votes. They may have different choices for Sikyong, but there’s a friendly atmosphere,” he said.
Some places have voted in advance of the 3 January Election Day. Election rules allow voting in advance, but cannot postpone voting. A few thousand people in Nepal cast their votes secretly to avoid Nepalese official attention and repercussions due to Chinese pressure.
Tibet Sun has reliably learned that Tibetans in South Korea were not able to vote as there were no voting arrangements made, although there are about 50 Tibetans living there, mostly in Seoul.
About 80,000 Tibetans around the world registered to exercise their franchise. Of these more than 55,000 are in India.
In today’s RFA broadcast, it says in random exit poll conducted by it clearly shows Penpa Tsering is way ahead of all the rest. His vote count lead is more than 100% than that of his next rival, Gyari Dolma and followed closely by Ngodup Dongchung. This is the result of exit polls conducted by RFA to around 1000 people in some of the major polling areas in India, Europe and America. There may be a margin of error at the most 5%. In the event of final Sikyong elections in April, Penpa Tsering’s lead could only increase and not diminish. So it all but certain that the next Sikyong is already decided on this Sunday’s elections and rest of pack could close their campaign and go home.
By examining the contents in Facebook posts and YouTube in the past few months, I presumed that Penpa Tsering and Gyari Dolma were leading the pack but not that much of a margin. It is some what bewildering to see this RFA exit poll. Although I had rooted for Dongchung Ngodup but he may not come ahead of Penpa Tsering in eventuality of he becoming one the final two candidates. So people mark my words, Penpa Tsering would become the next Tibetan Sikyong. But you know, it would be a tumultuous term for he had lots of old nemesis in the community. Likes of Tulku Ugyen Topgyal, Lukar Jam, Tenpa Yarphel and Serta Tsultrim et. al. So people, be ready for an exciting and interesting years ahead.
@Khampa Warrior: So for fear of “Tulku Ugyen Topgyal, Lukar Jam, Tenpa Yarphel and Serta Tsultrim et.” you rooted for Dongchung Ngodup. You are a strange Khampa. You think what Penpa Tsering can’t handle, Dhongchung Ngodup can?
For Penpa Tsering, it is been there, done that. He had tactfully dealt with them all as Speaker of Tibetan parliament.
That said, if the outcome is as you foretold, one thing that is proven true like daylight is that our masses have woken up. They have recognized that so-called high ranking former officials of CTA title bearers are nothing but bunch of either cowards like you or opportunist like Kunga Tashi et. al.
It did take a long time, but finally, our masses are, for sure awoken. I am happy for that. No more respecting, where respect is not due.
And also, regarding Free Asia Tibetan service is concerned, we all know that it is run by a corrupt manipulative character connected to Gaden Podrang. Our people well know it by now. Tibetan masses are neither blind nor deaf.
Watching how the candidates are doing in their hometown speaks a lot. Let’s see the perception of hometown residents towards their favorite son or daughter or adopted son.
Also see what the endorsement of people like Kunga Tashi and Dadron Sharling means for the candidates they promoted left and right.
Penpa Tsering’s hometown is Bylakuppe, Gyari Dolma’s is Delhi and Clementown (Dehradun)
Keydor Aukatsang’s base is Switzerland, Lobsang Nyandak’s base is New York, Dongchung Ngodup’s base is Dharamshala and Dongchung Ngodup’s king-pin’s ground operations is from New York.
Archarya Yeshi Phunstok’s base is Dharamshala and Ladakh.
Tashi Topgyal’s base is probably Ladakh…
Good luck to all. Real winner is Tibet. It shows to the world that we are still alive as a nation and; China can never win us over, unless they honor His Holiness the Dalai Lama rightly and treat Tibetans fairly, which the Communist government can never do.