Lobsang Tendar Ngamring
SYDNEY, Australia, 22 March 2020
I would like to emphasize how important it is to elect a qualified Sikyong for the 16th Kashag in 2021:
- The role carries a big responsibility. This is of more importance now than ever before due to the many factors impacting the security and health of His Holiness the Dalai Lama because of his advanced age;
- Secondly, there is a greater need for unity amongst the Tibetan community than ever before; and
- Thirdly, it is critical that we reach a mutually beneficial solution on the lingering issue of Tibet with the People’s Republic of China through dialogue during the lifetime of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. In order for this to be achieved, now is the time that the people and their government (Central Tibetan Administration) must work together by making extra efforts.
In light of these circumstances, the most suitable candidate for Sikyong is honourable Ngodup Dongchung, former Kalon (Minister) to the Department of Security of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Brief bio of Kasur Ngodup Dongchung:
Ngodup Dongchung was born in 1956 in Latoe Surtso in Tingri District. In 1959, he escaped into exile with his father Mr Choephel, mother Mrs Dekyi, and other family members, because of the growing Chinese brutality in Tibet. After his formal education, he joined the Central Tibetan Administration in 1977 as an Assistant Office Secretary of the Department of Security, and climbed through the ranks to become the longest-serving Secretary of the Department of Security until he was unanimously approved by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile as Minister for Department of Security in 2007. He served as Security Minister for two consecutive terms during the tenures of Prof Samdhong Rinpoche and Dr Lobsang Sangay. At present, he has been entrusted to serve as Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi.
In 1983, Ngodup went in disguise on a secret mission to Tibet to collect first-hand information about the situation and the Chinese policies implemented in Tibet. He contacted a number of Tibetan patriots working covertly for the Tibetan cause, and was able to create lines of communication that bridged closer contact between the Tibetans in exile and Tibetans in Tibet. This is a great achievement for a young intelligent officer.
Educational qualifications:
Ngodup completed his schooling at the Central School for Tibetans in Dalhousie. He then graduated with a degree in Political Science (Hons) from Ramjas College, University of Delhi. He is multilingual and well-versed in Tibetan, English, and Hindi.
Some important achievements:
Kasur Ngodup Dongchung has worked for 40 years, tirelessly coordinating the security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This feat alone demands appreciation and respect given the precarious status and schedule of His Holiness. His work ethics demonstrate a man of high calibre, with key qualities needed in a leader such as diligence, patience, courage, sound risk assessment capabilities, attention to details, and the ability to manage multiple situations at once.
He has gained His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s trust, and his abilities have demonstrated he is worthy of the confidence entrusted to him. Under his leadership and guidance, many younger Tibetans have been able to flower and flourish, and they are making positive contributions in the larger Tibetan society.
Another distinctive impact of his career is his ability to facilitate as a medium that bridged the gap between Tibetans in exile and Tibetans within Tibet. This has awarded him with the trust and respect from people across all three provinces of Tibet. This is a testament to his good work.
Even more importantly:
His exceptional personal qualities and his patriotic spirit have driven his work principles. There has not been a hint of corruption nor other controversies throughout his more than 40 years of service.
Each and every day, he has worked tirelessly for the Tibetan cause. His junior colleagues respect him as if he was their parent. He respects and treats everyone equally irrespective of their status, regional background, or other attributes, which in turn has earned him universal respect. He holds the trust and confidence of all members in the Central Tibetan Administration and this is evidence of his own positive attributes.
In a nutshell:
Given his education qualifications, experience, competency, sincerity, understanding of the need for a unified Tibet, and the genuine trust placed in him by both Tibetans in exile and Tibet, Kasur Ngodup Dongchung is the most eligible and suitable to be the Sikyong of 2021. Above all, he wholeheartedly believes in the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Middle-Way Approach to resolve the Tibetan issue. You must elect him!
May the truth always prevail!
About the author
Lobsang Tendar Ngamring was researcher of Textbook at the TCV EDRC in India from 1995-2014. He currently lives in Sydney, Australia.
Loten Namling is a great patriot and a wonderful singer.
He has every right to express his own opinion on any topics whether it be on Covid-19 or Sikyong election.
Keep up the great works, Loten la!
Please someone tell Loten Namling to stop his racist posts on facebook. He is a very influencial Tibetan personality, and who he votes carries enormous sway. But look at him, his labelling of covid-19 as ‘ Chinese Virus’ which Donald Trump has parroted and was immediately crushed down, is extremely disturbing. And our Tibetan supporters, who are left-wing and Bernie Sanders supporters, are running away from such sweeping generalization coming from a Tibetan. I wish he would differenciate between CCP and Chinese people.
HH Dalai Lama has said Chinese people are our friends, it is only the CCP we are against. But he’s not listening, and going on a rampage of generalization, which is causing a lot of awkwardness in social media. I am afraid he will do similar things with 2021 Sikyong Elections.
Please tell Loten Namling to keep quiet during Sikyong elections. He can create a lot of mess because he has a huge social media following, and he is a likeable character. My humble request, all Tsampa-eating, black-haired, ruddy-cheeked Tibetan refugees.
We have so many personalities on facebook and instragram, and they have a lot of blind gung-ho followers. One word of them can influence 100 people. So please, Loten la, stay away from Sikyong 2021 debates.
Well, someone wrote we need a president with good heart and I concur with them. These days people judge too much.
Our president should be someone with a clear agenda and a method to achieve that. Beyond that is just pure tosh.
What we needed is someone who is very aware of both domestic and international situations, and acts accordingly. The president should bring all these disparate groups together and find a common ground and make everyone feel included.
No Tibetan with Tibetan blood should ever feel left out on the grounds of some superficial differences.
How about Tashi Topgyal for Sikyong?
Heard he is a shepherd-turned military officer-turned businessman. His name always comes up whenever we have Sikyong elections.
He sounds more interesting than Ngodup Dongchung, Acharya Yeshi, Kunga Tashi, and Dolma Gyari who are being discussed here.
We need a captain who is connected to everyone irrespective of social status, wealth, education level, physical appearance, regional background (Khampa amdo Utsang), arrival date to India (sanjor or shichak), living in the west or third world country.
We need someone compassionate who can see beyond superficial differences and tribal animosity. I think we need someone of good heart.
For this, I think Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar is the most compassionate. Despite belonging to the most powerful family in Tibet and exile, she mingles with the poor and downtrodden of the society and has no class-consciousness. You will see facebook pictures where she dines in homes with no TV and broken tables.
Someone like Lhagyari is extremely rare. Remember that her brother is the King of Tibet!!! Ideally, Songtsen Gompo heir should be more powerful than Lobsang Sangay, but they keep a low profile out of modesty. Just think about this for a moment.
Earlier, Stephen Spielberg planned a hollywood blockbuster about the exiled king of Tibet. But was shelved to a later date due to senstivities in exile society. But we will soon see a movie in less than a decade.
Whatever happens, say no to Penpa Tsering and Lukar Jam Atsock. Their recalcitrant verbal battle and mudslinging have smashed our unity like diving an axe through a log.
Nowadays one can’t say their names without provoking an aggressive reaction from the warring camps.
There are many civil servants like Dongchung Ngodup la who have worked sincerely and with dedication to serve the Tibetan community.
Regardless of whether he is deserving of the Sikyong post or not, I wish him all the very best in life.
The real competition is between Dadon Sharling, Gyari Dolma, and Kaydor Aukatsang.
Kaydoy is not the strongest in terms of ‘experience’ or service in CTA. But in the international stage, he is the most fitting. He’s tall, brown, and handsome. He speaks good English, and has good understanding of global politics.
Next to Kaydor is Dadon Sharling, Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, and Gyari Dolma.
Can you imagine the monk from U-Tsang who is sort of speaker of parliament talking with pride with Donald Trump or Boris Johnson? Nooooo. Some Tibetans think white people are superior, and their body language brings shame to all Tibetans. We are not inferior to anyone, black or white.
Just think about it, mates.
Terrible analysis. Out of all the names you listed, I’d say Gyari Dolma is the only real contender. And what is this obsession with people like you about our Sikyong needing to constantly traverse the world, as if the CTA can shift geopolitics? The Tibet issue is largely a bipartisan issue in the US and EU, so the diplomatic and financial support will always there, in one form or another.
What is more important for the next Sikyong, given the ongoing shift in geopolitics where the US, China, the EU, and middle powers such as India, are shaping their own spheres of influence, is to first and foremost prioritize the CTA’s relationship with India. How India exerts itself in the world greatly influences the status of Tibetans living in India and how the CTA can represent Tibetans living inside Tibet.
This is precisely why Ngodup Dongchung is the best candidate — someone who has developed and maintained close relationships with India’s central government and the diplomatic and consular community over 40+ years.
Tibet and India have centuries-old cultural and historical relations that will never be broken. Fundamental policies of the Indian government towards Tibetans and the Tibet issue has remained favorable and rock-solid so far. We also have His Holiness the Dalai Lama residing in India. Therefore, I don’t see any major challenges from the Indian government in the foreseeable future.
It is in the international community that we need to focus our efforts to mobilize support. Between Ngodup Dongchung and Dolma Gyari, Gyari might fare better in this area, but both do not come across strong in foreign affairs and international relations.
Well, my projection predicts a tough competition between Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok and Kunga Tashi in the final round of Sikyong election.
Kunga Tashi is trying to stay relevant by recyling Chinese news on social media and getting news byte here and there.
That Acharya is on a beast mode right now and raring to go. He is on a mission to punish China for this Corona virus by relentlessly rebuking China and asking the WHO to enforce accountability. Now, that is courage in crises and that is true leadership.
Mark my words! Of these two final contenders, Acharya will emerge triumphant as our next Sikyong! He will lead Tibet for the next 10 years.
Not sure why you’re bringing up Kunga Tashi here as a Sikyong contender. The man is a pure China analyst and is one of the few apolitical career CTA officers out there. He has tens of thousands of followers on social media, so I’d say he’s doing a big service by bringing relevant, fact-based news to the uneducated like yourself.
You do fact-based analysis yourself.
Kunga Tashi himself told Bod-ki-Dubab in a print interview that he has been asked by many Tibetans to stand for Sikyong and that he has not yet made a decision. So, he is as much a Sikyong contender as your candidate Ngodup Dongchup who also said the same thing. So, there goes your “apolitical figure” who is known to play the dirtiest politics.
Don’t liberally use terms like “analyst” for a social media personality like Kunga Tashi who loves publicity at all times. He only regurgitates news from China, which we can easily get from Tibetan media like VOA, RFA, and VOT. There is no expertise and analysis here.
In our community, there is a tendency to liberally and casually throw around terms like “analyst” and also “khenwang” for those who conduct a workshop or two. If you consider Kunga Tashi a “China analyst”, then I will declare myself to be “the king of exile Tibetans”, a post that is placed below His Holiness and above Sikyong.
So, go figure yourself before lecturing your half-baked ideas here and there!
King Migyur Tashi
Kingdom of Exile Tibetans
I must say, I too was confused a little by this argument on Tibetan expert.
Are there any guidelines and basic requirements set by our Tibetan government on when and how its staff members will be considered as expert on a particular subject?
Does our government consider all its foreign mission staff members working in 13 countries as experts?
Or does one become an expert through self-proclamation?
Nothing against the guy in question per se, but we Tibetans need to be more realistic on many levels.
Trump said of Modi during India visit:
“The life of Prime Minister Modi underscores the limitless possibilities of this great nation. He started out by his father’s side as Chiwala, a tea seller.”
Similar stuff can be written about Kunga Tashi if he runs for and wins Sikyong election:
“The life of Sikyong Kunga Tashi underscores the limitless promise of Tibetan democracy. He started out as middle schooler from Lhasa Middle School No 1 to become the Sikyong of Tibet.”
The man has determination to make things happen for him and it is a good trait that every Tibetan must aspire for. It is this very trait that will land him as a Sikyong contender in the final round if he runs. He epitomizes the proverb, “If there is a will, there is a way”. Inspiring indeed!
King Migyur Tashi
Kingdom of Exile Tibetans
Response to #32 from Migyur Amateur Tashi:
Your comments have really turned personal, eh? Instead of outlining why you think he’ll be one of the final two candidates — aside from that Dubab interview — your obsession with character assassination has taken over this thread.
What a poor analogy using Mentsekhang. Students at Mentsekhang College will obviously become doctors one day, but perhaps you think Mentsekhang’s janitors will also become doctors. So yes, someone like KT who has spent his professional career working on Sino-Tibetan issues, and that too at the diplomatic level, is qualified to be called a China analyst.
And what’s wrong with calling Kylie Jenner an expert? She’s found her own niche in the global fashion and beauty market and knows how to play the game when it comes to content distribution. Again — character assassination on full display.
No doubt T Wangchuk and B Tsering have the authority to speak. But note that there is a fine line between opinion and analysis. For someone to provide an analysis, he or she needs to provide background information to present context, present all the facts and arguments from all sides, and then present an informed judgment to the audience. Analysts don’t develop a “view” or an opinion. Perhaps this is what you mean by rehashing?
Not sure why you’re labeling me as a KT advocate. I’m just pointing out that he’s a fine man who is well qualified to provide expert commentary on Sino-Tibetan matters. You, on the other hand, have stooped so low as to target the man’s reputation — using phrases such as “at least had to work” and that he had done well “for a middle school graduate,” which is false by the way.
Come campaign season, I’ll be ROFL thinking about your prediction.
(This is a reply to Tamding Tso on Kunga Tashi)
For a middle-school graduate from Lhasa School, Kunga Tashi did very well and managed to land all those plump positions at the Offices of Tibet. It is precisely one of the reasons why I predicted he could be one of the final Sikyong contenders.
For all the plum positions at CTA and the related perks that he enjoyed for long, he at least had to work and he must have worked on “translating” CTA’s middle-way policy documents and others into Chinese language. But to say he “drafted” CTA’s official documents on Middle-Way Policy is a hyperbolic claim.
Nobody is denying KT has social media followers and he keeps himself relevant by rehashing news from China. Such personalities are dubbed as social media personality and not experts. Or else we might have to call Kylie Jenner an “expert”.
If a person who worked on China-related matters makes him a “China analyst” or “China expert”, it must make any and every staff who worked at Mentsekhang for many years into a doctor.
If frequency of appearance on radio interview is the barometer to measure expertise, then Tsering Sakya, Tsering Topgyal, etc., are experts no more. And for China-related analysis, I would rather listen to expert opinions from Tseten Wangchuk and Bhuchung Tsering.
My “amateur analysis” is fine as it deals with future, and future is always unpredictable. But for a Kunga Tashi advocate, you are not even aware about his Sikyong aspirations, and that speaks to the level of your so-called analysis.
As long as Kunga Tashi is called a “China expert” or “China analyst”, I am the King of Exile Tibetans.
King Migyur Tashi
Kingdom of Exile Tibetans
Who’s using it liberally? The man was 1) the CTA and HH’s point person on China-related matters at the Office of Tibet in Taiwan for many years, 2) Chinese Liaison Officer at the Office of Tibet in Washington DC for a number of years, 3) a member of the Sino-Tibetan negotiations task force, 4) has drafted numerous official documents for the CTA on the Middle Way policy and Chinese policies toward it, and 5) has a wide range of contacts in Tibet and China. So obviously he can speak authoritatively on China-related issues. Why else do you think he has over 45,000 followers on Twitter and thousands of followers on Facebook? So naturally, publicity will follow.
And maybe you ought to look at who’s had the most number of appearances on VOA and RFA to talk about China-related coverage, your trusted sources of news (hint: It’s Kunga Tashi). Or give me one other name from our community — just one name — who can provide authoritative commentary on China issues like Kunga Tashi. So don’t be butthurt because he has a huge following and that people trust his expert commentary.
When all this is over, it’ll be quite the treat to read this thread again, and look at how your amateur analysis of Kunga Tashi and Acharya being the final two contenders panned out.
Amen to that. You nailed it.
Guys, it is the overall personality and charisma that matters, and which Acharya Ji has in abundance.
Acharya could easily command a room, jet set and hob nob with any world leaders with his fierce demeanor, good oratory skills, and killer attitude.
If elected Sikyong, which looks likely given the rising murmurs, he could very well be enshrined later among other world leaders like Napolean, Churchill, Mussolini etc.
#AcharyaYPforSikyong2021!
Thank you Lobsang la for your article on Kasur DN, and extending support toward him as your choice of candidate for 2021 Sikyong. I also think he is the finest of all to be our next Sikyong.
I am not responding to the other commenter’s opinion because, if analyzed carefully, multiple comments are clearly from a single source using different names/locations, and the fact that many have confessed lacking knowledge about CTA, I don’t see any point going through these comments that are intentional in downgrading the strongest candidate. From many reasons to support him, I will put out two points in a hope to help other readers make a sound judgment.
1, His most unique achievement is visiting Tibet under secret operation in the 1980s, and building connections b/w Tibetans inside Tibet and the Tibetan Diaspora. Since then, many Tibetans (patriots) from Tibet, risked being seen by watchful Chinese informers in Dhasa to line up outside his office (after their audience with His Holiness), which signifies their faith and trust in him. CTA mainly is a representation of Tibetans inside Tibet, and since His Holiness is now fully retired, it is important to elect someone whom they can trust and have faith in. So, exiled Tibetans (Max. 150K) should always listen to the will of Tibetans inside Tibet.
2, He has over 40 years of dedicated service in CTA, and this implies that he has impeccable knowledge about CTA. Sikyong is technically an administrative head and not a DIIR Kalon (Foreign Minister). So we need someone with administrative skill to hold the Sikyong post and let DIIR Kalon take on their responsibilities. In order to continue our struggle, most important is to have a well-functioning CTA, and Kasur DN’s life-long administrative skill and leadership will fit the administrative head which is Sikyong position of CTA.
Tsering Dhondup la,
Dhongchung Who? I am from Tibet and have never heard of Ngodup Dhongchung as a spy master! Yes, I know many people who got sent abroad to learn English in US who speak highly of him. Who won’t, when he helped them with exit permit and all.
If you guys think Dhonchung Ngodup’s 40 years of “service” — which is, in fact a well-compensated job, an indispensable one to lead CTA, pray, please tell us: how come this Johnny-come-lately, from, of all places, Amdo and stammer to no end, can Security office without any hiccups?
The Sikyong election is no joke. Please, wannabe Kalons sitting in some corner office whose full time jobs seem to be spending time on social media, stop turning this important election into a circus. We are not looking for a clown.
Whaaaaat! How come you don’t know Ngodup Dongchung la? He knows you well and said hello! 😀
@Tsewang Tenzin la, I am also from Tibet and there are numerous Tibetans from Tibet (now in exile), who recognize Kasur DN’s efforts and put their hopes onto him. It is really no big deal that you are unaware of Kasur DN, to me, just going through your comments, I can clearly tell that you lack basic knowledge about the general CTA structure, their notable figures and their functioning. Don’t simply let your “hatred” take over and downgrade any individual including Kasur DN. Please educate yourself before writing about subjects you have zero clue about.
Well, I am afraid that you are turning yourself into Johnny – the clown! Do better!
No idea what your argument is here. Your lack of coherence in writing is truly astounding. On the one hand, you’re equating Ngodup Dongchup to a clown, but on the other, you’re saying he’s indispensable.
And obviously Tibetan IC holders in India who wish to exit India will need to be vetted by the Department of Security, the agency that Ngodup Dongchung was part of and led for a long time. That is literally their job — to maintain the refugee registration certificates of exile Tibetans with the Government of India.
And please — we all know how much CTA staff gets paid. Even Lobsang Sangay stated publicly after becoming Sikyong that his salary is $400 per month. So if this is how much the head of the government makes, do you really think Dongchung is “well compensated”? Please check your facts before writing.
@ Tamdin Tso
How do I respond to you, when you don’t know the meaning of the word “if” in English?
At least, now I know why you are so hypnotized by the ‘expert’ analysis of Kunga Tashi — the so-called China analyst.
Je Zongkapa Chemo had a famous saying: “I am not afraid of a hundred scholars, but am afraid of one idiot.”
I am an open-minded person willing to listen to others’ viewpoint, and was reading your message hoping to learn some things that I don’t know about aspects of Tibetan politics and candidates. But when you described Kunga Tashi as top-notch China expert and when you failed to understand the meaning of word “if”, I have no other option than to classify you as absolute idiot.
Thanks, Je Zongkapa Chemo. They were, and still are dangerous — dangerous to the very fabric of our democratic society.
My goodness. Even you’re obsessing over Kunga Tashi. He is a good man and a career CTA officer, but NOT a contender for Sikyong.
No one’s commenting on your open-mindedness, my friend. What I’m saying is you’re contradicting yourself.
Like this sentence: “If you guys think Dhonchung Ngodup’s 40 years of “service” – which is, in fact a well compensated job, an indispensable one to lead CTA, pray, please tell us: how come this Johnny come lately, from, of all places, Amdo and stammer to no end, can Security office without any hiccups?” What are you even saying here?
And then you falsely state that “Ngodup Dongchung sends people abroad to learn English,” as if he’s running a black market business.
Then you bring in Zongkapa out of nowhere. And by the way, it’s his disciple, Khedrup Je, who said that. Not Zongkapa. And to give you some context, by “idiot,” he meant those who deny everything and stay away from debating and reasoning. So clearly, I’m the complete opposite of that as I’m engaging with you on this platform 🙂
And I have no idea why you’re asking me about the meaning of the word, “if.”
Please make your conversations more complex.
Oiye Tenzin Phuntsok Doring!
Gawa yoh Drokpo! Dhonshoma!
Your friend Lobsang Tendar Ngamring is supporting Ngodup Dongchung la for Sikyong before the Election Commissioner has made any announcement.
In your world of legal and moral dictionary, is this right? Or is this what you would call “proxy” campaigning by the candidate in question?
People here speak about Ngodup Dongchung’s decency, 40 years of service, trust by Tibetans from Tibet and equation with Indian government. These are all good and fair.
The question here is we are not talking about if somebody is good in his given post and responsibilities. The major question here is if that somebody has the potential and vision to take on a bigger role and responsibilities as a Sikyong.
Unfortunately for many reasons that are better not elaborated here out of respect for his long service to the Tibetan community, I will say he is simply not Sikyong material.
What is “Sikyong material” according to you? Are you leaning towards those who won’t stop beating their own trumpet and you just can’t help but fall for it? Well, balancing is important and retaining a bit of Tibetan essence while still running for office will do not harm.
Ngodup Dongchung for 2021!!
I think you just answered your own question. The fact that Ngodup Dongchung started his civil service career as a junior officer in the late 1970s and eventually becoming a minister (Kalon) of one of the most important departments (Desung) of the CTA proves that he has earned the trust and confidence of the CTA leadership to take on bigger responsibilities. Moreover, he is now His Holiness’ representative in New Delhi, an extremely consequential position that can either make or break the exile community’s ties with the Indian government and international agencies. So you tell me — how is he not “Sikyong material,” as you put it? The proof is in the pudding.
Ngodup Dongchung lacks Sikyong material for the following reasons:
1. Lacks that charismatic leadership quality.
2. Lacks that visionary ability to either move forward or ramp up the existing system.
For example, what new methods, strategies, and policies has he envisioned and implemented so far in his capacity as Security Kalon and as New Delhi Representative, except for implementing and following the existing framework?
3. It is great people are harping on his visit to Tibet and his connection with new Tibetan arrivals from Tibet.
– But isn’t it because of this Tibet mission that Ngodup Dongchung had for the longest time been using CTA’s official vehicle to pick up and drop him from and to office everyday and everywhere, unlike any other CTA officials of same post.
– It is understandable that the nature of Security Department is such that most of their missions and activities are done in secret. Under the cover of such secrecy, many of their financial details are unaccounted for.
4. Sikyong has to represent and advocate for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet. Can he effectively and internationally do that with his kind of voice?
Will list more later depending on the level of provocation and the amount of substandard reasons for support being thrown here by sycophants who have no good interest for Kasur Ngodup Dongchung than to fulfill their vested interest.
Have to go to run for errands for now. See ya later!
1. Couldn’t disagree more. Perhaps a “charismatic” leader to you means a man like the current Sikyong who needs a huge entourage to welcome him during his many pointless trips abroad. A true charismatic leader is someone like Dongchung — a man who never craves the spotlight, and can get everyone to work together and forge compromises of different opinions. Why else do you think staff from the different CTA departments, HH’s private secretaries, Samdhong Rinpoche, and even HH’s younger brother, showed up at his retirement gathering? Please watch it here if you haven’t already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u8BRqGQpK8
2. This is the biggest misconception that people like you have. What revamping of the CTA are you talking about? The reason that the current CTA administration is in such disarray is because Sangay is upending the existing framework. But since you brought it up, let’s take a look at the many “visionary” policies that Dongchung put in place while he led the Department of Security.
– setting up of CCTV cameras all around CTA to ensure the safety of government staff;
– upgrading and strengthening the security perimeter of HH’s residence in McLeod;
– installing a 24/7 security checkpoint at the Tsuglagkhang Complex to prevent terrorist attacks;
– implementing an online registration system for those who wish to attend HH’s talks;
– creating an online database system for Tibetans applying for and renewing their ICs and RCs.
There are many more achievements that I won’t list here due to their sensitive nature. But please, take back your second point.
3. Literally all CTA staff can put in a request with the finance department to use official vehicles.
4. This man has served the CTA for 40 YEARS and is still serving, far away from the …
Kasur Ngodup Dongchung’s track record of impeccable integrity is well known and universally praised by all, irrespective of which side you belong whether it is age, gender, region, or sect.
He is the most suitable person to lead us as our movement is passing through one of its most important phases. Success and failure of our movement in the long run will be mostly determined by the direction or quality of leadership that we choose during these years.
Kasur Dongchung is someone who enjoys the trust of Tibetans inside Tibet as well as in exile. Normally, Tibetans inside Tibet hardly know many of our leaders in exile, whereas Ngodup Dongchung is someone who is equally trusted by Tibetans inside Tibet. It is well known that when a new arrival from Tibet reaches Dharamshala with an important message, he/she was strictly instructed by our compatriots in Tibet to not to deliver their message to anyone other than Ngodup Dongchung, when not being able to get audience with His Holiness. Such is the level of trust and popularity that he enjoys.
We must not also forget that our movement is very much linked with India. In absence of support from the government and people of India, our movement will reach nowhere. It is critical that we elect someone who is capable of maintaining a close relationship with the government of India. From his forty years of CTA service, including as a Kalon for two terms and presently heading the Bureau in Delhi, Dongchung has extensive experience in dealing with Indian officials at all levels.
And lastly, this time we need to elect someone from India. Someone who is an RC holder and travels on IC like the majority of us. Who lives with us and knows the issues faced by the common people.
As such, I will vote for Dongchung to lead us at this crucial moment.
Dongchung Ngodup is a decent guy. No doubt. But he is the Civil Servant Type, not political leader type.
Civil servant people have no politicial affiliation. Their brain is wired differently. They are accustomed to dealing with bureaucracy, record-keeping, following protocols.
Leaders are on the other hand about vision, breaking new paths, making protocols instead of following protocols, taking risks instead of treading well-worn paths.
Leaders come and go, but civil servant types stick around, and keep the centre of a government.
Very well written but my question to you is, are you even aware that the nature of our Sikyong election is not purely political? This election is not only about politics, and technically, our Sikyong is not a politician; if you think it is purely political, there should be at least two political parties to compete against each other to hold the top office. Have you seen any such political parties in our Tibetan Parliament in exile? So, at this time we are in no position to play politics, specially when still in exile. Our struggle is to get our freedom back and our main beneficiaries are Tibetans inside Tibet.
Thats why, if we want to adapt to succeed, we need a strong exiled Tibetan Kashag/Administration, that can lead the Tibetan people and continue to move forward with our struggle. Since Sikyong equals head of Kashag, as you correctly put it, Ngodup Dongchung’s 40 years of service in Central Tibetan Administration is a perfect match!! Like me, many young Tibetan generation appreciate his experience and leadership; and I fully support Ngodup Dongchung for 2021 Sikyong!
1. A “civil servant type” of leader is exactly what we need at this very moment, not a political appointee like Pompeo or a head of state like Trump or Lobsang Sangay who have no problem unilaterally upending existing democratic norms (see Penpa Tsering case) and institutions when they don’t align with their so-called “vision.”
2. A “civil servant type” of leader knows that he must respect protocol and the system of rules governing the functions of the CTA set forth by the Charter of the Tibetans in Exile.
3. A “civil servant type” of leader is indeed wired differently than some Harvard graduate who has no experience dealing with the complexity of democracy because he/she possesses the skills to maneuver, compromise, and persuade colleagues to reach a consensus within the CTA bureaucracy.
So if you’re saying that Dongchung Ngodup can become that “centre” that we desperately need, isn’t it more of a reason to support him?
There are several CTA bureaucrats who have worked for the CTA for many years with utmost sincerity and dedication, including Kungo Ngodup Dongchung, Kungo Thubten Samphel, Kungo Sonam Dagpo, Kungo Jampel Choesang etc, etc. Everyone of the above kungos have many great individual achievements and decades-long services to the CTA. Except for Kungo Ngodup, other three kungos have graduated from top US universities – Samphel la (Columbia), Dagpo la (Harvard), Jampel Choesang (first batch of Fulbright scholars in US).
But if you ask me if I would vote any one of them for Sikyong, I would say No. This is not belittling their contributions and abilities as CTA kungos.
Because for me, leading a nation is a different ball game altogether.
So for you, you’d like someone who has little to no experience working in the CTA — the very foundation that represents and links Tibetans inside and outside Tibet — to lead a nation? Incredible.
The dude comes across as decent and hardworking. I don’t know much about Dharamsala politics. But I am kinda stumped by his birth year. 1956??? That was before we lost our nation to Communist China in 1959. Not to say, I want some flaky millenials and genxers for Sikyong candidate, and I will never vote for one if we have at this time. But seriously dude? You good, man? yo!
Among the exile population, (if these letters are by exiles as they purport to be) it seems many of the people are either frustrated with their lives or they are deliberately attacking people for no apparent reason. It shows they are suffering from some form of psychosis.
Dongchung Ngodup has been a humble servant of the Dalai Lama for a long time. The greatest concern among exiles has always been the health and security of the Dalai Lama, especially after China sent spies to assassinate him. They also used the Shugden Front for the same purpose. All along, the man in charge of the security (སྡེ་བསྲུངས) of the most important person in exile was none other than Dongchung Ngodup. He took the Shugden issue firmly in hand and stood like a rock with the Dalai Lama and did his job of quelling their revolt with a firm hand and coherent rebuttal of their charges.
He secretly went to Tibet in the 1980s to conduct a daring mission under the auspices of the Tibetan Youth underground Movement སྟག་གཟིག་ཁྱུང་འབྲུག་ When you have a youthful Dongchung sacrificing his life for the good of the nation in such dangerous circumstances, who are they to question his leadership quality?
He was able to meet underground leaders in Tibet and kept those contacts in Tibet which filtered intelligence to the Tibetan Government and kept the Tibetan Security Office abreast of the development inside Tibet. This is strong leadership and boundless courage. The Chinese have their counter-espionage, but the exiles also gave them the run for their money.
If we take experience as a requirement for leadership credential, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay had no experience to speak of. Donald Trump was never a politician until he was elected, but who talked about experience to become the US President?
“The greatest concern among exiles has always been the health and security of the Dalai Lama especially after China sent spies to assassinate him.”
Thank Palden Lhamo or Nechung Choegyal Chemo or Government of India. Dhonchung Ngodup is no Rambo. You have been too busy listening to fairy tales that people like Kunga Tashi types are telling people.
I give you that he is a decent guy, but he utterly lacks the suppleness of a leader. If you want us to get struck where we are, and rot as a community, then vote for him. SAD! I am not even unloading anything here now because he has not thrown his hat in the ring. We know he is just testing the waters, as someone here described.
He seems to have some support of mentally-deformed ex-CTA officials, whose heads are spinning at the speed at how international polity is shifting.
Tibet will never die and we are not short of people. People like me will never worship any false deity like him as “true protector of Dalai Lama”!
@ ཧྲི་ Tibet
I have a request for you, please help.
1. Can you, please explain what the word ༼ སྡེ་བསྲུངས༽ means?
2. Your best argument is: “Dongchung Ngodup has been a humble servant of the Dalai Lama for a long time.”
So, by that measure Kusho Lobsang Gawa or Kusho Paljor la should be Sikyong! Or How about their corrupt disciples?
Thanks.
The Dalai Lama is responsible for all the publicity and attention the Tibetans got in their fight to regain freedom for the six million Tibetans. He single-handedly put the issue of Tibet on the world stage.
Besides, Tibetan devotees see him as their protector and the refuge of life here and beyond. That is why serving him is regarded as an honour and pride of every Tibetan. As it were, I said Dongchung was a “humble servant” of the Dalai Lama. Another reason is, Dongchung has been the linchpin in the security apparatus of the Dalai Lama and spent forty years of his life following the Dalai Lama like a shadow.
I get the feeling that your issue is འཚིག་པ་འདྲེ་ལ་བཟའ་ནས་ བརྡུང་རྒྱུ་རྔ་ཆུང་ You are unable to name the person but trying to beat around the bush to hit your target. The question of capability can’t be ascertained by the likes of you and me. The sutra says, གང་ཟག་གི་ཚོད་གང་ཟག་གི་མི་བཟུང་ཏེ་ ཉམས་པ་གྱུར་ཏ་རེ་ Besides, the monks serve HH in their capacity as domestic attendants, not political appointees. You can’t mix everything without their parameters of demarcation. The likes of you throw around the word “corrupt” without basis. Mind your words.
The only person who is alleged to have misused funds is called Tenzin Dhonden in the US a few years ago. If your children or siblings indulge in corrupt practices without your knowledge, do you hold yourself responsible? If not, why do you attempt to drag the holy name of the person you don’t dare to name and demean his disciples as “corrupt” when there is not a shred of evidence?
ཆོས་རྗེ་ས་པཎ་གྱིས་ གཞན་ལ་བལྟ་བའི་མིག་ཡོད་ཀྱང་། རང་ལ་བལྟ་བའི་མེ་ལོང་དགོས། This is the kind of language used by the Chinese communists to demonise and denigrate the person of the Dalai Lama. Don’t bite the hands that feed you if you are a genuine Tibetan.
There is a strong misconception in Dharamsala and also elsewhere within the Tibetan community that long experience in CTA equals brilliance in intellect and experience. I don’t think so.
Could be because we are only 120,000 or more Tibetan population in exile or because we have been so conditioned to mediocrity that we have self-proclaimed experts or wannabe experts like Lobsang Tendar Ngamring as some sort of a researcher.
Not my sikyong!
@ Karma Tsering,
I agree. Tibetan proverb རྟ་ལམ་བོང་བུས་བཀག fits right here.
I think that he through his proxies are testing the waters of public perception about him.
I will vote for anyone but certainly not him. In fact, I have a suggestion for supporters of LS: They should vote for him, because once this ‘capable’ leader takes over, his inability to lead will make even the general public who abhor him now miss LS.
LS, although he has his flaws, is at least right there in front of the people putting his name and face in the play. We should be a little more serious and watch the type of people promoting him. They have one common trait: they are all societal parasites. Mark this word: Parasites.
Parasites (like this Coronavirus) need a body to survive. Parasites in our societies find a perfect body in him. We need a body (leader) who can’t be infected by blood-sucking parasites, who thrive on dividing us.
He should treasure his qualifications of long service and stay out of politics which is not his cup of politics, at least in this era of Donald J Trump and like.
I appreciate the writer for starting the debate and thinking about Tibet, but his world view and mindset is still frozen in the world of 1980 Dharamsala. The headlines in “The Australian” or the halls of stacks of books in the Australian library could not thaw his frozen mental state.
Wannabe experts of the same kind go together. Lobsang Tendar Ngamrinng’s friend Kunga Tashi is saying he is some great commentator on China’s gossip news and coming on TV and thinking himself big. Ngamring neighbour Doring Tenzin Phuntsok is another wannabe who thinks he is big writer of political gossip and doing this and doing that. All wannabes and no real substance! Big joke!
While respecting Ngodup Dongchung la as a dedicated bureaucrat who has served the Tibetan community for many years, I just don’t see him as a sikyong or the national leader that we need. I wonder how he will fare internationally given his total lack of experience in this area, and if he can win over the khampa faction who supports Lobsang Sangay la. He could be eligible for Supreme Justice Commissioner or some similar post like that, but definitely not a sikyong.
“And, most importantly, he helped and me immigrate to Australia. He also played godfather to many of new arrivals by providing subsistence while in India”, – which is in fact GOI money for new arrivals.
If he is your model of a great leader, then I think, people like you have done tons of damage to generations of Tibetan youths through your work as textbook researchers. Now, we can understand the cause of damage to the morale and self confidence of many of our younger generations. Good job, man. Now, you want to thrust a version of it on larger populations!
His true qualifications is: there is no better person in Tibetan community who plays second fiddle like him. That’s why he conveniently sat through out Sikyong LS’s first term without saying anything, and made the “pretense” of revolt and resigned at the end of term. He did this becoz like his handlers, he just misread that LS is going to loose and he can sit in new Kashag.
He lacks leadership. He is not a leader, but like any deep state agents, a back room operator, who instead of going after Chinese agent is involved in Orwellian thought policing in our community. You are a useful idiots, a cog in the same machinery.
I love George Orwell for opening our eyes.