Golok Jigme Gyatso
ZÜRICH, Switzerland, 26 August 2020
Kasur Dongchung Ngodup, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Delhi, is a man of high calibre that we can’t miss electing him for 2021 Sikyong.
- He is unwavering and steadfast in his endeavour to follow the instructions and visions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
- He is trusted by Tibetan political prisoners and by many who care about the Tibetan cause. I have been receiving messages from several respected former political prisoners from inside Tibet expressing their hope and support for Dongchung Ngodup and encouraging me to support him for 2021 Sikyong.
- Even the Chinese government has recognised him as a vital person and someone who is genuinely and thoroughly informed about situations inside Tibet and in exile.
- He has a good command of both Tibetan and English language and of Hindi as well. He has a wealth of experience, having served CTA for around 50 years in various capacities, reaching his career’s pinnacle so far in the post of Kalon.
- He recognises the strength of the Tibetan struggle and has both the knowledge and skill to protect it. He has the integrity and ability to lead us towards the great path of unity where all Tibetans, inside Tibet and in exile as well as the government and public, can stand united. Similarly, I have learnt from my personal meetings that he supports and has high regard towards the younger generation who genuinely pursue the Tibetan struggle. On the whole, at this critical juncture he is the most suitable person to lead us in the 2021 Sikyong election.
- As mentioned earlier, many people from inside Tibet trust him wholeheartedly and I am one among them. In fact, it was not just him, as there were many others in exile with whom we have high expectations. However, while following them closely after coming into exile I have a feeling that most of them are merely using the name of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for their own personal gain, with scant concern for our struggle and enhancement of the Tibetan cause.
- Unlike those people, Kasur Dongchung Ngodup is unwavering and has remained steadfast throughout his life. He has upheld the Tibetan cause at all times, abandoning his self-interest. He is honest, dedicated, capable, and highly experienced.
Being a man of strong determination, he is someone who can take firm action during critical times at any given situation. Therefore, we can’t afford to lose a man of his calibre from being elected to 2021 Sikyong. I appeal to my fellow Tibetans to choose the right person by giving the highest consideration to our common cause and the critical situation that we are facing right now.
About the author
Golok Jigme Gyatso, former political prisoner and a human rights activist, is from Zürich, Switzerland.
Copyright © 2020 Golok Jigme Gyatso
Published in Tibet Sun
Posted in Opinions » Tags: Democracy, Dongchung Ngodup, Sikyong, Tibetan Elections 2021
I am not a Tibetan and therefore, I am not sure whether my comment would be welcomed by Tibetans.
However, I want to see Tibet emerge as an independent country with all its pristine glory in my life time. (I am 70 plus)
I am slightly disappointed to read about the comments on the candidate for Sikyong election.
Tibetans should avoid any bitterness developing between themselves due to this election.
Let the election take place and let whoever want contest in the election. Let there not be a campaign for or against any candidate. Let it be a silent election full of dignity. Let one who gets the maximum votes win and let everyone else welcome the winning candidate happily.
These kind of bitterness in campaigning will only make China happy. Let it not be.
Everybody has a right to believe in what they believe either in a person or an ideology. Nobody should attack them for their belief.
All the candidates are good. Each one of them have their specific experience, ability and charisma. You can vote whom you like without being jealous of others. We should be proud that there are many who are voluntarily standing as a Sikyong candidate. There is not much to be gained by becoming a Sikyong. Since Tibetans are known to love money, you are better off working in your host country than wait for a meagre monthly stipend as a Sikyong.
Therefore, every candidate should be praised, encouraged and supported instead of denigrating them and try to tarnish their image. That’s the act of a low creature. They all love and care for our nation called Tibet and want to offer their services by becoming a Sikyong. Is that something we should discourage and look down?
We need talented people to work for Tibet in a restricted environment. Being refugees, there is not much a Sikyong can do because our host is very sensitive to Chinese sensibilities. We are trying to fight for our freedom with our hands tied at the back.
Look at our situation as a dying people like the Incas, the American Indians and Australian aboriginals and unite for our own survival rather than indulge in fratricide. In Tibet, our culture, language and religion are systematically destroyed to assimilate the Tibetans into Chinese.
Most unfortunately, unlike other democracies, we don’t seem to debate on issues but on personalities. In real democracies, the election manifesto of the candidate is what makes a candidate viable for election success or not because that is the criteria with which the public either chooses or rejects a candidate.
It is very important that every Tibetans should be taking interest in this Sikyong election. Please do not discuss about the Choka and Cholug during this election. We should choose a right person who can carry the vision of HH the Dalai Lama, know and respect the Tibetan’s constitution and other CTA protocols. There is only two Candidates who is qualified that is Ex Speaker Penpa Tsering and Rep Dongchung Ngodup la. Other Candidates were not stable, some are not emotional mature, others were will favoritism to their near and dear. Some of them got their post not because of their qualification but other source.
vote division will be like this:
Utsang votes: divided b/w PT, dongchung ngodup and Acharya yeshi phuntsok.
Khampa votes: divided between Kaydor, Gyari Dolma, and tashi wangdu.
amdo votes: only 1,000 amdos are eligible to vote. goes to PT, Madhuk Che, and newcomer amdos to dongchung ngodup as he gave stipend to them. many political prisoner vote goes to dongchung as well.
but in the end, it will be: either Kaydor/gyari on the leftwing side, and either Dongchung/PT on the right-wing side.
So it could be Kaydor vs dongchung, kaydor vs PT, Gyari vs Pt, or Gyari vs Dongchung. There is only 4 permutations in this election contest. There will never be a contest between PT and Dongchung, or Gyari and Kaydor.
Good to see ex-political prisoner and activist Golok Jigme taking active part in the upcoming Tibetan elections. The way he has made the case for his candidate is impressively making his choice very deserving to be elected.
Dongchung Ngodup came as a surprise on the scene of Sikyong 2021. He was not expected. Gyari Dolma and Penpa Tsering were thought to be the main contenders with some side players like Lobsang Nyandak. Chances could be big for Dongchung Ngodup if U-Tsang people come together behind him, as their electorate is much bigger than Amdo and Kham voters combined.
Ngari probably makes the biggest of U-Tsang voters, but they may not support DN though. Means a big chunk will be out. There are still many from U-Tsang supporting PT, including from Ngari. Some will support GD.
GD also may not get a lot from Kham as Lobsang Nyandak will take some, Tashi Wangdu will take some, and quite a lot (supporters of Lobsang Sangay) will vote for Kaydor.
A lot of splitting is going to happen by which there may not be one big winner in the preliminary round. The top three will still be DN, PT and GD. If this is the order and the difference is not much among them, GD will have bigger chance because most of the votes received by LN, TW and Kaydor will go to her.
Tibetans in exile and for that matter to some extend to Tibetans in Tibet know how we had unnecessary tumultuous period since 2011. Now every one must think really hard and vote for Dongchung Ngodup for he had proven record of exceptional service, temperament, wisdom and most importantly would not deviate an inch from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guidance and thought. At the least he would not create unnecessary discord amongst fellow Tibetans and would be the man who could meet any challenges facing the Tibetans in Tibet and exile. We must not waste our precious vote to any person whose only aim is just to occupy Sikyong’s office. We are in most critical time of His Holiness’s reaching very ripe age and China is hell bent on destroying everything and even the spirit of Tibet. Hope my fellow Tibetans would rise to the occasion and would be a part of making a definite change in the course of modern history of Tibet. Other wise this long and dark period of Tibetan history would not be over for the foreseeable future.
@Khampa Warrior and others,
Vote for someone who is “the master of his domain” Not someone who for the whole of life time is known for “playing second fiddle”.
Judge the candidate by who are his promoters. It is not Agu Jigme. He is just the front or innocent straw man who got emotionally blackmailed. Mark my words, one day he will hold a press conference and weep tears of blood that who he got punked and say, what do I know about dirty politics and say I was wrong and I am sorry.
Look at how the candidate is promoted by the likes of Kunga Tashis and Kalden Lodroes. You very well know that they are the puppet masters of dirty Tibetan political underbelly. It is as clear as sunshine. There are at least three other big time dirty players whose hand will start showing.
If ordinary Tibetan needs real democracy, get rid of or at least don’t get influenced by the dirty power brokers. They are the ills of our society.
Being good at playing second fiddle is not a strength. If you like second fiddlers, buy a flute and play any tune you like. Please, not place flute players in Kashag.
What do you mean “playing second fiddle”. Are you on opium or burning your head in the sand for all these years. Dongchung Ngodup had unblemished record of serving the CTA for more than 40 yrs. He spend all his adult years for the service of Tibet and Tibetan people with distinction. For one verification you can watch a YouTube video where all his colleagues at the Security Department past as well as present celebrated his service to the Tibetans and the Tibetan nation. He is only one of three amongst the exile Tibetan leaders honored by Domey Association of Switzerland. He shouldered one of the most risky and responsible job of securing the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for all these 40 years without even an incidence of mishaps. It is almost a magical performance. His present job as Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi is given none other than Gaden Phodang. You can see clearly the trust and confidence this most esteemed office has with Dongchung Ngodup. Besides he served for a term as Kalon and Sikyong post is only the next or natural post for him and he is the most fit among all the candidates who had put their hat to the ring and none of them come even close to him.
You owe an apology to the Tibetan people, Dongchung Ngodup and Golok Jigme for disparaging them without any shred of evidence. Unless you have ulterior motive it is sacrilegious to disparage an individual with stellar service to the nation for all these years and to a person who spend years in a Chinese gulag for the sake of freedom of the Tibetan people. (that includes you)
Above all there was already an immense surge of support among Tibetans for Dongchung Ngodup since last year when I was in Dharamsala, and that too without even a single day of campaign by him.
@ Khampa Warrior, you wrote “For one verification you can watch a YouTube video where all his colleagues at the Security Department past as well as present celebrated his service to the Tibetans and the Tibetan nation.”
If you are so mesmerized by that YouTube, be careful you might collapse if you watch YouTube videos of people facilitating LS and Pema Chonjjor. Get ambulances ready to take you to hospital. My advice: watch it in your Doctor’s office.
Don’t great too carried away by “almost magical” achievements of your candidate. By doing that you are committing sacrilege towards – Protective dirty Palden Lhamo and Nechung Choegyal Chemo.
Also, if the job requires such a magical capability to perform, remember who is leading it for the last five years with no hiccups or in your word “ almost magically” – a stammer and who speak no proper Hindi coming from remote region of Tibet.
By promoting people like your candidate and making him holier than thou character, you are insulting large number of Tibetan officials of unmatched character and with selfless service record like Dr. Tseten la and many others.
I think Tsering from Kollegal is not on opium. I think you are a typical former TGIE (Tibetan Government in Exile) official who were so conditioned in your fishbowl world view. We need a Sikyong to secure our future, if need be by the process of creative destruction. We don’t need another goldfish, the fishbowl is already stinking, if not rotting.
BE A MAN as Russsell Peters would say. Think BIG. Don’t infect your other’s with your pessimism. It is SAD as US president Trump would say.
Don’t compare LS and Pema Chonjor’s reception with Dongchung Ngodup’s, they are two different animals. Dongchung Ngodup was celebrated for his life-time achievements of his service to CTA and the other was a one time reception by a section of people who supported them. One reception to LS at NY airport was a disgrace to the Tibetans for his supporters made loud noises as if they are in some wild area in Tibet. Don’t be confused by comparing apples to oranges OK. Here we are talking about Dongchung Ngodup for a Sikyong candidacy and what is the need to talk about other CTA officials here. Dongchung Ngodup has put his life on line by doing a stint of duty in Lhasa in 1980s; who else is there amongst the Sikyong candidates with such credentials?
You talk about creativity and think big is all bullshit with empty rhetoric and nothing to substantiate. Empty vessel sounds more than a filled one like LS. You demonstrate admiration for Donald Trump, he is the worst president the US has ever had. He is a total disaster to the US and to its reputation around the world. Oh yes, birds of the same feather flock together. You want a Tibetan Sikyong like Trump. No chance in this life time. As for Tsering from Kollegal, Sikyong candidacy of Sonam Topgyal and Karma Gelek would be a calamity to Tibet and Tibetans, these two are most controversial of the Kalons till date; one with corruption allegations in all his service years and both misappropriating retirement quarters to say the least. As for Gyari Dolma there was allegations of corruption of money donated for Orissa cyclone victims years ago when she was Home Kalon and this is not yet cleared by her. I wonder how she gets courage to stand for Sikyong with all the allegations not cleared till date.
1. All the retired Tibetan staff have put more than 40 years of service.
2. 99.9% of CTA have unblemished record. Reason: all are second fiddlers – Chamchas.
3. If having served as kalon is a natural stepping stone of Sikyong. I think two most qualified person to become Sikyong are Kalon Sonam Topgyal and kalon Yuthok Karma Gelek.
4. If you say there are dirts on them. It is because of the person you are promoting who has been behind these games, manufacturing dirts on others. Unblemished? My a…
5. Your candidate is a dirty little prick.
6. Dolma Gyari is 1000 times better than your unblemished candidate.
7. What was your candidate doing whole time in Sikyong LS kashag. Cleaning kashag’s men’s room?
8. We need a visionary. Not a safety candidate and second fiddle. When you hear or read second fiddle, you know someone pulling the string from behind to the puppet to beat the drums.
9. In whole of my life in the service of Tibetan govt in exile, I have never found a safe player like this guy.
10. You are right on one issue. I should say sorry to Agu Golok Jigme. I am sorry that he got punked by weasel like you and Kalden Lodroes and Kunga Tashis of dirty Tibetan world. I will [feel] sorry for him and to some extend to your highness too.
“Dongchung Ngodup has put his life on line by doing a stint of duty in Lhasa in 1980s“
I know at least four people from exile who were roaming Lhasa Bakhor when your candidate was roaming wild grassland. It was 1980’s – period of liberalization. Kunga Tashis of the world are said to be behind this strategy of lionizing your candidate as brave and self – sacrificing.
Buyer’s beware. The item is not as authentic as being advertised for marketing. Please, don’t go there. Otherwise it will make him look bad, which is not good for our image as a whole. But if your campaign of disinformation is going to push this, former CTA officials like me who don’t agree with his make – believe story have to question this fact-challenged thesis. This is going to be my last rejoinder to you. Don’t think that your agreement carried water and I shut up.
Let me refute all these extraordinary “qualifications” one by one in seven separate post. It is intended to un-punked Agu Jigme.
Agu Jigme’s point one:
“He is unwavering and steadfast in his endeavour to follow the instructions and visions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
So, is Agu Penpa Tsering and all other candidates. If this is most important than there is none more qualified than Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche.
Agu Jigme, please stay away from politicking.
Agu Jigme, Kunga Tashi really punked you. As president Trump would say SAD.
I won’t say much out of respect for you. But will certainly refute all your points in detail.
Agu, stay away from real politics. Be wary of people who are using broad shoulder to fire guns at Agu Penpa Tsering. Ask, Shengza Rinpoche…
I want a sikyong candidate, whose main agenda is to solve Tibet and Tibetan in Tibet’s problems. Nothing more or nothing less.