Tenzin Pedon
BANGALORE, India, 21 December 2020
A nation’s success or failure depends largely on the policies adopted by their government, and strong or weak government policies depend largely on the visions of the leader and ministers we choose. Therefore, while we have all the time, tools, and most importantly, the rights and freedoms to scrutinise each one of the prospective leaders under our democratic system of government’s process to ensure the right person get to the position that he deserves, it becomes very crucial for citizens like us to take this responsibility of choosing the deserving candidate by following these democratic practices. Healthy democratic practices include, but are not limited to, debating, interviewing, and reading articles written by the candidates.
Finding out who should lead our Tibetan political struggle with dignity, integrity, vision, and experience becomes even more challenging during this pandemic time. Thankfully we have tools available that really help people to engage in political process without having to endanger their life. Yes, I am talking about the one-and-only ‘Internet’. Today, we are in a new society, a society that is on one hand battling with deadly disease, and on the other trying to keep up with our progressive action to bring change with creative ideas. Whether we like it or not, the fact is that we are dependent on the Internet more than ever irrespective of what other purposes we use the Internet for today. Some people try to bring positive changes in society using this very tool; others try to manipulate the situation by spreading fake news, rumours, and misinformation.
Can we wipe out or eradicate these illegal and unethical actions of influencing society and people with distorted facts and misleading information through the Internet? This is yet to be seen, however, my logical conclusion leans more towards a pessimistic view than an optimistic one on this subject.
This small article is, therefore, dedicated to all those open-minded people who are unbiased, who have not made their mind yet to choose one person as a leader, keeping in mind a few important things such as our apparently shrinking unity, the Tibet-China relationship, and the Coronavirus pandemic. Let us now consider here the first and foremost important factor: Our unity.
Our apparently shrinking unity
Unity is strength, and so goes the song “Liberty Song”, written by John Dickson in 1768, that contained the line “United we stand, divided we fall”. The same phrase was used from Benjamin Franklin to Abraham Lincoln on different occasions in American history to invoke unity among Americans. Without unity there is no way we can solve even a minor domestic issue, let alone national issues. It is very saddening to experience the rifts and divisions created among our people today based on politics, regionalism, and favouritism.
There is an uphill task for our upcoming leader to forge unity among our people. This person should be able to walk the talk in bringing back the unity that was enjoyed by Tibetans during His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s political reign. We as citizens thus have an urgent duty of finding out who is capable and willing to bridge this gap that seems to be widening each passing day from all those vying to become our future Sikyong, the elected Tibetan president. I consider this as the most important factor among all others. Without unity, we are just a negligible small regional group that will further get divided into even smaller sub-regional groups and lose our long-term political vision.
The Tibet-China relationship
It has been a decade since the diplomatic relationship between Tibet and China has been on hold. Instead, there has been a growing division among people based on which province they belong to, which political approach they adopt, and social media fights within the exile community, among other things. Our long-term political goal has been negatively impacted. To give a simple example to explain how adversely these factors have affected the common Tibetan people who reside in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, political aspiration would be the shift in their priorities from long term political goal, which is to resolve the Tibet-China political issue to achieving socio-economic prosperity and stability within the Tibetan communities in those three countries. And this is clear from the fact that the vast majority of our Tibetan people from these three countries are now raising questions about how to strengthen unity within the exile community, their well-being schemes and policies more often than raising the questions concerning the long-standing Tibet-China conflicts and how to resolve it amicably as seen from questions being asked by the general public to most of the Sikyong 2021 candidates.
I feel this is a very concerning situation. Our own political system was established primarily for achieving the long-term goal of solving the Tibet-China political conflict, rather than bringing socio-economic prosperity that could potentially have a negative impact on our political struggle as our people would most likely engage in enjoying the prosperity and forget the very reason why we are fighting this political battle in the first place.
By the blessing of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetans are far better off than most refugees in the world today in terms of socio-economic development. In fact, we are the most fortunate ones I feel. It is, therefore, highly important that we find a leader who has the potential and willingness to re-establish the political dialogue between Tibetan and Chinese diplomats as urgently as possible. They must have effective innovative plans to regain their Chinese counterpart’s trust in order to move forward. We need a leader who not only shares this political vision of resolving the Tibet-China political conflict as soon as possible, but even in practice, carries out this political agenda successfully. After all, the Tibetan issue was never a socio-economic one — it is a political one from the beginning.
The Pandemic
With millions already dead and tens of millions sick with this Covid-19 Pandemic across the world, we are in one of the most challenging times of history. This disease is an invisible enemy endangering the entire human race. To deal with it, most governments and agencies entrusted with safeguarding human lives in a situation like this have been doing their best to prevent this disease as soon as possible. And as an obedient citizen, we are obligated to follow all the safety measures they have put in place — for example, wearing mask, washing hands properly, maintaining social distance, etc. No matter what stage of election we may be into, we must follow these Covid-19 preventive measures strictly, because losing even one Tibetan life is a big loss for our cause.
We cannot afford to lose our people’s lives so cheaply. Every Tibetan’s life is precious as we all jointly fight this political battle, and we will achieve our goal if pursued persistently. It is utter stupidity to go on campaigning in person during this deadly pandemic time, as we are not only risking our own life but that of many others as well when people gather together. This wonderful tool called the Internet is readily available for use: There is nothing better and safer than conveying your messages and sharing your political vision through it.
You can participate in political debate, get interviewed, engage in political dialogue. You can do pretty much every political activity on the Internet. Why not use this effective tool rather than going out risking lives in this unforgiving time? We need to let our potential leader realize the value to their own life and of others as well by reminding all of them not to participate in any physical campaigning during this pandemic time — instead go online and use the Internet platform to engage in political discussion. There are harsher challenges to be faced and more battles to be fought in future, so stay alive and motivated.
I urge everyone to use your time to know each one of the Sikyong candidates as best as you can before you make your final decision. Don’t get brainwashed by sweet talk and hollow promises this time. Use your logical analysis thoroughly rather than regionalism, favoritism, and blindly following what others say. I promise you that you will not regret it.
About the author
Tenzin Pedon Paldentsang is a Bangalore-based tech specialist for the biotech industry.
Yes, I too second one virtual debate among Sikyong candidates. Somebody organize one, please! Hello Tibetan media!!!
Hello Election Commission!!! How we gonna vote in one day with social distancing and pandemic and all?
This is a sincere appeal to Kaydor and his sister. Can you please stop travelling and spreading Covid19 in our community. You are wealthy beyond our dreams and can afford health care. The poor people in our settlement can not afford even Covid19 test. If you have any amount of decency and compassion you will stop travelling and prevent the spread of spread of Covid19. You are already infected and now super-spreaders. If this becomes widespread, you are responsible.
Oh dear, the above only leave room for two people Acharya & Tsering Topgyal lugtsi – i will have to think very hard on who among these two will make a good Sikyong 😉
Ha ha looks like they are the front runners. They do look very presidential and both have good oratory skills. Tough choice between the two!
I request our media to organize debate among the Sikyong candidates so that we know who from what one last time before casting our precious vote to elect somebody to the top job. Without debate where all the candidates will be in one place, it is difficult to keep up with each and every candidate. Debate is so crucial for the voters to understand the candidates.
If not two, at least one debate before the preliminary. If uncomfortable with the Western style of debate and concerned about disunity, at least conduct the debate in question format so that the candidates don’t have to argue and counter-argue. If it is going to be the only debate, make the duration longer to 1 hour or more than 1 hour. I don’t think the voters will mind even if the duration runs into 2 hours. In order to reach a larger audience, conduct the debate in Tibetan.
I also request every candidate to participate in the debate if organised. So, wake up Tibetan media before it is too late!
I fully agree with you. One Virtual debate among all the Sikyong candidates is a must before the preliminary election. Tibetan media must up their game and do something fast.
The pandemic has created a new reality for everyone impacting the way we conduct the election campaign. Has our Election Commission made any new advisory guidelines on creating more opportunities for the public to know the candidates and even how we conduct voting on the voting day during pandemic times?
Given the current situation, there are only two options left for the voter — 1) to follow all the candidates, spend an insane amount of time to understand them, and then decide on their choice, or 2) take the easy way out and vote for somebody just because they are from my region, or is a school mate or some other reasons. Very dangerous situation to be in.
Let’s have one virtual debate one last time in Tibetan! Tibetan media and the Sikyong candidates need to take responsibility to have at least one virtual debate for the sake of our democracy.
“I urge everyone to use your time to know each one of the Sikyong candidates as best as you can before you make your final decision.”
One way to do that is go to https://www.smartvote-tibet.org and check out the Sikyong and Chitue candidates. Go through the questionnaire and see who shares your opinion.
There is no hope for the Tibetan people. The quality of our leadership either in terms of ethics, morality, and political acumen. Most of the top leadership have US citizenship. The cunning foxes have secured their own safety nets, and yet they tell our people to remain in India. Even Penpa Tsering has sent his wife and child to Canada. As for Kaydor who cannot read or write Tibetan and sends his child to one of the most expensive schools in the world and do not feel his child need to learn Tibetan. Yet, he talks about promoting Tibetan culture. Other candidates are making fake promises of migration to the West. Our so-called media never pose any challenging questions to the candidates and expose their hypocrisy. We have a bunch of hypocrites running for Sikyong, and no one is willing to call them naked. We the Tibetan people are destined for tragedy under these fake and hypocritical candidates.
Also include candidate who have no qualms about mingling and seeking votes from groups of people who continues to criticize His Holiness. Disappointed to see candidate misinterpret the wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s middle way policy just to get some votes from rangzen groups. Before questioning the moral and ethical integrity of others, ask questions to oneself if one has maintained moral boundary in one’s quest to win this election at all cost.
May I also include in this list of “fake and hypocritical candidates” one such candidate whose supporters praise him to the sky of being endowed with great moral and ethical integrity yet retain his CTA post in possible violation of election rules? One whose supposed greatest strength is being espoused as unity yet promotes and rides on utsang factionalism like never before thus sowing greater division in the society.
I think we shouldn’t exaggerate the unity speculation. If we look at what people interpret as evaporation of our unity, they are primarily talking about the supporters of Sikyong and Penpa Tsering. There is a small number of diehards on both sides who have indulged in shameless, un-Tibetan and un-Buddhist and down right anti-social behaviour.
Anti Kashag and Sikyong flames were fanned by the likes of Thokme and Mila both of whom are supporters of Penpa Tsering. They stoked the flames of hatred between Kashag and the public and Mila went a step further to advocate separation of Utsang from the rest of Tibet.
While these chatter boxes spewed venom on their victims, 99% of the population couldn’t care two hoots for their rambling. The few diehards who were part of this hate campaign are people in the age group of 25-47.
All of these people including the chatter boxes are not educated. They are probably dropouts who then joined the US army and one gave up his robes for a life in the western nirvana.
Ordinary Tibetans have no hatred of each other at all and in fact if you go through young vloggers, many don’t even identify themselves as being from any specific province where their parents came from. They identify themselves only as TIBETANS. I have heard from some parents that they are unhappy because their children don’t identify themselves as their parents did to U-Tsang, Kham or Amdo and the སྐྱིད་སྡུག་ of these provinces are gradually losing their grouping.
Besides, most of the wives of the male Kham and Amdo population are from U-Tsang. Many wives of ex-monks from Kham are also from U-Tsang. Our exile Tibetan community is a melting pot of people from the three provinces.
It’s impossible to drive a wedge to divide us.