Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 17: After an adjournment of a day and a half, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday following crucial deliberations between members of parliament, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the Department of Security. The session, which was stalled on its fourth day due to a lack of quorum, is set to resume, confirmed MP Ven. Lharampa Atuk Tseten.
The decision to reconvene came after a series of closed-door meetings on Monday between parliamentarians, the Kashag (Cabinet), and the Department of Security on Monday. On Saturday, a group of MPs refused to attend the house citing security concerns, in light of mass protests held by an advocacy group on the fourth day of the session. To address these concerns, the Department of Security committed to taking full responsibility for safety, while the Kashag provided written assurance that all necessary security measures will be in place.
The protests, led by the group ‘The Advocacy of the General Public for the Sustainability of CTA,’ called for amendments to the Charter to address the vacant seats in the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. Although the protests have remained peaceful, concerns arose about the potential to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Despite these worries, a section of the MPs and the protesters agreed that peaceful advocacy is an essential aspect of democracy.
MP Doring Tenzin Phuntsok commented on the situation, stating, “This is a democratic setup, and protests are part of it. However, we must ensure that these demonstrations do not obstruct the MPs from doing their job. Both sides—the MPs and the public—must work together to create an environment where the session can take place smoothly.”
On the fourth day, protesters gathered outside the parliament building, chanting slogans and calling for immediate amendment on judicial appointments. The organisers maintained that their activities were both democratic and legal. They stated that their pleas had gone unanswered since the start of the session. They maintain that they chanted slogans and made their demands in a peaceful, non-violent manner.
The reconvening of the Tibetan Parliament is expected to address the pending activities of the CTA’s departments’ workings and the Charter amendments of the CTA.
