Thoughts on Electing the Next Tibetan Leader
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) works to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet. Therefore, we have always been interested in the democratic experiment that the Tibetans in exile have been undergoing for the past nearly 50 years.
Very soon, the Tibetans in exile will take yet another step forward when they begin preparation for the election of the Kalon Tripa, the Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet. Until 2001, this position was nominated and appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 2001, at the expressed desire of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people in exile began to directly elect the Kalon Tripa.
There is some discussion among the Tibetans in diaspora, mostly on the internet, about possible candidates for the next Kalon Tripa and the significance of the upcoming elections to the position, taking place in 2011, to the Tibetan movement. The present Kalon Tripa, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, completes his second term by then and the Charter of the Tibetans in exile does not permit a third continued term for any one individual. Also, Rinpoche himself is on record as saying that the Tibetan people need to look for another person, ideally younger, to be the next Kalon Tripa.
Ever since the promulgation of the Tibetan Charter in Exile, the position of the Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet, i.e., the Kalon Tripa, has achieved a legally higher profile in the Tibetan governmental system in exile than in the past. This has been further strengthened by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s regular assertion that he is “semi-retired” and that the Kalon Tripa is the “Boss” when it comes to Tibetan politics. In a way, the direction of the Tibetan movement, including the future of the Tibetan community in exile, for the next decade or so from 2011, may be determined by whoever occupies the position.
Therefore, among the comparatively politically aware Tibetans there is growing interest, concern, apprehension and optimism about the next Kalon Tripa. In fact, there is a website dedicated to highlighting possible candidates to the position. Various possible names are also being bandied about on Tibet-related websites and blogs.
While these are earnest and laudable efforts, it is my contention that the Tibetan people need to restructure the focus of their thinking in order to find a good answer to the issue of the next Kalon Tripa. Instead of trying to look for possible candidates first, there needs to be a public discourse, followed by a possible consensus, about the responsibilities of the Kalon Tripa. If people try looking at the candidates first based solely on their individual expectations they may never find a suitable candidate. Not one individual out there will have all the criteria that people may think the position should have. However, if there is a broad consensus on the responsibilities first, then any and every candidate that may come up would be clear on what he or she should be focusing on when in office in 2011. This may be a more practical and pragmatic approach. I am saying this while being aware that the Tibetan Charter does outline the role of the Kalon Tripa within the democratic system in exile. But I think the need of the time, the political situation (both Tibetan and international), and the recent statements by the Dalai Lama all indicate that Tibetans should take a fresh look at, if not redefine, the responsibilities of the position to really prepare the Tibetan people for the long run. This would mean the
next Kalon Tripa will have to alter his or her priorities.
In order to consider what the responsibilities of the Tibetan leader should be, the Tibetan people need to look at the position’s current responsibilities, which can be divided into two broad categories: i) administering the Tibetan community in exile, which includes looking after the various institutions that deal with the socio-economic, cultural and educational needs of the people; and ii) providing political leadership to the Tibetan people.
I believe that the next Kalon Tripa needs to devote himself or herself primarily to the responsibility of providing political leadership to the Tibetan people. Although the administration of the community in exile is important, the day-to-day management can be assigned to an appointed professional official who is well versed in such a task. The next Kalon Tripa should devote his or her time and effort to the consolidation of the Tibetan community, becoming their spokesperson and look into creation of a system providing a continuation of leadership.
There are three main ways to implement this provision of political leadership.
First, the position needs to understand that the basis of the Tibetan people’s support to the leadership currently is the historical role of the institution of the Dalai Lamas. The next Kalon Tripa needs to work on a strategy to continuing this relationship and to strengthen the institution to prepare for any and all eventualities.
Secondly, the Kalon Tripa needs to be the seen as the leader of all Tibetans and not just of the hundred thousand or so Tibetans in exile. The strength of the Tibetan leadership under His Holiness the Dalai Lama today is that it enjoys the loyalty and support of the broad majority of Tibetans who are in Tibet. The millions of Tibetans in Tibet have shown this in different ways, time and again. The next Kalon Tripa needs to find creative ways to strengthen this special bond between the Tibetan people and the leadership.
Thirdly, the next Kalon Tripa needs to clearly comprehend the reality of the position in terms of relationship with the international community and the governments throughout the world, including that of India. Accordingly, he or she needs to come up with a strategy to secure the formal or de facto acceptance by the governments as a spokesman for the Tibetan people. He or she needs to be able to stand on his or her own feet (think beyond the structure of Dharamsala) and be recognized as being on the helms of the Tibetan leadership by the international community.
The Tibetan people need public discussions along the above lines first, as this has implications for the long-term future.
Caption: Tibetans in Dharamsala participating in an election. (www.tibet.net)
5 Responses to “Thoughts on Electing the Next Tibetan Leader”
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They Might want to consider the importance of Tibet as a buffer between China and India as emerging world powers as the focus of globalization shifts to Asia. They should consider that the Tibet people should be considered a model as International and National Cultural Treasures to be protected and preserved from being submerged by the melting pot idea of nationalism. Allowing cultural autonomy would be helpful as a way of absorbing the multiplicity of ethnic biodiversity within a larger society without the strife and antagonism of the minority and majority populations and recognize the value of not over-running autonomous areas in order to help preserve their cultural integrity.
As our world becomes more globalized this dynamic between the variety of cultures versus the global culture will be important for all people on our tiny jewel of life called Earth with respect for interdependence as well as individuality within the whole.
i am a single woman buddhist in cape town south africa & i travel, care about animals a lot.
my wish for your candidate is that they will not allow any more wrongful behaviour & psycho abuse in all the meditation groups worldwide, where buddhism has been going corrupt & wrongful mind abuse things going on, & abuse of certain students like myself. if there were proper ethics in the existing groups, it would make a big difference to the politics & help everyone see clearly & know what’s going on, instead of leaving a bigger & bigger mess every day for me to clean up in south africa .
How exciting to get a window into the political development of the Tibetan people! I think Tibetans would be stunned to learn how eager outsiders are to get a glimpse of this process, and more importantly, how much we can learn from them.
From reading this report, my impression is that the Kalon Tripa is a political position, not religious. Of course, as the representative of Tibetan culture, this person must be beyond reproach in all actions, and highly advanced in the Dharma. However, the Kalon Tripa will be interacting with the lay community of Tibet as well as the world. A key function will be the ability to identify, synthesise and articulatly convey the needs and desires of the Tibetans to each other first, then to the rest of us.
I will be watching this process and learning how democracy can be advanced by Tibetan practice. Thank you for this opportunity.
Tashi delay!
The next Kalon Tripa needs to be holier than Mahatma Gandhi and HHDL all rolled into one. He must be the greatest strategist willing to involve himself in the most controversial and dangerous campaigns of nonviolent non cooperation with the Chinese authorities in Tibet. He must press vigorously for complete independence for Tibet, without any Chinese claim of influence. Completely liberating Tibet from the poison of Chinese communism will usher in a great age of cooperation as Tibet regathers her sons and daughters from the diaspora that has scattered them with the four winds.
I see Tibetans as Universal beings of:
LOVE TRUTH & HARMONIC RIGHT ACTION
They have been & are processing PLANETARY CONSCIOUSNESS & their tremendous suffering is not, to me about KARMA but about being COSMIC volunteers who take on the difficulties and transmute the energies of GREED & POWER OVER throughout this earth & particularly in Tibet with its proximity to China. The BLESSED energy of every flying Prayer Flag in cooperation with the HOLY WIND wraps all of life in a garment of LOVE TRUTH & HARMONIC RIGHT ACTION! The suffering of Tibetans, at the unconscious hands of the Chinese Gov’t. & those who obey that gov’t, has called PLANETARY ATTENTION to the enormous imbalance being acted out against their own people and the Tibetans as-well-as reminding EVERY COUNTRY how much change is now necessary toward a Planetary Reality of: LOVE, TRUTH & HARMONIC RIGHT ACTION…….NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES WHICH TIBETANS HAVE CALLED TO PLANETARY ATTENTION. THE CHINESE CAN STOP THEIR TORTURES! EVEN INTO DEATH, THEY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY CONTROLLED THE TIBETANS. In Christianity, it is recorded that the one called JESUS said: “FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” The Chinese do not see the whole picture of a Planetary Future but they can, when they choose, as can ALL countries! In the name of; LOVE TRUTH & HARMONIC RIGHT ACTION, I IMAGINE THAT REALITY & attempt to live it in the moment-by-moment breath of every NOW!