Dharamshala, 7th October, 2024: In accordance with the Charter of Tibetan in exile, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile administered the oath of offices to Lobsang Yeshi, former parliamentarian, as the Commissioner of the Tibetan Election Commission and Tsultrim Dorjee, Director of Tibetan Children Village, as a member of the Public Service Commission earlier today.
They were elected with two-third majority votes during last day of the 8th session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Former Parliamentarian Lobsang Yeshi was elected as the Commissioner of the Tibetan Election Commission, receiving 29 votes against Lhalung Gyal, who garnered 12 votes. TCV Director Tsultrim Dorjee was elected as a member of the Public Service Commission with 24 votes, defeating Thupten Yarphel (Ven.), who received 18 votes.
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted in the presence of Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, officiating Sikyong Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, and standing committee members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile at 10 am in the Parliament hall.
The ceremony began with the offering of Tibetan traditional scarves to the portrait of His Holiness the great 14th Dalai Lama, followed by oath administration, serving a sweetened rice and Tibetan butter tea.
The ceremony concluded with Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, officiating Sikyong Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, and members of the Standing Committee congratulating the new Election Commissioner and new member of the Public Service Commission with Tibetan ceremonial scarves.
Brief Bio of Lobsang Yeshi
Mr. Lobsang Yeshi is an alumnus of SFF Tibetan School in Herbertpur. He earned his B.A./B.Ed. degree from Punjab University in Chandigarh in 1992. During his college years, he served as General Secretary of the Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement, President of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and Vice President of the Foreign Students’ Association in Chandigarh.
Following his graduation, Mr. Yeshi taught at CST Paonta Sahib School for two years. He then worked as a researcher and translator at the Tibetan Affairs Monitor and Research Unit in Delhi for six years. Subsequently, he taught at Sera Jey Secondary School in Bylakuppe for seven years while also serving as Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and later as its Vice President.
From 2007 to 2013, he was involved with CHOICE HIV/AIDS Initiatives as a board member, coordinator, and HIV trainer. He is also an independent researcher, producing papers and articles on Sino-Indo-Tibetan affairs.
Mr. Yeshi was elected to the 15th and 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, serving two consecutive terms from 2011 to 2021. During his tenure, he was a member of the Standing Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, actively participating in two World Parliamentarians Conventions and the Tibetan Special General Meeting, among others. Additionally, he served as the Tibetan Settlement Officer for Lugsam Tibetan Settlement in Bylakuppe for one year.
Brief Bio of Tsultrim Dorjee
Mr. Tsultrim Dorjee was born in a small village in Tibet and came into exile in India in 1980, seeking better educational opportunities and the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He completed his schooling at Upper TCV in 1992 and earned a B.Com from St. Xavier’s College in 1994. After obtaining his B.Ed., he worked as a high school social studies teacher from 1996 to 2005, then served as headmaster from 2006 to 2012. In 2012, he became the director of TCV Gopalpur and has worked there for five years. From 2017, he has been serving as the director of Upper TCV.
