Dharamshala: Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, as the Chief Guest addressed the 30th founding anniversary of the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT) on 4th September 2024.
The event was also attended by special guests Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, former Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and former president of the NDPY, and Gonpo Dhondup, President of Tibetan Youth Congress, alongside other guests and public.
Addressing the gathering, the Speaker welcomed attendees to the anniversary celebration and emphasized the significance of the democratic legacy bestowed upon the Tibetan people by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. On September 2, 1960, His Holiness inaugurated the Tibetan democratic system with the swearing-in of 13 Tibetan deputies to the first Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
The Speaker highlighted how the Indian parliamentary system served as an inspiration for His Holiness to create a fairer democratic framework for Tibetans. He mentioned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama initiated the democratic reforms in Tibet by setting up committees, after assuming the leadership of Tibet at the age of 16. But the long aspired vision of a Tibetan democracy system was interrupted with communist China’s invasion.
Speaking about the challenges of democracy, the Speaker highlighted the responsibilities that lie with both leadership and the public in addressing these issues. This includes exercising intelligence in decision-making, showing tolerance toward differing opinions, embracing openness, and making necessary sacrifices.
Continuing his discussion on democratic challenges, the Speaker identified societal polarization as one of the most significant issues. He emphasized the importance of the public remaining objective rather than subjective when choosing leaders to effectively tackle this problem.
As he discussed various forms of democracy, the Speaker commended the NDPT’s efforts and encouraged the organization to increase public awareness about democracy and its principles. He also urged the public to follow parliamentary proceedings by watching live sessions and to be cautious of selectively edited videos that could be used to create discord within society.
