By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 3: The two Additional Election Commissioners who were elected last week were officially sworn in on Tuesday by the Chief Justice Commissioner Mr. Sonam Norbu Dagpo at the Central Tibetan Administration compound here.
The oath ceremony of Geshema Delek Wangmo, teacher of Dolma Ling Nunnery and Mr. Sonam Gyaltsen, former Tibetan Parliamentarian and Professor of College for Higher Tibetan Studies (Sarah) was attended by the top leadership of the exile Tibetan government.
The two were unanimously elected by the by the standing Committee of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) last Tuesday.
The appointment of the two additional EC’s is mandated as per the Article 97 sub clause (a) of clause (2) of the Charter of Tibetans in Exile, which states, “As and when the Sikyong and the Tibetan Parliament elections are to be held, two Additional Election Commissioners shall be required; they will serve for the period from the announcement of the start of the election process until the declaration of the final voting results”.
Current member of the 16th standing committee of the TPiE and Bonpo MP Geshe Monlam Tharchin told Phayul that the appointment of the two additional EC marks the beginning of the official election season. He said, “As stated in the Charter, the election season begins when the two additional ECs take their oath and assumes their responsibilities, and ends when the result of the final election is declared.”
