By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, May 26: The two-term President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), known also as the Tibetan government-in-exile, Dr. Lobsang Sangay and his cabinet gave its final address to the Tibetan public on Wednesday. The outgoing President through his address shown through Tibet TV online, the CTA run medium, welcomed the successor, “I’m committed to ensuring the smooth transition of power to President-elect Penpa Tsering. It is the responsibility of every Tibetan to support him in his global advocacy efforts for Tibet and the Tibetan people. I wish the incoming Sikyong and his Kashag all the best.”
The Harvard graduate along with his ministers thanked Tibetans inside and outside Tibet for their support and vowed to continue working for the struggle. He also noted the difficulties faced during numerous attempts made to engage in discussions with Chinese representatives, “From my official visits as the Sikyong, I have experienced first-hand the reach of the Chinese government’s pressure on governments across the world to distance themselves from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which China labels as being a splittist organization.” The enormous pressure exerted by the Chinese government resulted in last minute cancellations of my meetings or downgrading the contact with lower ranking officials.”
The outgoing President said he remains hopeful of the younger generation of Tibetans in the diaspora spread across the world, “Our youth and the clarity of their vision as Tibetans – even though Tibet is an imagined homeland for many of them – has inspired me deeply. . . We must support their vision and augment their efforts amongst youth across the Tibetan diaspora for we are only strong if we are united and work as one community.” He also praised the extensive political engagement by the Tibetans in public discourse, particularly during the recent general elections.
The 15th Kashag also invoked the need to remember those suffering in Tibet under the Chinese occupation, and hoped that the Tibetan struggle is resolved in the near future, “The sacrifices made by our elders and our brothers and sisters in occupied Tibet should guide our efforts, strengthen, and reinvigorate our cause. We must never forget the struggles of Tibetans inside Tibet. We must never forget the 155 Tibetans, of which 133, died from self-immolation.”
The Dr. Sangay served for two terms from 2011-2021 as the head of the Tibetan polity and was the first ever Tibetan leader to take over reins from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Sikyong-elect Penpa Tsering is set to take oath of office in front of Chief Justice Commissioner Sonam Norbu Dagpo on May 27 at the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission building, CTA. The exiled spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama will also attend the swearing-in ceremony virtually from his residence in Dharamshala.
