By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, August 13: A group of young Tibetan exiles Friday launched a campaign website dedicated to supporting Dr Lobsang Sangay in his race for the Tibetan Prime Minister’s office.
“Through this website we are endorsing our support for Dr.Lobsang Sangay la as a candidate for the ‘Kalon Tripa’ Elections,” the campaigning group said in a statement posted on the website.
Describing themselves as “an independent and diverse group of Tibetans comprising of youths, monks and elder Tibetans” the group said their collective initiative is part of a larger campaign to promote political awareness in the Tibetan society.
The website, kalontripafortibet.org, was inaugurated by former Tibetan monk political prisoner Ven Palden Gyatso at a press conference here this morning.
“In launching this website I endorse my support for Dr Lobsang Sangay as the right candidate for the post of Kalon Tripa,” Ven Gyatso said.
“My support for him comes irrespective of religious or regional partisanship or any other affinities, but purely for his level of knowledge and expertise, his rich and diverse experiences and above all his ability and a strong sense of commitment to work for Tibet’s cause,” said 80-year old Gyatso, who escaped into India in 1992 after spending 33 years in Chinese prison for his role in the 1959 Tibetan uprising.
“We all know that it is an expressed wish of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to have a young, energetic, educated and dedicated Tibetan as an elected leader. And I also personally believe there is a need for some kind of change in our long-held traditional approach. So Dr Lobsang Sangay’s all-rounded personality gives me the confidence to support him wholeheartedly,” he added.
Lobsang Sangay, a research fellow at the Harvard Law School, is seen by many Tibetans as a powerful Kalon Tripa candidate. He is seen enjoying a huge following in run-up to the upcoming elections and is currently leading a popular online straw poll.
The website features sections where one can read his biography, watch his videos, and read his published articles and interviews
All these features, the group says will enable Tibetan masses to know more about Sangay as a candidate for Kalon Tripa elections.
While supporting and endorsing Dr Lobsang Sangay as a candidate, the campaign group says the website will also serve as a information platform to enable Tibetan diaspora community to make “informed choice”.
The site also has blog space, where public can submit views and opinions about the elections, and a separate public message forum where visitors can leave comments.
“This website is also aimed at informing the general Tibetan Diaspora about the coming ‘Kalon Tripa’ elections. Becoming an integral part of an electoral process starts by endorsing a candidate of your choice,” the group says.
Creating awareness about the Tibetan electoral process, engaging the youths to participate actively in it, and sharing essential information and opinion on related issues are other things that will feature prominently on the website, the group says.
