News and Views on Tibet

Public pressure mounts as parliamentary deadlock drags on

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Petitioners outside TSJC office on Friday

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, June 29: A group of Tibetans on Friday carried out a protest against the recent reinstatement of the three justices of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC) who were impeached by the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) through a secret ballot in March. The group filed over 3000 signatures of Tibetans in exile who said that they do not recognize the three reinstated judges as the resumption of their duties is ‘illegal’.

Thupten Norsang, one of the main petitioners who spoke to Phayul about the intention behind the petition said, “Whether the legal process regarding the removal of the justices was proper or not, we firmly oppose the unconstitutional return of the judges and believe that they had no right to appoint a Pro-tem Speaker and to give oath to the elected MPs.” However, there were dozens of unaccountable names in the list, including many Indian and a few Chinese names, which Norsang claimed were Tibetans who wanted to remain anonymous.

According to the spokesperson, the online petition was sent to the parliamentary secretariat, the Kashag, the TSJC, as well the private office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on June 4 through mail but received no response. The signatories of the petition claimed that they were compelled to visit the CTA premises due to the current stalemate at the Tibetan administration. The appeal letter insisted that the justices had at first accepted the decision of the previous parliament but eventually said that they ‘recused’ themselves from the posts; the statement by TSJC said that it did so in order to not interfere in the investigative proceedings.

Calls for ending the impasse between the new parliamentarians were further highlighted as a Tibetan man living in Hunsur Rabgyaling settlement self immolated and sustained burn injuries last week. The act has generated responses from a few MPs, but the deadlock continues to go on.  The June 8 oath-taking ceremony of the 17th TPIE was mired by divided stances on the legality of the three justices, who had by then sworn in the new CTA President (Sikyong) Penpa Tsering on May 27.

9 Responses

  1. Truth always taste bitter and very sour even sometimes expected honest person hates to taste. Truth is not for even elite groups and who cares when ordinary people demand for truth. However, trying to search for judicious and responsible officer is an attempt of digging democratic value.
    First truth, 16th parliament session passed impeachment resolution and it cannot be eliminated by any attempt of misinterpreting the Charter. It can only be reversed through same proceeding in the parliament. No matter, any elite groups, called it unconstitutional or breach of natural justice or Article 5 of Charter is brought to nullify the act. Parliament is the legislative assembly and any bill passed in the parliament, no Supreme Court in any country has the right to nullify it. For instant, years ago Indian Parliament passed a bill called Revocation of Article 370 and Reorganization of the autonomy status of J&K state to create it into two different Union territories. Many well known Indian politicians such as P. Chittamparam etc. well known Human Rights Activists, Lawyers and famous politicians have called it unconstitutional. Streets in Delhi infested with activist groups in support of the reinstatement of the Autonomy status but the bill that earned majority support in the parliament session became act. It could not be nullify by any groups but parliament can in future. So, how could our exile government go against the parliament’s resolution which has earned requiring majority? Are we in the right track of democratic process or working against the Legislative Assembly ? How could parliament’s resolution and the Standing Committee be ignored even by MP who are responsible to protect laws they made in the parliament? How come MP go against their own resolution ? How come law makers relied on people that do not make laws ? How come some MP reacted irresponsible to their own resolution cowardly and seeking clean chit from bazaar politic ?
    Second truth, the so-called Yigcha Ang Sorgu is still exist and no democratic institution can neglect it. This bill is an act and exclusively Legislative Assembly can revoke it through due process. As long as it exist, the 17th parliament MPs have responsibility to carry on and cannot neglect it. Anybody can explain anything about the impeachment resolution and Yigcha Ang Sorgu but the bottom line is, it has become act since March 25, 2021. Therefore, this act has to be respect by all three pillars including medias. No one has the right to make judgement on parliament’s act nor nullify it. If anyone is allowed to act against the law passed by the parliament today then we cannot protect law in future. The choice is in the hands of Exile CTA leaders, Department Heads, elite groups, supporters and Masterminds.

  2. We support TSJC and consider article 39 as illegitimate act to topple Tibetan Democracy in exile. We support TSJC for performing their duties.

  3. The illegal reinstatement of the three ex -judges is an insult to democracy and its institutions. I as a common Tibetan firmly reject their illegal occupation of the TCJCs office. Please leave the office now.

  4. The group consisting of 10 men and 2 women standing in front of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission could have used their time and resources for something else instead of enacting a theatrical show. Every Tibetan wants to see an end to the existing crisis and such activities would only help amplify the tense situation.

  5. Thank you very much for covering ordinary Tibetan people petition movement. This is a truth voice of majority Tibetan people.

  6. See these foolish people of a dozen or so, they are trying to hijack the Tibetan democracy. CTA must recognize their face and investigate their link with the anti Tibetans or relation with Red Chinese. These anti Tibetans don’t believe in rule of law. They are the face of the destruction of Tibetan democracy where string has been pulled by some others.

  7. Unlike other Tibetan media, phayul really is a real news media. So unbiased and covers everything as purely news without taking any sides.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *