Opened todays Republica. Interesting news about the Tibetan community in Nepal trying to start an election process via the Tibetan government in exile. In other words, the Tibetan diaspora in Nepal is using the soverign state of Nepal to adress political issues in their occupied country(which China in claiming) through a government in exile which resides in yet another country, India.
In picture: Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche (Center) leads a religious procession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's portrait as part of the ceremonial opening of a six-day Tibetan National General Meeting in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe in the South Indian state of Karnataka, India, Thursday, August 26, 2010.
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KATHMANDU, Oct 4: Nepali authorities on Sunday foiled the primary polls organized by Tibetan refugees in various locations in Kathmandu Valley to nominate candidates for the post of prime minister and members of Tibetan government-in-exile.
Officials at the Home Ministry said police personnel were mobilized to foil the voting to nominate the successor of Samdhong Rimpoche and 44 other members of the Tibetan government-in-exile at Swaymbhu, Boudhha and Jawalakhel areas as ´it violated Nepal´s foreign policy and existing laws of the host country´.
Hundreds of Tibetan refugees living in Kathmandu Valley had gathered at Swaymbhu, Boudhha and Jawalakhel to take part in the voting that began at 9 am. While the voting in Swayambhu and Boudhha was halted after police seized the ballot boxes, the refugee leaders had agreed not to conduct voting in Jawalakhel following police intervention.
However, no arrests were made in connection with the incident.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramesh Kharel, chief of Metropolitan Police Range Office, Kathmandu, police seized 10 ballot boxes from Boudhha and eight others from Swaymbhu to foil the voting. The refugees had dispersed themselves after the seizure of the ballot boxes.
The Tibetan refugees gathered at Jawalakhel likewise halted their voting program after police personnel reached the venue, said Bikram Thapa, chief of Metropolitan Police Range Office, Lalitpur. “The refugees gathered dispersed on their own after police team reached there,” he said.
A text message received by this scribe from a Tibetan refugee leader in Kathmandu said that Tibetans were barred from going inside the election spot to cast their votes and ballot boxes were seized. “It is totally against human rights as we believe all people should be allowed to vote,” read the text message.
The Home Ministry in a statement Sunday evening said the voting act of Tibetan refugees to organize ´so-called election violating Nepal´s foreign policy and existing laws of the host country´ has drawn serious attention of the ministry.
The statement said Nepal always respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighboring countries and that it is committed not to allow any activities that are detrimental to their interests on its soil. “The ministry has already instructed local administrations to take action as per the laws of the land against those engaged in such activities,” added the statement.
According to the Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration, altogether 79,449 people registered to vote for the prime minister and members of the Tibetan government in exile. This includes some 20,000 Tibetan refugees living in various parts of Nepal.
The police crackdown on Tibetans comes amidst mounting pressure from China to curb ´anti-China activities´ perpetrated by Tibetan refugees living in Nepal. China has grown particularly sensitive over Tibetans´ activities especially after they launched anti-China demonstrations in Kathmandu in March, 2008 to mark 50th anniversary of their failed uprisings against Chinese rulers in 1959.
According to the Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration, there are over one dozen candidates including Harvard University Professor Lobsang Sangay, Tibetan diplomat Tenzin Tethong Namgyal, former President of Tibetan Youth Congress Tsetan Norbu, Speaker Pempa Tsering and Deputy- Speaker Dolma Gyari in the race for prime minister.
The Election Commission originally planned to compile the results of the preliminary rounds held on Sunday in a month from Tibetan settlements all over India, Bhutan, and Nepal and from North America. The 2011 general elections will decide the third directly elected Tibetan PM and members of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
The general election, according to Tibetan refugee leaders, attaches greater significance as it will elect new leadership that will have crucial responsibility to lead Tibetan movement, since aging Dalai Lama, 75, has already signaled his retirement anytime soon.
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