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Photo: tibet.net

The 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile concluded its fifth session – the budget session for the fiscal year 2018 – 2019. The session approved a consolidated budget for the activities and functions of the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) seven departments, autonomous bodies

and offices.

Besides the budget proposal, the 11-day session deliberated comprehensively on the political and human rights situation inside Tibet, the global Tibetan movement and the activities of the seven departments of the CTA. It passed resolutions of mourning for Tenga, Konpe and Tsekho, the most recent self-immolators, and for the death of Tibet supporter Dr N K Trikha.

The session approved Dr Pema Yangchen as Kalon of the 15th Kashag following her nomination by CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay. She is a former vice principal of the Dalai Lama Institute and an academician based in Canada.

Photo: tibet.net

In his address on the final day of the session, Dr Sangay thanked the United States government and Congress for their continued support and financial aid. He thanked Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, and Richard Gere, Hollywood actor, for their unwavering support towards the Tibet cause.

Dr Sangay reiterated the importance of responsible exercising of rights that are guaranteed under the democratic system such as freedom of expression. He urged members not to hamper the unity and harmony in the Tibetan community and also urged Tibetans to be aware and vigilant and to refrain from sharing disinformation circulating in social media.

In his concluding remarks, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel expressed his satisfaction at the parliamentarians’ wholehearted participation and emphasised the importance of effective implementation of the budget in order to fulfil the stated objectives.

During the session, around 80 protestors gathered at the basketball court at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala to stage a “silent and peaceful” protest against the Kashag’s decision to remove Penpa Tsering from his position in the Office of Tibet, Washington, the CTA’s mission in North America.