No end to political impasse in Tibetan parliament-in-exile

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 24

The political stalemate continues in the Tibetan parliament-in-exile as 22 newly elected MPs have not yet taken oath. There are 45 members of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Of these, only 21 MPs have taken the oath of office. There is one interim speaker and one member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile from Australia, who has not been able to come to India to take oath due to travel restrictions.

The 22 MPs are not willing to take oath from Dawa Tsering, interim speaker. The MPs have been claiming that the Chief Justice Commission that appointed the interim speaker has no jurisdiction over the matter, as the previous parliament-in-exile had removed him.

Chief Justice Sonam Norbu Dagpo and two Justice Commissioners Karma Damdul and Tenzin Lungtok of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission were removed from office on March 25. The previous Tibetan parliament-in-exile, citing Article 58 of the exile Tibetan charter, had removed them from their posts on the charges of interfering in the business of the House.

However, a constitutional crisis was created as only the Chief Justice of Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission of the Tibetan government-in-exile can administer oath to the new president, also known as Sikyong.

Chief Justice Sonam Norbu Dagpo and two Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission resumed office on May 24. After taking over, they administered the oath of office to the new president of the Tibetan government-in-exile (Sikyong), Penpa Tsering, on May 27.

Sources said that the members of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission resumed office on the plea that the due process was not followed for their removal. As per the Tibetan Charter for the termination of the justices, a parliamentary committee should have been formed, and its report submitted to the parliament for a discussion. However, the process was not followed.

The Standing Committee of the previous Tibetan parliament-in-exile has, however, criticised the justices for resuming their duties, saying the act would be in defiance of the Tibetan Charter. The 21 newly elected MPs had supported the Justice Commissioners resuming their duties.