Dharamshala — The political leader of Tibetan people SIkyong Dr Lobsang Sangay has congratulated Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party (NLD) for their apparent landslide victory in this week's parliamentary elections.
"On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration and the entire Tibetan people, I extend my warm greetings and congratulations on your party – National League for Democracy's massive victory in the recent general election of Myanmar," Dr Sangay said in a statement dated November 11, 2015.
"When you were released from house arrest in November 2010, the world watched in hopeful expectations of gradual democratic changes in Myanmar. Now in November 2015, exactly five years after your release, your party's decisive victory through popular vote is indeed a victory for the ideals of democracy that you hold close to your heart," Sikyong said.
"The virtues of patience and non-violence that you espouse are a source of strength for the entire world including the Tibetan people. Tibet, besides sharing a common Buddhist heritage, is unified with the people of Myanmar by their deep commitment to democracy, the universality of human rights, religious harmony, and the brotherhood of all peoples," the statement read.
"I wish you all the success as you embark upon your new responsibilities and hope that you will raise your pivotal voice for a quick resolution of the Tibet issue just as you have done to usher in democracy in Myanmar," Sikyong expressed.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama met privately with Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi in London, on June 19, 2012.
During the 30-minute meeting, the spiritual leader of Tibet told the fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, “I have real admiration for your courage. I am very happy we’ve been able to meet.”
His Holiness told her that he was confident that she would continue her late father’s legacy as a dedicated leader in service to humanity, and wished her success in her goals.
Analysts expect a landslide victory for the National League for Democracy Party led by peace icon, Daw Aung San Su Kyi in the general election, in Myanmar also known as Burma.
As vote counting dragged on, Ms Suu Kyi reiterated that she plans to run the government above the presidency, having been barred from that office under an army-drafted constitution.
The army has also enshrined its power in the constitution – reserving 25% of parliament seats – keeping the most powerful ministerial portfolios and banning Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency as she has foreign family members. Her late husband was a British academic and she has two British sons.
The army ignored a landslide win by the party in 1990 and implemented a brutal crackdown that saw Ms Suu Kyi kept under house arrest for 15 years.
The 70-year-old Nobel laureate has won a stunning victory with her party obtaining up to 80 per cent of votes in last Sunday's election, a result that will shape the future of the country that was ruled for half a century by despotic army generals.
A total of 498 seats are being contested in the upper and lower houses of Myanmar's parliament. The 2015 polls were observed by around 10,000 election monitors, including many from the European Union and United Nations, and early indications from monitors suggested a largely transparent process.
