Dharamshala-- The 15th Tibetan Parliament in-Exile successfully concluded its 9th session on 28 March 2015, which mainly discussed the 2015-2016 budget for the Central Tibetan Administration based in India.
In addition to budget discussions, the Parliament in-Exile also voted to create a new seat in Parliament to represent the great number of Tibetans in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia besides India, Bhutan and Nepal. The motion for an Australasian seat passed with a total of 29 votes, exceeding the two-thirds margin needed.
Meanwhile, the motion to create two new seats for the Jhonang sects did not pass, as it only received 17 votes, which was not enough to pass. This drew a crowd of around 30 people outside the Tibetan parliament to protest Parliament's decision.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, gave a brief overview of the proceedings that took place during the 9th session, and expressed the need for Tibetan people, at a time when the Tibet issue is enjoying substantial media coverage and international attention, to personally participate in the cause.
"Even though we now have the facility of live telecast of the functions and teaching proceedings, it is better if we personally attend. Our gatherings in large numbers send a strong signal to China of our unity and would also serve as a source of inspiration for the Tibetans inside Tibet," the Speaker added.
The parliament will meet next in September to discuss the annual reports submitted by the seven departments of the Central Tibetan Administration.
