The Tibetan community in the diaspora for past few weeks have been strongly involved in heated debates over the issue of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay led Kashag ousting Penpa Tsering from the post of Representative to the North America. However the Kashag led by Sikyong’s clarifications have further deepened the debate.
While the Kashag initially refusing to make any public clarifications of replacing the former speaker Mr. Penpa Tsering as Representative of North America, it released a ten point description of reasons to have considered by Kashag in taking the decision to public demand on November 18.
However, these clarifications seem to have further deepened the questions among the general public. While Kashag mainly point out to Penpa Tsering ousting came out of a growing trust deficit, under performance and insubordination, the incumbent representative sternly denied all the allegations made against him and reassured that he will make a detailed public replied to all the points after November 30.
The most important point of debate arises from the fact that despite Kashag clearly mentioning in its official clarification that the $1.5 million(not recorded in account) amount taken from Tibet Fund as contribution for the purchase of the building in Washington D.C. to house the Office of Tibet, The Tibet Fund’s audited account recorded the same amount as receivables by March 31, 2043.
“March 31, 2014 the Fund entered into a $1,500,000 Loan Agreement with The Office of Tibet to purchase a building that will then be partially subleased by the Fund. The loan is partially collateralized by a lease agreement between the Fund and The Office of Tibet in an aggregate amount of $425,000. The loan matures on March 31, 2043 at which point the balloon payment of $1,500,000 will be due. The interest rate is 1% and the interest income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $15,000. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2014 is $1,500,000.” said the auditors according to the report in Phayul.
Another important argument raised comes from Todd Stein who shared on the social media that according to the USDOJ FARA disclosure, in contrary Kashag’s alleged under performance by representative Penpa Tsering, he has carried out more 142 meetings with Congress & Administration in 13 months than his predecessor who had 69 such meetings in 36 months.
While Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay was also greeted by a group of Tibetan demonstrators raising placards demanding the truth when he arrived in Canada, he explained in the interactions with the Tibetans during his current tour that Kashag has all the details of proofs upon the allegations against the representative while explaining all the points of clarifications to the public.