The Tibetan Parliament in Exile is headed for another deadlock as it fails to convene the ongoing sessions on Monday. The general session of the seventeenth parliament that began on September 7th was suspended on Saturday after some members of the parliament walked out from the proceedings.
On the fourth day of the fourth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, it began with paying tribute and solidarity at the passing away of UK’s Queen Elizabeth II. Sikyong Penpa Tsering read the legislative amendments to article 63 of the Charter of Tibetans in exile. The amendments are concerning the Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission.
Following objections from members of the parliament, the speaker opened the floor for questioning. However, soon some members brought up the issue of the 16th parliament’s resolution that impeached all Justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice led to a long deadlock last year. This was met by repeated objections from fellow members of the parliament.
With some members’ insistence that incumbent Justice Commissioners holding their offices illegitimate after the previous parliament’s resolution that impeached them, some members’ objection towards that was based on the fact that the resolution was discarded when the current speakers of the parliament took oath from them.
Following the statements from Members Juchen Konchok Chodon and Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende stating that they do not consider the incumbent Justice Commissioners legitimate office bearers, Members led by Dawa Phunkyi and Dawa Tsering raised objections to their statements and finally walked out of the session. The speaker then inform the house that it didn’t have the two-third minimum attendance required to hold the session and adjourned the house till Monday.
The speaker on Monday announced that the house didn’t have the required minimum attendance and therefore, it will resume the sessions when it can have the required attendance. However, the two contrasting opinions of the members of the parliament struggle to have a resolution according to individuals speaking to the press on Monday. The deadlock last year lasted for more than five months and this session now seems to be headed for another deadlock and it remains to be seen how long it goes.