Dharamshala, India – The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) has officially announced the indefinite postponement of its sixth session, in accordance with Article 49 (ii) of the Charter of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. This decision comes after a critical quorum shortfall during the parliamentary proceedings.
Article 49 (ii) of the Charter of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile states, “If a session of the Tibetan Assembly is required to be adjourned by more than a week in the absence of the minimum quorum required, the Speaker of the Tibetan Assembly may adjourn the meeting.” The parliamentary secretariat, in an official circular, cited this provision as the basis for the postponement.
During the fourth day of the sixth session of the 17th TPiE, it was noted that only 25 Members of Parliament (MPs) were in attendance, falling short of the two-thirds majority quorum required, as stipulated in Article 49 (i) of the Charter.
The session was adjourned amid a backdrop of controversy surrounding allegations laid by MP Dawa Phunkyi against MP Geshe Monlam Tharchin’s purported meeting with a Chinese government staff member. A group of MPs had expressed their reluctance to participate in parliamentary proceedings until the Department of Security resolved the allegations.
Security Minister Gyari Dolma clarified that the responsibility to convene the parliament rested with the parliamentarians, not the Department of Security, as the issue had not been raised in parliament by her department. She also mentioned that the investigation into the allegations depended on the cooperation of sources, making it difficult to provide a definitive deadline for its conclusion.
Since the adjournment of the sixth session on September 22, the 17th TPiE has struggled to reconvene, leaving a significant portion of the session’s agendas incomplete. This prolonged parliamentary deadlock has raised concerns among the public, who perceive that elected Members of Parliament (MPs) are not fulfilling their roles effectively. This situation has contributed to division within the Tibetan diaspora community and a perception that lawmakers are falling short of their responsibilities as legislators.
Many have also expressed dismay over the financial resources expended by the exile government during this unproductive session. These resources encompass expenses such as travel, conveyance, and accommodation for lawmakers, further fueling frustration among the Tibetan public.
The Tibetan community now awaits the secretariat’s announcement of the rescheduled date for the continuation of the sixth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
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