Penpa Tsering

Penpa Tsering
སྤེན་པ་ཚེ་རིང
Penpa Tsering in 2023
2nd Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 May 2021
Preceded byLobsang Sangay
Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile
In office
2008–2016
Monarch14th Dalai Lama
Preceded byKarma Chophel (14th TPiE)
Succeeded byKhenpo S Tenphel (16th TPiE)
Personal details
Born1967 (age 56–57)
Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India
CitizenshipTibetan in exile
Political partyNational Democratic Party of Tibet/ Independent
Alma materMadras Christian College

Penpa Tsering (Tibetan: སྤེན་པ་ཚེ་རིང, Wylie: spen pa tshe ring་; born 1967) is a Tibetan politician based in India.[1] He is the second democratically elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration in India.[2][3] He succeeded the last Sikyong Lobsang Sangay on 27 May 2021.[2][4] Penpa Tsering was the speaker of the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan Parliament in Exile) for two terms between 2008 and 2016.[5]

Early life

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Penpa Tsering was born in a refugee camp in Bylakuppe in the Indian state of Karnataka in 1967.[6] After topping his schooling, he graduated with Honours degree in economics from Madras Christian College.[6] Following stints in the Tibetan Freedom Movement and the Nigerian-Tibet Friendship Association during his college days,[7] he went on to serve as the executive director at the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC) in Delhi between 2001 and 2008.[6] TPPRC is a joint project of the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation and Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, with a mandate of "promoting the political programme of the Tibetan administration".[8]

Political career

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A session of the Tibetan Parliament in Dharamsala, 2013. Penpa Tsering, Speaker, is visible on the right. Lobsang Sangay on the left.

Penpa was elected to the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for two terms from 1996 and 2006.[9] Following this he became the speaker of the 14th and 15th Parliament between 2008 and 2016.[5] In July 2016, he was appointed the 'North America Representative of the Dalai Lama, Representative to Office of Tibet, Washington, D.C.' for a year.[9][10][11] He formally took charge on 29 August 2016.[7] As Representative, his duties involved meeting leaders and officials,[12] chairing cultural events related to Tibet, and addressing Tibetans and Tibet related issues.[13][14]

Penpa was runner up in the Sikyong election in 2016.[15] He announced his candidacy for 2021 election on 3 September 2020.[16] During the 2021 CTA general election, Penpa secured 34,324 votes, 5,417 more than Kaydor Aukatsang (Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang) who secured the second highest votes; a total of 63,991 Tibetans voted.[17][18] Penpa has spoken about "resolving the issue of Tibet", "taking care of the welfare of Tibetans in exile",[19] pursuing "all possible ways to communicate with China,"[20] "facilitat(ing) a visit of the Dalai Lama to China,"[21] and advocating for the release of "Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and all other political prisoners".[22][23]

Penpa was sworn in as Sikyong on 27 May 2021 in the presence of the Dalai Lama who attended virtually.[24] The oath was administered by Chief Justice Commissioner Sonam Norbu Dagpo.[24] He often quotes the middle way and guidance of Dalai Lama.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Bhatia, Ashwini (14 May 2021). "Penpa Tsering elected of Tibetan exile government". Washington Post. AP. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Penpa Tsering New President Of Tibetan Govt-In-Exile". Outlook India. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  3. ^ Lhamo, Choekyi (14 May 2021). "Penpa Tsering to become the next Sikyong of CTA". Phayul. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Sikyong Lobsang Sangay congratulates Sikyong-elect Penpa Tsering, offers full co-operation in transition of power". Central Tibetan Administration. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Successive Chairman and Speaker | Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile". tibetanparliament.org. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Thakur, Naresh K (14 May 2021). "Penpa Tsering is president-elect of Tibetan government-in-exile". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b "New Representative Mr Penpa Tsering Takes Charge of OOT, Washington". Central Tibetan Administration. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC)". Tibet Online. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b Mohan, Lalit (8 February 2021). "Penpa Tsering emerges frontrunner in first round of elections for post of Sikyong". The Tribune India. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Penpa Tsering appointed as Representative of Dalai Lama to US". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Sikyong Briefs Media on Appointment of Speaker Penpa Tsering as Representative of OOT, Washington". Central Tibetan Administration. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Representative Penpa Tsering Meets US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Sarah Sewall". Central Tibetan Administration. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Representative Penpa Tsering chaired Tibetan Language and Cultural School's Conference and met with important leaders in Portland". Central Tibetan Administration. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Representative Penpa Tsering Discusses Tibet with Chinese Democracy Activists". Central Tibetan Administration. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Joint Press Conference by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Speaker Penpa Tsering (Express Apology and Appeal for Unity)". Central Tibetan Administration. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  16. ^ Lhamo, Choekyi (3 September 2020). "Former Speaker Penpa Tsering announces candidacy for 2021 Sikyong". Phayul. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Penpa Tsering elected president of Central Tibetan Administration". The Times of India. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  18. ^ Bhatia, Varinder (4 February 2021). "Elections for Tibetan Parliament-in-exile". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  19. ^ Ngodup, Pema (19 April 2021). "Projected Winner in Vote for Tibet's Exile Leader Vows Hard Work, Asks for Unity". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  20. ^ Lodoe, Kalden; Wangchuk, Tashi (7 April 2021). "Final Vote For Exile Tibetan Leader Set For April 11, With Frontrunners Pledging Greater Foreign Outreach". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  21. ^ Ahuja, Namrata Biji (2 May 2021). "Will work to restart the Sino-Tibetan dialogue". The Week. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  22. ^ Kranti, Vijay (26 April 2021). "Release of Panchen Lama and political prisoners will be a top agenda of the new Sikyong of Tibet". Phayul. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Release of Panchen Lama, political prisoners top of Tibet Sikyong's agenda". The Sunday Guardian Live. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  24. ^ a b c "Penpa Tsering sworn-in as president Tibetan government-in-exile". The Economic Times. PTI. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

Further reading

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