Gyari Dolma kicks off her 2021 Sikyong campaign

DHARAMSALA, 14 Aug: Flagging off her 2021 Sikyong (President) election campaign, Gyari Dolma rooted for a stable administration on the bedrock of rule of law and collective effort for the cause of Tibet.

The former Kalon (Minister) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) began by describing her political vision as a “democracy on the bedrock of rule of law for a stable government and collective effort for the cause of Tibet,” describing it significant for both the sustenance and stability of the administration while speaking with the reporters to launch her campaign for the Sikyong 2021 race online through a Google meet conference as the political campaign for the election has been curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am fortunate to have been born into a family that has long dedicated to the service of Tibet,” she said and added with her vast experience of services at both the government and non-governmental organizations in the exile Tibetan community that spans over 30 years,  “I strongly believe that I can do justice to the office if elected,” she added.

Pitted against male candidates for the top job of the CTA, the lone women candidate for Sikyong 2021 thus far said that “I have to work harder, but it makes me perform better.”

She described the feat, as a “huge responsibility,” and added that her election will send a strong message to China that “Tibetan women have taken up the mantle of leadership in exile.”

Her election manifesto includes zero-interest loans to CTA civil servants for the welfare and sustenance of the administration and transforming Tibetan Community Associations abroad into Tibetan Settlement Offices based on their population to tend to their wellbeing pertaining to the need of a growing number of Tibetans immigrating to foreign countries out of India

On Middle way policy of the CTA, which seeks ‘genuine autonomy’ through the middle way approach, proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and adopted by the Tibetan Parliament in exile- she said professed her wholehearted support to the policy, and declared it the best possible solution to resolve the Tibetan issue.

However, given how China has received and responded to the genuine and sincere approach by the exiled Tibetan leadership, she send a clear message to Beijing that if the regime still persists with the same insincere mentality it will force the Tibetans towards thinking whether it’s time to rethink, reorganize and restrategise the stand rather than sitting on their hands and preserve.

The Sino-Tibet dialogue has been stalled since 2010, as the Chinese side has shut the door for negotiations.

Continuing with her talk, she campaigned for the need for the strong grasp of Tibetan language and its preservation in the exile and went on to suggest for the adoption of the 70,000 Character Petition written by the late 10th Panchen Lama as a textbook for Tibetan students in school and a promised a cabinet with a good blend of youth and experience representing both genders.

She also spoke about the importance of proper utilization of the opportunities that comes with the change in global geopolitics and stated that starting from India, our host, it is important for us make good use of these opportunities that arises to campaign to strengthen the support for the Tibet cause. And she expressed her firm belief in bringing fruition for the same.

Gyari Dolma previously ran for the top job of the exile Tibetan government in 2010 and later served as the Home Minister of the CTA during Sikyong Lobsang Sangay’s first term.

She also served as the member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile for over 20 years during which she was twice elected as the first female deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.

Gyari Dolma disclosed her intention to run for the upcoming Sikyong election of the Tibetan-government-in-exile, officially known as CTA after she described herself as an aspirant for the election in 2021 while speaking at an academic and cultural Youth Conclave-‘YAJUNSHI’ 2020 at Delhi University’s Kirorimal College on 17 Jan.

Though the Tibetan Election Commission declared open the 2021 election for the Sikyong of the Tibetan people and Chitue (the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile) on 5 August, it is yet to announce the dates for the preliminary round and the final election owing to the COVID-19 pandemic