CTA celebrates 86th birthday of the Dalai Lama without parliament
DHARAMSALA, 6 July: The President of the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA) said that strengthening “Tibetan unity will be the greatest gift to His Holiness the Dalai Lama” on his birthday.
CTA’s President Penpa Tsering made the remarks while delivering the statement of the Kashag at the official celebration of the Tibetan spiritual leader’s 86th birthday.
“The current global political climate offers a golden opportunity to highlight the Tibet issue,” President Tsering said and added that “We should therefore duly proceed with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s blessings in our hearts to strengthen Tibetan unity. That will be our greatest gift to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on this birthday and I urge everyone to do the same.”
The Dalai Lama “dedicated his entire life to the welfare and upliftment of the sentient beings in general and the welfare of the Tibetans in particular,” President Tsering said as he highlighted the innumerous contributions and magnanimous endeavours of His Holiness for the Tibetan people and the world at large.
He further declared that the “Tibetans should study and practise the profound teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and refrain from engaging in any activities that will cause concern to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
“We should also abstain from partaking in unnecessary squabbles on social media and narrow partisan strife.”
Expressing Kashag’s resolve to perform its functions and to fulfill its objectives, he stated that “the Kashag, on its part, will perform its functions of fulfilling its objectives with deep-rooted conviction and faith in the Tibetan charter and the principle of check and balance amongst the three pillars of democracy.”
“In conclusion, may His Holiness live for aeons. As per the aspirations of the living and will of the dying, may His Holiness the Dalai Lama be able to visit Tibet as soon as possible. May the Sino-Tibet conflict be resolved as early as possible, which will pave the way for the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet to reunite at the earliest.”
The official birthday celebration of the Dalai Lama was held at the Sikyong auditorium of the CTA at its headquarters here in Gangchen Kyishong for the second year in a row as the world continues to battle Wuhan, China originated COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place due to the pandemic.
The ceremony was attended by the Sikyong, the justice Commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission who were impeached by the Tibetan parliament, senior officials of the CTA and representatives of the Tibetan NGOs.
This year there is no official statement from the Tibetan parliament as the CTA is yet to come to terms with the constitutional crises that rocket it. The CTA has been functioning without a parliament since the inauguration of Sikyong Penpa Tsering.
The standing committee members of the 16th Tibetan parliament has to dissolve as all but 3 resigned on 27 May after the Sikyong took the oath of office from Dagpo Sonam Norbu, the Chief Justice Commissioner of the CTA who was impeached by the parliament along with the two Justice Commissioners.
The event also saw heads of the Tibetan religious leaders extend their birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama through video messages and the ceremony also included felicitation of civil servants in recognition of their 25 years of service for the CTA and service excellence award for CTA staff.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso was born Lhamo Dhondup on 6 July 1935 to a peasant family in Taktser village in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo.
