Wangpo Tethong sworn in as member of Tibetan Parliament from Europe

DHARAMSALA, May 7: Tethong Tenzin Wangpo, a Tibetan activist based in Switzerland was sworn in as a member of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from Europe on May 6 at at a brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Tibetan Parliament.

The oath of office was administered by Speaker Penpa Tsering in the presence of sitting members of the Tibetan Parliament.

Tethong Tenzin Wangpo was born in 1963 in Switzerland and holds a masters degree from the phil. departement I, Universität of Zürich. His appointment as a member of the Tibetan Parliament follows Ms Chungdak Koren’s resignation on health grounds in March this year.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile consists of 44 members. The traditional Tibetan provinces of U-Tsang, Do-tod and Do-med are represented by ten members each while the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith elect two members each. Tibetans in the west are represented by four members: two from Europe, one from North America and one from Canada.

The 8th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament will convene for 11 days from September 12 to 24, 2014.