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FRANCHISE WITH FREEDOM; The first ever 'Kalon Tripa Mass Mock Election' successfully organized

TWA's exclusive event furthers the democratic process of franchise with freedom

(watch VOA news coverage on the Kalon Tripa Mass Mock ELection here)

July 6, 2010, Dharamsala: for the first time in 50 years of Tibetan democracy, exiled Tibetans participated in the Kalon Tripa Mass Mock Election. With the final election of the Kalon Tripa only nine months away, the mock election served to prepare the Tibetan people to exercise their franchise. An undertaking by the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) and its regional chapters spread across the globe, the Kalon Tripa Mass Mock Election is being held in 40 regions spread throughout 6 countries; India, Nepal, Switzerland, England, USA and Canada.

"We couldn't have opted for a better day, while the whole world celebrates the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the exile Tibetans are shouldering their responsibility in the aura of celebration and divinity" said Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, president of the Tibetan Women's Association. The third direct election of the Kalon Tripa (chief of cabinet) is one of the most significant political events beckoning the Tibetan electorate and considering the dismal voter turnout in the previous two direct elections of the Kalon Tripa in the year 2001 and 2006, TWA holds a steadfast commitment to making the 2011 election a disparate and a successful election especially in terms of voter participation. TWA's vice president Samten Chodon said that "TWA is determined to preparing the Tibetan voters for the primary and the final election of Kalon Tripa and that the mock election is a wakeup call for the Tibetan electorate."

TWA's general secretary Tseyang Oshoe is confident that the Mock election will shine the much needed light on the process, candidates, voter participation and issues related to effectively educate and train the Tibetan electorate to exercise their franchise and “thereby become an integral part of the election of their political representative".

"We have deliberately made the 'Green Book' as mandatory for voter identification for the Mock Election with a strong intent to allowing the people to procure their 'Green Book' and do the registration before August 18 this year" said Tenzin Dolma, TWA's Joint Secretary.

Here at Dharamsala, both central TWA and regional TWA have set up a polling booth at Tsuglakhang and many eligible voters living in Dharamsala and other Tibetan pockets in Kangra District voted for their candidate. "To ensure a non-partisan process, TWA did not endorse any candidates nor reproduce any nomination list presently being circulated. The voters voted for the candidate of their choice" said Dhardon Sharling, TWA's Research and Media officer.

TWA and its regional chapters have made every concerted effort in building the credence of this mock election and insuring that this procedure is very much on the lines of a real election. The mock election included: the election dossier, identity verification, sealing a black ink on the voter's finger, filling the voting form in all confidentiality and the use of ballot boxes. The counting will also "be done in the fairest and the most transparent means and it witnessed by the executive members of the prominent organizations" said Karma Yongdon, the president of RTWA Dharamsala.

Post the mock election, the executive members of regional chapters of TWA will bring the ballots to the 10th Working Committee Meeting of TWA scheduled to be held in Manali (Himachal Pradesh) from July 16 to 22 this year, for an aggregate and transparent counting.

The central TWA will analyse the voter turnout during the July 6 Mock Election, and thereby produce a detailed report that breaks down the result of voter participation and thereby signify its implications for the upcoming primary and final election of the Kalon Tripa. The report which will be launched on September 10 this year, on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of TWA's refounding in exile will also profile all the names of the candidates elected by the voters of the July 6 Mock Election.

Post the primary election of Kalon Tripa on October 3 this year, TWA will convene a televised debate among the endorsed candidates from the Primary Election. This debate will provide the candidates with a platform to affirm their candidacy and an opportunity for an intellectually stimulating discussion about the issues and the concern that confront the Tibetan people.

The tide of Tibetan democracy changed in the year 2000 during the 40th year of the Tibetan democracy in exile, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a landmark decision that called for the office of the Kalon Tripa to be elected directly by the Tibetan people. This historic proclamation has served the Tibetan Diaspora well. It signals a process of renewal and transformation in the political life of the Tibetan people. The direct election of the Kalon Tripa furthers the goal that secular Tibetan democratic institutions lead in the democratic governance of the Tibetan people in exile.

TWA is resolute about the fact that freedom of expression and the franchise of the ballot are new expressions of the Tibetan practice of non-violence, and this election furthers our self determination and freedom in exile. We call on our Tibetan brothers and sisters around the world to engage, educate and participate in the election of our leaders. Hence the Mock Election is a significant attempt to engage the Tibetan public and bring them into the fold of successful democratic countries.

Post the successful organizing of the first ever mock election, TWA is happy that this mock election managed to accomplish what it indented to achieve; prepare the Tibetan electorate for the upcoming primary and final election of the Kalon Tripa. Though the voter turnout was only 20% of the eligible voters in Dharamsala, but the entire process of the mock election proved to be transformative and educational. TWA's report on voter participation and voter queries from the mock election will serve the election commission's office with the much needed 'needs assessment' of the Tibetan voters and thereby pave way for a more effective primary and final election.

The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) has 52 regional chapters and over 15, 000 members outside Tibet. Today, TWA is the second largest Tibetan NGO and the only women's NGO in exile that advocates human rights for Tibetan women in Tibet and works to empower Tibetan women in exile, in particular new refugee women from Tibet. TWA's tag line is 'Advocacy for home, Action in exile.'

Press Contact; Kirti Dolkar Lhmo, President; 9882291202 / 221527 or Tsering Yangzom Oshoe, General Secretary; 9418413625 / 221198 or Dhardon Sharling, Research and Media Officer; 9418791189 / 221704

List of 40 regional chapters in 6 countires and 3 continents where the mock election will take place on July 6, 2010

Asia, India (32)

Jammu and Kashmir

1. Ladakh

Himachal Pradesh

2. Dharamsala 3. Bir 4. Dalhousie 5. Shimla 6. Poanta Sahib 7. Pandoh Tashiling 8. Puruwala 9. Manali 10. Delhi

Uttaranchal

11. Nainital

Uttarkhand

12. Clementown 13. Deckyiling 14. Herbertpur 15. Haridwar 16. Mussorie 17. Rajpur

Orissa

18. Phuntsokling

Maharashtra

19. Bhandara

Chattisgargh

20. Mainpat

West Bengal

21. Darjeeling 22. Kalimpong

Arunachal Pradesh

23. Tenzin Gang 24. Miao 25. Tezu

Meghalaya

26. Shillong

Sikkim

27. Gangtok 28. Ravangla

Karnataka

29. Bylakuppe 30. Hunsur 31. Mundgod 32. Kollegal

Overseas ;(8)

Nepal 33. Kathmandu, 34. Pokhra Tashipalkhiel, 35. Pokhra Tashiling,

USA

36. New York and New Jersey, 37. Minnesota,

Canada

38. Ontario,

Europe;

39. Switzerland, 40. London