Tibetan Democracy Day

Published: 8th Sep, 2022

Context

Tibetan refugees across the world celebrated the 62nd anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day on September 2.

About

Tibetan Democracy Day:

The day was marked with the inauguration of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala on September 2nd, 1960.
The day is widely known within the community as MangstoDuchen(‘Mangsto’: democracy; ‘Duchen’: occasion).
At the heart of the Tibetan democratic system, which governs over 1 lakh refugees across the world, stands the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala.

NOTE: CTA is not officially recognized by any country.

Important developments

First Oath: The first elected representatives of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile took their oaths in Bodh Gaya to inaugurate the Tibetan democratic system.
1963:Dalai Lama enacted the Tibetan constitution based on the ideals of democracy and universal values, following which the first women representatives were elected.
1975:Kashag, the apex body of CTA, declared September 2 as the founding day of Tibetan democracy.
1991:Charter of the Tibetans in exile was adopted, and in the following year, the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission was established, introducing the exile community to the three pillars of democracy.
Dalai Lama after announcing a position of semi-retirement called for the first direct election of KalönTripa, the executive head of the CTA.
2011: Dalai Lama handed over all his political and executive power to the Sikyong, also known as the President of CTA.

India’s official policy towards the CTA:

India considers the Dalai Lama as a revered religious leader and an honoured guest, but it does not encourage political activities by Tibetans.
It does not recognize any separate government of Tibet functioning in India.
CTA President Lobsang Sangay was among the invitees at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014.
In 2016, Dalai Lama was hosted in Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Pranab Mukherjee.
Dalai Lama has also been allowed to visit Tawang, one of the main sites of contention in the Sino-Indian border dispute. In 2017, amid ongoing tensions in Doklam, LobsangSangay visited Pangonglake in Ladakh.

Relationship of CTA with other countries:

The US is the only government in the world that is politically upfront in supporting the Tibetan issue, whether it be bi-partisan support for Tibet; Policies on Tibet (Tibet Policy Act 2002, and Tibet Policy and Support Act 2020), or an appointment of a special coordinator on Tibet.

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