Archive of Past News

Project 347 Munsel-ling Examination Hall Flooring

Read the Final Progress Report November 2023 here

by Karma Tensum, founder and executive director of the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation based in Helena, Montana. TRAS has funded school projects in India jointly with the TCEF.

The Tibetan refugee story is fascinating – full of human dramas of immense suffering. It is also an inspirational one – and also a story of overcoming those challenges, surviving, and even thriving in exile. A fair amount has also been recorded and written about those facets, but today, I wanted to broach this remarkable story of Tibetan democracy in exile. Today, September 2, is Tibetan Democracy Day. 

Not enough is written about this and not enough credit is given to HH, The Dalai Lama, and the early Tibetan leadership for ushering in what must have been massive shifts in thinking to embrace the trends of the times and to embrace democracy. We have to place this in our historical context. We had a unique theocracy for centuries where the Dalai Lamas ruled and shared the powers with the powerful monasteries and aristocracy. Yet, within the very first years in exile, while tackling all the other problems of rehabilitation, His Holiness and the early Tibetan leadership came up with a draft constitution for a future free Tibet in March 1963.

This draft constitution then became the foundation for Tibetan democracy in exile. With time, the democratic process and institutions were set up and grew. Perhaps a good starting point to write about this would be the Tibetan parliament in exile. It had elected representatives from the three main chokes or provinces of Tibet – U Tsang, Dhotoe, and Dhomey, plus representatives from the major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. It elected its own speaker and deputy speaker, debated Tibetan issues, passed legislation, and functioned as any other democratic parliament – all within the constraints of being in exile and operating on a much smaller canvas. 

One of the most impressive aspects of Tibetan democracy in exile is that we practiced it at the grassroots level. Perhaps we drew inspiration from the local village panchayats spread all across India. So, within each Tibetan settlement or community, we had a locally elected assembly or body – often with a chairperson and vice chair. The local assembly, especially its office bearers, would work closely with settlement heads appointed by the Tibetan administration in exile in many ways – if there is a 10th March demonstration to be organized or even an election to be conducted. Knowing this short history of Tibetan democracy and how nascent it is made this aspect of grassroots democracy all the more remarkable. 

In June 1991, the Tibetan parliament in exile adopted The Charter of the Tibetans in Exile. Based on the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights spirit, the Charter guarantees all Tibetans equality before the law and enjoyment of rights and freedom without discrimination based on sex, religion, race, language, and social origin. It provides for a clear separation of power among the three organs of the administration: judiciary, legislature, and executive.

The Kashak, or Executive branch, was headed by HH The Dalai Lama till 2011. That year, His Holiness voluntarily devolved power to pave the way for elections for a new executive head. Even before fully devolving power in 2000, His Holiness took measures to step back and initiate actions to bring some genuine democratic initiatives. In that year, His Holiness suggested that the Tibetan people in exile should elect their own Prime Minister. 

Samdhong Rinpoche was always the front-runner. He is one of the most well-known Tibetan public figures. As the speaker for the Tibetan parliament in exile for many years, he had done an outstanding job shaping how business was conducted in the house. In July 2001, Samdhong Rinpoche was duly elected Kalon Tripa, or Prime Minister, for five years. He easily won a second term. 

Not enough has been written about the wisdom and nobility of this act from His Holiness to voluntarily step down and devolve power in 2011. I’m in absolute awe, and I write this in the context of our times when we see leaders go to extraordinary lengths to hold power, keep power, and stay in the limelight. And, here was His Holiness – the most popular Tibetan leader ever, who would have won any Tibetan election hands down, stepping down quietly, with grace and dignity – all with the genuine belief that this was in the best interest of the fledgling Tibetan democracy. 

There was much buzz and excitement about the election of a new Tibetan head in 2011. A young, charismatic Tibetan leader who checked all the boxes suddenly loomed into the limelight just months before the elections. Here came Lobsang Sangay – a young, dynamic Tibetan youth leader with a Fullbright scholarship at Harvard University throwing his hat into the ring. He blew away all the opposition – several veterans of the Tibetan administration in exile and became our next prime minister or Kalon Tripa.

In his second year, instead of the term Kalon Tripa or the prime minister, the termSikyong was adopted. The word Sikyong comes from our history. When the Dalai Lama was young, some regents would hold political authority until the Dalai Lama came of age and assumed control. Sikyong – or political power holder- was a term used for that person. In our democracy in exile, the executive head was now referred to by that term. So Lobsang Sangay became our firstSikyong in our modern democratic setup. Lobsang Sangay also easily won a second term and was Sikyong till 2021.

At the time of writing this, Penpa Tsering – former speaker of the Tibetan assembly in exile, is the new Sikyong.

Democracy and elections spread to non-governmental organizations also. In exile, two prominent organizations that readily come to mind are the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Women’s Association. Both of them are impressive. Aside from a primary central body, they have regional chapters in almost all areas where Tibetans reside. Office bearers at all levels are duly elected through an impressive democratic process. Within a few decades, democracy as a way of life, thinking, and doing has been firmly entrenched among Tibetans in exile and in diaspora. This is remarkable because we don’t have a history of democratic institutions and practices. We embraced it with enthusiasm in exile! 

Karma Tensum, Executive Director

Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping preserve the Tibetan culture, educating children in exile and being of service to Tibetan elders.

The Robert Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund was established by his wife, Marthena in March 2023

Robert Edward Fitzpatrick was born in 1945 on a farm near Vankleek Hill, Ontario.  His mother was a teacher and was widowed with six children to raise and a farm to run. Robert learned early the values of hard work and helping others—and he had the energy for it!  He studied at Laurentian University and later, he and his wife, Marthena were married in 1973.  They moved to Vancouver in 1984 and Robert ran his own construction company until his retirement in 2000. 

Robert and Marthena became enamored by the effective projects TRAS were involved in and became regular supporters. Marthena knew that creating a memorial fund would be a wonderful way to help support TRAS, and to leave a legacy for Robert and what he cared about in this world. Those who knew him variously described Robert as a man “whose smile made you feel as if you were just the person he wanted to see”, and “a good man with a good heart”. 

Marthena writes “He will always be missed. Thanks to TRAS for this splendid opportunity to commemorate Robert and the causes he supported.”

If you would like to donate to the Robert Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund to support Tibetan youth you can do so by:

• Credit card online via CanadaHelps
  CanadaHelps is a registered charity that supports Canadian charities by providing a platform for online donations.

• Bank e-transfer to info@tras.ca and include a note that your donation is for the Robert Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund.

• Credit card by phoning the TRAS office at 604-224-5133 (the phone line is monitored regularly).

• Cheque made out to TRAS. Please note “Robert Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund” on the bottom of the cheque, and mail it to:
  
  TRAS
  1183 Melville St 
  Vancouver, BC, V6E 2X5

The flash flooding in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand is devastating the region with deadly landslides. Our partner NGO, AMAN, from Voice of Children, is mobilizing relief efforts (see letter below).  The villagers are desperate. TRAS is sending emergency funds to AMAN who are working hard to get relief supplies to the villagers. To help with this work, you can donate online (select Donate Now, and then under Fund/Designation, select “Uttarakhand Disaster Relief”). For more information, please contact the TRAS office at 1-604-224-5133 or info@tras.ca.

Dear friends,

The people of Uttarakhand still have to overcome the trauma of disaster in 2010. The recent flash floods have badly affected human lives and many people have lost their lives.  Some areas are completely washed away in massive landslides and floods.  The livestocks and their properties are washed away.

Thousands of people are displaced and thousands of people are marooned and trapped in the higher reaches though the army and Para- military are doing their best but the scale and magnitude of the disaster is beyond the preparation and imagination. If we could timely generate some resources such as shelter, food, etc, many vulnerable lives can be saved.

The most pathetic part is the marginalized people who are basically labourers; most underprivileged sections of the society have become most vulnerable.

As you all are aware, being a Himalayan state Uttarakhand has always been prone to natural disasters, such as earthquake, landslide, flood, cloud burst, forest fire etc. The state has witnessed flash floods since last few days and has been at the receiving end for the last week, but the incessant rain between 15 June to till now has wreaked havoc.

Approximately, 1000 people have lost their lives in various incidents since the onset of the monsoon.  The heavy rainfall has resulted in all the rivers and rivulet getting over flooded causing serious and widespread destruction of lives and property in the state. There were several incidents of landslides and cloud bursts in the whole state compounding the problems and sufferings of people, particularly the Rudraprayag, Chomoli, Utaarkashi, Pithoragarh, Alomra & Bageshwar districts witnessed the worst ever loss  of lives and property because of landslide, flood caused by cloud bursts at different places.

All the roads got washed out due to the landslides, causing whole mountain region isolation and unapproachable which hampered the relief work. As per media reports more than 1000 persons lost their lives in various incidents of cloudburst, house collapse and floods as incessant rains continued to lash Uttarakhand.

A large number of people living in Mandakini, Bhagirathi, Ramganga, kali, Saryu, Pindar and Saryu valleys are affected and endangered to life and their properties.

Kedarnath valley of RudraPrayag, Badrinath and Pindar valley of chamoli, Jyosada of Uttarkashi , Dharchula of Pithoragarh , BesiyaChhana block of Almora, Rishikesh of Dehradun has been facing the worst cases of deaths and devastation, nearly 160 villages have been totally devastated. More than 70,000 pilgrims are stuck in different locations and have no food and shelter.  So far in accessible places the rescue team recovered 150 bodies and there are no confirm news from inaccessible places in higher reaches where thousands of thousands people are still trapped and marooned and the administration is fearing the worst death tolls.

It can cross the figure of thousand as during the pilgrimage season the people travel in flock and they use to take shelter in the tents, cave and open space. There is no mechanism to register the travellers. According to the media and government sources more than 70,000 people are missing.

Rambara town is washed away and 30 houses are collapsed in Augustmuni and Tilwara. In Dharchula-Pithoragarhs villages, 41 houses had turned into debris and at Tijam , Bheti, Shobhna, Gothi. Nine people and 105 cattle lost their lives. In the month of June the villagers of Pithoragad district who live near by the greater Himalaya, they used to go to collect local Himalayan herbs. They used to pitch the tent in the forest nearby Tejam the villagers have pitched 60 tents on the fearful night of the flash flood, as the report says more than 60 tents from Upper Himalaya of Tejam Villages in which only 7 tents are remained.

Media reports says only 9 deaths but other herbs collector are missing. 5 deaths are reported in district Almora. Landslides are reported in Buradhar and Khairkhet villages in Almora.  Villagers are forced to live in schools to save their lives.  In Pinder valley, near about 35 houses had collapsed in Narayan bagad, Tharali, Govind-Ghat villages.

People are in trauma and fear in whole states and thousands of peoples spending nights under the open sky.  Authorities fear the toll may go up as relief workers are busy removing debris and trying to reach out to people trapped in far-off villages.  Indian Army and Para military forces are deployed for rescue operation.  Near about 10000 people are rescued by the forces. In Kedarnath, the helipad is destroyed, so rescue operation continued through rope support by helicopter. There is also danger of epidemic.

Due to the massive landslides all the basic infrastructure roads, water and electric supply is severely damaged. It will take time to get restored. Due to the blockage of the road most of the parts are completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Garhwal and Kumoun, both the region of the Uttarakhand are badly affected. People have taken shelter in panchayati Bhawans, school buildings and makeshift arrangements such as tents and temporary shelters. People are facing an acute crisis of food, drinking water, doctors and medicines, shelter and communication.  Sanitation and hygiene is another problem. There is large no. of children and old age people badly affected and have special need. Child protection and gender centric rehabilitation program is also required as a felt need.
 
There is an urgent need to provide relief to the affected people. We are trying to mobilize relief materials such as medicines, food grain, kerosene oil, drinking water, temporary shelters, light etc for affected area. Beside this urgent need, rehabilitation and risk reduction program are also important needs for people. 

This cannot be done alone. AMAN appeals to all its friends for providing relief support.

In Uttarakhand,
Raghu Tewari
AMAN,
West Pokharkhali,
Ranidhara Road, Almora