The 16th Tibetan Parliament’s North America Chidthue debate took place on Saturday at the Ernst Cultural Center on the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.
All six candidates running for the two posts allocated to Tibetans living in the US and Canada took place in the debate: Pema Chagzoetsang, Kalsang Phuntsok Godrukpa, Tashi Namgyal, Tenzin Rangdol, Tsewang Rigzin and Kalsang GGT. The candidates were asked questions related to Dalai Lama’s devolution of political powers, the Shugden problem, Sino-Tibetan dialogue, preservation of Tibetan language and culture for Tibetans in North America, issues related to the candidate’s personal life and work for Tibet, and their future plans and goals in the event of their victory in the race.
According to Regional Capital Area Tibetan Youth Congress who organized the debate, nearly 150 area Tibetans attended the debate which included some Tibetans who came from as afr away as Charlottesville and New York City.