Tibetan exiles have begun "The First Tibetan National General Body Meeting" Thursday morning at Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan settlement located in the south Indian state of Karnataka, to deliberate on pressing issues relating to the exile Tibetan polity.
The Tibetan government-in-exile has called the six day general meeting for representatives of the Tibetan exile communities and political organizations to discuss issues such as Tibetan political affairs, promotion of democracy in exile Tibetan community, advocacy for Tibetan issue, sustenance of the Tibetan settlements, education, health, economy, religion, culture and assessment of the status of the exile Tibetans settled in various countries.
Tibetan Prime Minster-in-exile, Samdhong Rinpoche gave an overview account of the Tibetan exile community's progressive evolution and the problems faced since its inception in 1959 during the opening ceremony held at the Dickyi Larso settlement's community hall.
As many as 300 Tibetan delegates including ministers and members of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, representatives of various NGOs, educational and religious institutions have attended the meeting.
The meeting will conclude on August 31 at Sera Monastery where the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will grace the session.
The Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people will offer long life prayer to their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on September 1. On the occassion of the 50th anniversary of Tibetan Democracy on September 2, Tibetan people and the administration will present their revered leader a golden seal to express their gratitude and his leadership in establishing democracy in Tibetan polity.
Some 140,000 Tibetans now live in exile, over 100,000 of them in different parts of India.
Some information for this report was provided by Phayul and Tibetnet
