Lobsang Sangay is new PM of Tibetan government-in-exile

source:iSikkim

Lobsang Sangay, a Harvard educated will be assuming the responsibilities of Prime Minister of Tibetan government-in-exile.

A 43 year old Harvard-educated academic won through the democratic process. Around 85,000 of the 150,000 Tibetans who live in exile cast their vote at the elections to choose the political successor of His Holiness Dalai Lama.

Lobsang was born in a Tibetan refugee camp in India’s hill station of Darjeeling in 1968. He was favourite from the very beginning because of his age (youngest among all the contenders) and also because of his education.

He won 55 percent of total votes and was a clear choice over Tenzin Tethong, a former representative of the Dalai Lama in New York and Washington and Tashi Wangdi, who has run half a dozen departments of the government-in-exile.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, 2011, declares that he will devolve political leadership and put the matter for the Tibetan Parliament in exile to decide the fate of the future Tibetan polity.

Sangay is currently based in United Sates for the past 16 years, is expected to move to Dharamsala, where the Tibetan government-in-exile is based, before he officially takes office in August.

In an interview to media Lobsang Sangay said “It’s humbling and also an honor and a privilege that Tibetans have entrusted their hope and aspirations in me, and I will do the best in my capacity to live up to the expectations of Tibetans”.

His experience in Harvard would come handy in dealing with the foreign affairs of Tibetan government-in-exile.

Mr. Sangay asserted that his top priority is to “end the suffering of Tibetans inside Tibet, to have the Chinese government recognize the identity and dignity of Tibetans and to find a peaceful way to address the issue of Tibet.”

He equally stressed on the need to improve the welfare of exiled Tibetans, particularly the younger ones.
But road for newly elected PM would not easy. Lobasag will have to face a daunting task of fitting in shoes of the Dalai Lama.

The new prime minister is expected to take office after the term of the current prime minister ends in August 2011