12th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies
The Tibetan Parliamary election for the 12th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies took place on Thursday, 25 April 1996. The Tibetan electorate have elected ten members each from the three provinces of Tibet (U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham), two members each from the fours schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet. A further two members represent the Tibetans in Europe and one from America. His Holiness nominated three Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies.
The members of the 12th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (ATPD) took their oath of office in the forenoon of 31 May 1996. In the afternoon, Professor Samdong Rinpoche, the speaker of the previous parliament, was elected unopposed as the Chairman of the 12th Assembly. Mr. Thupten Lungrig, a direct nominee of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was elected the Vice-Chairman by 27 votes of the 46-member Assembly.
The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the ATPD took their oath before His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 3 June 1996 at the Thekchen Choeling, Dharamsala.
The first session of the ATPD began on 2 June 1996 when the Charter was amended to increase the number of Kalons to eight. On 3 June 1996 eight Kalon (Ministers) were elected by the 46 members of the Parliament.
The Assmebly meets in March and September every year. The result of 12th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies.
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngawang Lhamo | 16,577 | |
| 2 | Tsering Norzom | 14,011 | |
| 3 | Namgyal Wangdu | 11,280 | 4 | Dawa Tsering | 9,510 |
| 5 | Dongsur Ngawang Tenpa | 9,394 | |
| 6 | Karma Choephel | 9,045 | |
| 7 | Norbu Dhargye | 8,925 | |
| 8 | Pema Tsewang | 8,537 | |
| 9 | Thangsar Yonten Gyatso | 8,329 | |
| 10 | Lobsang Shastri | 8,212 |
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Samdhong Rinpoche | 7,294 | |
| 12 | Sonam Togyal | 5,717 | |
| 13 | Tsultrim Tenzin | 5,377 | |
| 14 | Andrug Choegkyi | 5,290 | |
| 15 | Gyari Dolma | 5,258 | |
| 16 | Lobsang Nyandrak | 5,139 | |
| 17 | Nyisang | 5,082 | |
| 18 | Pema Dolma | 5,019 | |
| 19 | Pema Choejor | 4,839 | |
| 20 | Chemi Youndon | 4,775 |
Miss Pema Dolma resigned and Mr. Lingtsang Tsedor (4722) became an ATPD member in her place.
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Tenzin Choedon | 1,372 | |
| 22 | Soepa Gyatso | 1,344 | |
| 23 | Tenzin Khedup | 1,169 | |
| 24 | Kirti Dolkar Lhamo | 1,168 | |
| 25 | Pempa Tsering | 1,115 | |
| 26 | Hortsang Jigme | 1,038 | |
| 27 | Thupten Woser | 967 | |
| 28 | Tsering Dolma | 736 | |
| 29 | Kalden | 681 | |
| 29 | Gombo Tso | 634 |
Since Mr Soepa Gyatso was elected as a Kalon and Dhugkar Tsering (613) became an ATPD member in his place.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Pema Jungne | 333 | |
| 32 | Guru Gyaltsen | 317 |
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Tsering Phuntsok | 943 | |
| 34 | Gyari Bhutuk | 721 |
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Sherab Tharchin | 338 | |
| 36 | Lodoe Tharchen | 242 |
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Yonten Phuntsok | 2530 | |
| 38 | Tashi Gyatlsen | 1779 |
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Jadhur Sangpo | 149 | |
| 40 | Thokme | 120 |
EUROPE
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Mr. Ngawang Gangshontsang | ||
| 42 | Dewatsang Thinley Chodon | 314 |
| S.No | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Wangchuk Dorjee | 507 |
| S.No | NOMINEES | FROM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Rev. Yeshe Tseten | Central School for Tibetans, Dalhousie | |
| 45 | Mr. Ngawang Jampa | Central School for Tibetans, Bylakuppe | |
| 46 | Mr. Thupten Lungrig | head of Bir (Suja) SOS Tibetan Children's Village |
Of the 71 exile Tibetan electorial districts, 65 took part. Though 55,435 Tibetans were registered as voters for the provincial seats, 33,018, constituting 59.56 percent of the total, actually went to the poll. For the religious seats the total number of registered voters was 10,983, as against 6,410, or 58.36 percent of the total, who actually voted. The total number of registered voters for the seat for the Americas was 1982, though only 792. or 39.96 percent, actually voted. For the European seats the number of registered voters was 1,253, and the actual number of those who voted was 482, or 38.47 percent of the total.
The overall number of registered voters had increased from 53,894 in 1991 to 69,653 for the 12 ATPD in 1996, registering an increase of 15,759 or 29.24 percent The number of those who actually voted also increased from 32,880 in 1991 to 40,702 in 1996, which means in increase of 7,822, or 23.79 percent.
All Tibetans above 18 years old are eligible to be registered as voters.
Voting could not take place in the very thinly Tibetan-populated areas and also where there was great difficulty of transport and communication. These are Tuting, Lumbini, Pondicherry and Calcutta in India. Also polls taken in Australia and the two Tibetan Settlements in Bhutan could not be taken up for counting as their ballot boxes did not reach the counting station at Dharamsala within the stipulated time.
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Last updated: 19-Jan-98