DHARAMSALA, 24 October 2008 I am pleased to announce that the Kalon Tripa 2011 website is launched on this today Friday, October 24th. It represents a grass-roots initiative to engage in a pre-election search for eligible candidates to run for the office in 2011.
Our first press release went out on September 2nd. In the few weeks that followed, we witnessed a tremendous interest and enthusiasm. The idea of such an initiative has met with acclaim. The response, to date, has been overwhelmingly optimistic. I am both overcome and humbled by the earnest response and deep appreciation expressed by so many enthusiastic Tibetans; not only from those within the exile community but also, and significantly, those residing in Tibet.
As stated in my press release of September 2nd, the role of the next Kalon Tripa will prove decisive. As such, it calls for a strong-minded and dynamic individual, possessing the necessary leadership qualities to see Tibetans through, what is likely to be, a crucial period in our history. The next Kalon Tripa will inherit many unique and new challenges. He or she will also have to shoulder a greater measure of responsibility than previous Kalon Tripas. It is, therefore, incumbent upon Tibetans to choose our next leader wisely. We must rise to this historic challenge and take the 2011 election very seriously. I call, especially, on the younger generation of Tibetans, worldwide, to actively engage in this vital political process.
In these momentous times, it is imperative that we do everything possible to seek out and nominate an optimal group of candidates. The task at hand is not merely to seek out worthy candidates, but also to engage these in what we hope will be our most dynamic pre-election debate, to date. From this tried and tested democratic process, we can expect the next 34 months leading up to the 2011 election to support a robust and lively discussion on many issues of concern, as our candidates exchange opinions and elaborate on their views.
The www.kalontripa.org website is a personal initiative, and not one directed by any special interest group. My reasons for launching it lie in an abiding concern for the solidity and development of our government in exile, which must necessarily increase the participation of Tibetan civilians. In these shifting and changing times, the desire to find the best possible Kalon Tripa to lead us for the next 5 years 2011-2016 has become a compelling mission.
For further information, please contact
KT-2011 Initiative Team
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