Adding a completely fresh dimension to Tibet’s five decades old democracy-in-exile, a woman politician has for the first time announced her decision to make a bid for the Kalon Tripa or Prime Minister’s office in the elections in 2011.
Ms Gyari Dolma, who was the first woman to be elected deputy speaker of Tibet’s Parliament-in-exile and currently holds that position, said, “Given a chance, I am willing and enthusiastic to shoulder the responsibility of Kalon Tripa.”
Ms Dolma who is a member of parliament of 19 years standing said she would among other issues focus on winning Tibetan women equal opportunities in politics. Addressing a “private” news conference at McLeodganj — the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, she said she would begin campaigning in earnest after the preliminary nominations round slated for October 3 this year.
The announcement has been widely greeted by Tibetan women as this is for the first time any woman has staked a claim to the highest executive office in the government-in-exile.
Tibetan women activists view Ms Dolma’s entry to the Kalon Tripa contest as a major breakthrough in the political empowerment of women. They see it as a long overdue assertion.
Tibet’s government-in-exile has so far included only four women ministers of Kalon in the Kashag (Parliament). The Dalai Lama’s own younger sister Jetsun Pema became the first woman to enter the Kashag in 1990 and remained health and education minister until 1993. Rinchen Khando and Samkar Yanki Dashi also became kalon but demitted office in 2001.
The incumbent minister for information and international relations Kesang Takla is currently the only woman member of the Kashag.
Samdhong Rinpoche, the incumbent Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile became the first directly elected Kalon Tripa in 2001 after the Dalai Lama called for a directly elected leader of the exiles.
The election for a new prime minister, wherein the 120,000-strong electorate of Tibetan exiles will be eligible to cote, is scheduled for March 20, 2011.
Ms Gyari Dolma’s decision to contest is being seen as particularly significant in light of the Dalai Lama’s often articulated desire to see greater participation by Tibetan women.
The spiritual leader, who is also temporal head of Tibet, has even suggested the possibility of himself being succeeded by a woman.