Tibetan parliament-in-exile begins

Dharamshala, Mar 10 (ANI): The seventh session of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile began here on Monday.

The two-week session will end on March 18, where the main agenda will be the annual budget of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

The other major issues are the current situation in Tibet coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Chinese occupation of their homeland and the feedback of the Dalai Lama's envoys to Beijing.

"The main topic is the budget of Tibetan government-in-exile. Besides that, from the side of the standing committee, we have put forward to discuss about the present situation in Tibet and what we can do to relieve the stress of Tibetans inside Tibet," said Karma Choepel, former speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

"We will also discuss about the outcome of the first general meeting held in November 2008. During this two weeks' session, the parliamentarians will also discuss the memorandum that the eight Tibetans delegation have submitted to the Chinese Government," added Choepel.

Instituted in 1960, the Tibetan parliament-in-exile is the highest legislative organ of the Tibetan refugee community.

The Parliament consists of 46 members.

U-Tsang, Do-tod and Do-med, the three traditional provinces of Tibet, elect ten members each, while the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith elect two members each.

Three members are elected by the exiled Tibetan community in the West - two from Europe and one from north America.

In addition, one to three members with distinction in the fields of art, science and literature and community service are nominated directly by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Sessions of the Parliament are held twice every year, with an interval of six months.

However, Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama can summon special sessions of the Parliament in the case of national emergencies. (ANI)