Rinpoche re-appointed Tibet government-in-exile PM

Dharamsala, Jul 2 (UNI) Professor Samdhong Rinpoche has been re-elected prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile for the second consecutive term.

Chief Election Commissioner Tashi Phuntsok declared the results of the elections yesterday here, besides reporting the final results to the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Out of a total of 72,771 registered Tibetan voters living in refugee settlements in India and other countries, 32,205 cast their votes in the elections.

Rinpoche received over 90 per cent of votes, while his nearest rival Juchen Thubten Namgyal received only nine per cent votes in the elections that were held on June three.

'' My second term will be even more challenging, I would like to take forward the dialogue process initiated with the Chinese government to find a lasting solution to the Tibet issue'' he told reporters yesterday.

Welfare of the Tibetans living in refugee settlements in India and abroad and changes in the education policy for Tibetan educational institutions would be his top priorities, he said.

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