Session of Tibetan parliament-in-exile commences in Dharamsala

Dharamsala, Sept 12 : The sixth session of 14th Tibetan parliament-in-exile began in Dharamsala today.

During the session lot of issues related to Tibetan freedom movement and welfare of Tibetan exiles would be discussed.

Tibetans have been crusading diligently for past six months for the freedom of their homeland from the Chinese clutches, and the issue is extremely close to their hearts, which according to the parliamentarians figures during the discussions in the session.

"Regarding the nature and the activities of the Tibetan movement last six months we have been able to organise officials and then NGO's," said Yeshi Phungchok, Member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.

The Tibetan Constitution and Parliament have its features heavily borrowed from Indian Constitution and parliament.

It is a one-house Parliament, which meets twice a year for about a fortnight each. The tenure of Parliament is five years.

Though it functions like other legislatures, the plain, utilitarian structure is a testament to its temporary, exile status.

The Tibetan people, both inside and outside Tibet, consider the government-in-exile to be the sole legitimate government of Tibet.

An estimated 134,000 Tibetans live in exile, a majority of them in India and Nepal.

The Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama set up his seat of power in Dharamsala after he and his followers fled to India in 1959, nine years after China occupied Tibet.

ANI