Fake letter to win over Sikyong voters goes viral

Tribune News Service

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Dharamsala, September 23

A fake letter in the name of the Dalai Lama, in which a message was issued to influence voters in the forthcoming elections of Sikyong (leader of Tibetan people-in-exile) scheduled for 2021, has created a flutter.

It surfaced on the social media. In the message, an appeal was issued to the Tibetans that thay must elect a leader that could continue to work with dedication like Tibetan president Lobsang Sangay and not a candidate who was controversial.

After the message went viral, the office of the Dalai Lama issued a statement, urging caution among the Tibetans.

The office said the letter was fake. It was aimed at maligning the image of the Tibetan leader and to disturb the unity of the Tibetans.

“Since devolving the powers in 2011, the Dalai Lama has never interfered in the political matters of the community,” the statement said.

President of the Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay condemned the act. “During the elections, a person can support one’s candidate, but should refrain from disparaging other candidates,” he said in an online address.

Sangay asked the Tibetans to participate in the upcoming elections without engaging in

divisive acts along the lines of regionalism and sectarianism. The CTA president said the matter was being probed.

Earlier also, the Dalai Lama had expressed unhappiness over the politics creeping into democracy of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Meanwhile, Tashi Wangdu, who contested the last Sikyong elections, announced that he would contest again. Wangdu also promised to increase the student scholarship under the Department of Education of the CTA.