Candidates for Tibetan PM-in-exile Debate in Northern India

The Tibetan Women's Association organized a debate between three candidates for the post of Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile in Dharamsala, India on Monday.

One candidate says the questions relate to issues concerning Tibet.

[Lobsang Sangey, Candidate, Tibetan Prime Minister-In-Exile]:
"Most of the questions were related to very important issues, especially concerning Tibet, how to resolve the issue of Tibet and other issues, like how to reform the government, what are your education policies and the administrative matters, the economic matters, things like that."

The three candidates for the post of prime minister debated with more than a hundred Tibetans from different walks of life.

[Dhardon Sharling, Spokesperson, Tibetan Women's Assoc.]:
"Basically, our idea is that in a democratic set-up it's very important that when a person goes to the poll and cast his or her vote, it should always be of informed choice."

The final round of elections will be held on March 20th.

The term of office of the Tibetan Parliament in-exile and chairman of the cabinet will expire this year.

Instituted in 1960, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is the highest legislative organ of the Tibetan refugee community.

An estimated 80-thousand Tibetans along with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, arrived in India in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising against the Chinese rule.