Aug 26, 2014

Tibet: Judicial Conference to Improve Legal System


The fourth judicial conference of Tibetans was organised in order to discuss necessary amendments to the current laws, and therefore strengthen the Tibetan legal system and create a fully democratic Tibetan society. 

Below is an article published by The Times of India

Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, the highest judicial body of the Central Tibetan Administration, organized the fourth judicial conference of Tibetans at Gangchen Kyishong.  A website on Tibetan judiciary was also launched by the commission. The last judicial conference was held in November 2005.

The agenda for the two-day conference include discussions on the need for amendments to the existing laws and rules; exploring ways to improve the effectiveness of existing rules and laws; boosting legal empowerment through lawyers' training; and raising awareness about legal rights among Tibetan community. The participants will also review the recommendations proposed in the earlier judicial conferences.

Over 16 justice commissioners and secretaries of local and circuit justice commission from settlements across India and Nepal, including chief justice commissioner Ngawang Phelgyal Gyechen, justice commissioner Ngawang Choedak, and secretary Tashi Gyatso are attending the conference.

Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, inaugurated the conference and launched the new website. Importance of a robust judicial system to create a fully democratic Tibetan polity in exile was underlined.

The speaker highlighted the immense contribution of the Dalai Lama, even before 1959, to institute changes in the system of governance to modernize Tibetan society. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama planted the seeds to modernize Tibetan society after being enthroned as Tibet's spiritual and temporal ruler. However, due to Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, these plans were short lived. Since then, after coming into exile in 1959, His Holiness resumed his vision of creating a fully democratic Tibetan society. Therefore, the Tibetan community in exile is currently a role model for other refugee communities," he said.

Ngawang Phelgyal Gyechen in his address spoke about the current status of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission and the role played by the commission in sustaining the rule of law in the Tibetan community by resolving conflicts.