Sikyong
| Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration | |
|---|---|
|
Emblem of Tibet | |
| Residence |
Kashag Dharamsala, India |
| Appointer |
14th Dalai Lama as Head of State |
| Term length | 5 years |
| Inaugural holder | Jangsa Tsang |
| Formation | 31 March 1959 |
| Website | http://www.tibet.net |
The Sikyong (Tibetan: སྲིད་སྐྱོང༌, Wylie: srid-skyong, Lhasa dialect IPA: [sícóŋ] ) is the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, a Tibetan exile organisation also known as the Tibetan government-in-exile. Prior to September, 2012, this office was known as Kalön Tripa, sometimes translated as prime minister. The current Sikyong is Lobsang Sangay. The Sikyong is the head of the Kashag or Cabinet, part of the executive branch of the Central Tibetan Administration. This office should not be confused with the Chairman of the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
The first directly elected Kalön Tripa was Lobsang Tenzin, the Samdhong Rinpoche, who was elected August 20, 2001.[1]
Before 2011, the Kalön Tripa position was subordinate to the 14th Dalai Lama[2] who presided over the government in exile from its founding.[3] In August of that year, Lobsang Sangay polled 55 per cent votes out of 49,189, defeating his nearest rival Tethong Tenzin Namgyal by 8,646 votes, becoming the second popularly-elected Kalon Tripa. The Dalai Lama announced that his political authority would be transferred to Sangay.[4]
Change to Sikyong
On September 20, 2012, the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile unanimously voted to change the title of Kalön Tripa to Sikyong in Article 19 of the Charter of the Tibetans in exile and relevant articles.[5] The Dalai Lama had previously referred to the Kalon Tripa as Sikyong, and this usage was cited as the primary justification for the name change. According to Tibetan Review, "Sikyong" translates to "political leader", as distinct from "spiritual leader".[6] Foreign affairs Kalon Dicki Chhoyang claimed that the term "Sikyong" has had a precedent dating back to the 7th Dalai Lama, and that the name change "ensures historical continuity and legitimacy of the traditional leadership from the fifth Dalai Lama".[7] The online Dharma Dictionary translates sikyong (srid skyong) as "secular ruler; regime, regent". The title sikyong had previously been used by regents who ruled Tibet during the Dalai Lama's minority. It is also used in Tibetan to refer to the governors of the states of the United States.
List of Prime Ministers of the Tibetan government in exile
| # | Name | Picture | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jangsa Tsangy | 1959 | 1960 | |
| 2 | Surkhang Wangchen Gelek |  | 1960 | 1964 |
| 3 | Shenkha Gurmey Topgyal |  | 1965 | 1970 |
| 4 | Garang Lobsang Rigzin | 1970 | 1975 | |
| 5 | Kunling Woeser Gyaltsen | 1975 | 1980 | |
| 6 | Wangdue Dorjee | 1980 | 1985 | |
| 7 | Juchen Thupten Namgyal |  | 1985 | 1990 |
| 8 | Kalsang Yeshi | 1990 | 1991 | |
| 9 | Gyalo Dhondup |  | 1991 | 1993 |
| 10 | Tenzin Tethong |  | 1993 | 1996 |
| 11 | Sonam Topgyal |  | 1996 | 2001 |
| 12 | Lobsang Tenzin |  | 2001 | 2011 |
| 13 | Lobsang Sangay |  | 2011 | present |
References
- ↑ Donovan Roebert, Samdhong Rinpoche: Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World (World Wisdom, 2006) ISBN 978-1-933316-20-8 (On August 20, 2001, Venerable Professor Samdhong Rinpoche was elected Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile, receiving 84.5% of the popular exile vote.)
- ↑ The Charter of Tibetans in-Exile, Article 20 of the Constitution of Tibet, retrieved 2010-03-19.
- ↑ The Charter of Tibetans in-Exile, Articles 19, 30, & 31 of the Constitution of Tibet, retrieved 2010-03-19.
- ↑ Dean Nelson Lobsang Sangay: profile, The Telegraph, 08 Aug 2011
- ↑ Tibetan Parliament changes 'Kalon Tripa' to 'Sikyong'
- ↑ "Kalon Tripa to be now referred to as Sikyong". Tibetan Review. 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ↑ "International Support Groups Meet in Dharamsala to Deal with Critical Situation In Tibet". Central Tibetan Administration. 2012-11-16.
Speech/transcription
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