Central Tibetan Administration

Template:Short description Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox geopolitical organization

The Central Tibetan Administration (Template:Bo, Template:IPA, Template:Literally)<ref name="CTA">Template:Cite web</ref> is the government-in-exile of Tibet, based in Dharamshala, India.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It comprises a judiciary branch, a legislative branch, and an executive branch, and offers support and services to the Tibetan exile community.

The 14th Dalai Lama formally rescinded the 1951 17 Point Agreement with China in early March 1959, as he was escaping Tibet for India. On 29 April 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama in exile re-established the Kashag, which was abolished a month earlier by the Government of the People's Republic of China on 28 March 1959.<ref>https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/jcws.2006.8.3.pdf Template:Webarchive Template:Bare URL PDF</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2" /> He later became permanent head of the Tibetan Administration and the executive functions for Tibetans-in-exile. On 11 February 1991, Tibet became a founding member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) at a ceremony held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the Dalai Lama decided no longer to assume administrative authority, the Charter of Tibetans in Exile was updated in May 2011 to repeal all articles relating to his political duties.

The Tibetan diaspora and refugees support the Central Tibetan Administration by voting for members of its parliament, the Sikyong, and by making annual financial contributions through the use of the Green Book. The Central Tibetan Administration also receives international support from other organizations and individuals. The Central Tibetan Administration authors reports, press releases, and administers a network of schools and other cultural activities for Tibetans in India.

Position on Status of Tibet

In 1963, the 14th Dalai Lama promulgated the Constitution of Tibet, and he became permanent head of state of Tibet.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1974, the 14th Dalai Lama rejected calls for Tibetan independence,<ref name="auto">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and he became permanent head of the Tibetan Administration and the executive functions for Tibetans-in-exile in 1991. In 2005, the 14th Dalai Lama emphasized that Tibet is a part of China, and Tibetan culture and Buddhism are part of Chinese culture.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2011, at 71 years of age, he decided not to assume any political and administrative authority, the Charter of Tibetans in Exile was updated immediately in May 2011, and all articles related to regents were also repealed. In 2017, the 14th Dalai Lama restated that Tibet does not seek independence from China but seeks development.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Funding

The funding of the Central Tibetan Administration comes mostly from private donations collected with the help of organisations like the Tibet Fund, revenue from the Green Book (the "Tibetan in exile passport")<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and aid from governments like India and the US.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The annual revenue of the Central Tibetan Administration is officially 22 million (measured in US dollars), with the biggest shares going to political activity ($7 million), and administration ($4.5 million).Template:Citation needed However, according to Michael Backman, these sums are "remarkably low" for what the organisation claims to do, and it probably receives millions more in donations. The CTA does not acknowledge such donations or their sources.<ref name="backman">Template:Cite news</ref>

According to a Chinese source, between 1964 and 1968, the U.S. provided 1.735 million dollars to the Dalai Lama's group each year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 1998, The Dalai Lama's administration stated that it had received US$1.7 million a year during the 1960s from the Central Intelligence Agency.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2002, the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 was passed in the U.S.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a grant of US$23 million to CTA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2017, U.S. president Donald Trump proposed to stop aid to the CTA in 2018.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> Trump's proposal was criticised heavily by members of the Democratic Party like Nancy Pelosi,<ref name=":1" /> and co-chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Jim McGovern.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2020, at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, Pelosi prayed as Trump attended; "Let us pray for the Panchen Lama and all the Tibetan Buddhists in prison in China or missing for following their faith".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Headquarters

File:Tibetan Library Dharamsala.jpg

Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in 2010

The Central Tibetan Administration is headquartered in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, India.

The CTA attends to the welfare of the Tibetan exile community in India, who number around 100,000. It runs schools, health services, cultural activities and economic development projects for the Tibetan community. As of 2003, more than 1,000 refugees still arrive each year from China,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> usually via Nepal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Green Book

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Tibetans living outside Tibet can apply at a Central Tibetan Administration office in their country of residence for a personal document called the Green Book, which serves as a receipt book for the person's "voluntary contributions" to the CTA and the evidence of their claims for "Tibetan citizenship".<ref name="gb">Template:Cite web</ref>

For this purpose, CTA defines a Tibetan as "any person born in Tibet, or any person with one parent who was born in Tibet." As Tibetan refugees often lack documents attesting to their place of birth, the eligibility is usually established by an interview.<ref name="gb" />

Blue Book

The Blue Book or Tibetan Solidarity Partnership is a project by Central Tibetan Administration, in which the CTA issues any supporter of Tibet who is of age 18 years or more a Blue Book. This initiative enables supporters of Tibet worldwide to make financial contributions to help the administration in supporting educational, cultural, developmental and humanitarian activities related to Tibetan children and refugees. The book is issued at various CTA offices worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Internal structure

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The former chairman of the Cabinet of the CTA, Samdhong Rinpoche, addresses a fundraising dinner in Sydney, Australia, February 2006

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Penpa Tsering, current Sikyong of the CTA

File:2013西藏流亡政府(藏人行政中央)財政部長拜會臺灣國會(立法院) TIBETAN Minister of Finance visited TAIWANESE Congress.jpg

Finance Kalon Tsering Dhondup (front row, second from left) visited the Republic of China in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan in 2013

Template:AnchorThe Central Tibetan Administration currently operates under the "Charter of the Tibetans In-Exile", adopted in 1991, amended in 2011.<ref name="CharterOfTibet">Template:Cite web</ref> Executive authority is vested in the Sikyong, an office formerly held by Lobsang Sangay, who was elected in 2011. The Sikyong is supported by a cabinet of Kalons responsible for specific portfolios. Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The Central Tibetan Administration's Department of Finance is made of seven departments and several special offices. Until 2003, it operated 24 businesses, including publishing, hotels, and handicrafts distribution companies.

On 29 April 1959, the Dalai Lama re-established the Kashag. In 1963, he promulgated Constitution of Tibet, and he became permanent head of state of Tibet. In 1974, he rejected calls for Tibetan independence,<ref name="auto"/> and he became permanent head of the Tibetan Administration and the executive functions for Tibetans-in-exile in 1991. On 10 March 2011, at 71 years of age, he decided not to assume any political and administrative authority, the Charter of Tibetans in Exile was updated immediately in May 2011, and all articles related to regents were also repealed, and position Sikyong was created.

Kashag

Notable past members of the Cabinet include Gyalo Thondup, the Dalai Lama's eldest brother, who served as Chairman of the Cabinet and as Kalon of Security, and Jetsun Pema, the Dalai Lama's younger sister, who served variously as Kalon of Health and of Education.<ref name="backman" /> Lobsang Nyandak Zayul who served as a representative of the 14th Dalai Lama in the Americas<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and a multiple cabinet member.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He currently serves as president of The Tibet Fund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Penpa Tsering – Sikyong
Ven Karma Gelek Yuthok – Kalon of Religion & Culture
Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang – Kalon of Home
Karma Yeshi – Kalon of Finance
Dr. Pema Yangchen – Kalon of Education
Phagpa Tsering Labrang – Kalon of Security
Lobsang Sangay – Kalon of Information & International Relations
Choekyong Wangchuk – Kalon of Health

Settlements

Template:See also The Central Tibetan Administration, together with the Indian government, has constructed more than 45 "settlements" in India for Tibetan refugees as of 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The establishment of the Tibetan Re-settlement and Rehabilitation (TRR) settlements began in 1966,<ref name="Pulman"/>Template:Rp with the TRR settlements in South India, Darjeeling, and Sikkim becoming officially "protected areas" and requiring special entry permits for entry.<ref name="Pulman"/>Template:Rp

Media activities

A 1978 study by Melvyn Goldstein and a 1983 study by Lynn Pulman on Tibetan communities-in-exile in southern India argue that the CTA adopted a stance of preserving an "idea of return" and fostering the development of an intense feeling of Tibetan cultural and political nationalism among Tibetans" in order to remain a necessary part of the communities.<ref name="Goldstein">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="Pulman">Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Rp They state that this was accomplished through the creation of the Tibetan Uprising Day holiday, a Tibetan National Anthem, and the CTA control over local Tibetan-language media that promotes the idea of Chinese endeavours to "eradicate the Tibetan race".<ref name="Goldstein"/>Template:Rp<ref name="Pulman"/>Template:Rp From the 1990s onwards, the CTA used Hollywood films in addition to local media to emphasise the Tibetan exile struggle, secure the loyalty of Tibetans both in exile and in Tibet, promote Tibetan nationalism, and foster the CTA's legitimacy to act in the name of the entire Tibetan nation.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Foreign relations

The Central Tibetan Authority is not recognised as a sovereign government by any country, but it receives financial aid from governments and international organisations for its welfare work among the Tibetan exile community in India.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

United States

In 1991, United States President George H. W. Bush signed a Congressional Act that explicitly called Tibet "an occupied country", and identified the Dalai Lama and his administration as "Tibet's true representatives".<ref>Goldstein, Melvyn C., The Snow Lion and the Dragon, University of California Press, 1997, p. 119</ref>

In October 1998 the Dalai Lama's administration issued a statement acknowledging the Dalai Lama Group received US$1.7 million a year during the 1960s from the U.S. government through the Central Intelligence Agency,<ref name=":0" /> used to train volunteers, run guerrilla operations against the Chinese, and used to open offices and for international lobbying. A guerrilla force was reportedly trained at Camp Hale in Colorado.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

During his administration, United States President Barack Obama supported Middle Way Policy of the Central Tibetan Administration<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and met with the Dalai Lama four times,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including at the 2015 annual National Prayer Breakfast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2021, the Biden Administration pledged its support for the CTA, to which a representative expressed gratitude.<ref name="rfa">Template:Cite web</ref>