FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2011
Contact: John Estrella 202 530 4900 estrellaj(a)rfa.org
<mailto:estrellaj@rfa.org>
Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 mahajanr(a)rfa.org
<mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
Radio Free Asia Hosts Tibetan Exile Prime Minister Live Debate
Forum Comes as Dalai Lama Announces Wish to Hand over Political Reins to
Next PM
WASHINGTON, DC - On the heels of the Dalai Lama's announcement of his
intention to hand over political leadership of the Tibetan government in
exile to the next prime minister, Radio Free Asia's (RFA) Tibetan
service will host a live debate with the three final candidates vying to
be elected the head (or "Kalon Tripa") of the Central Tibetan
Administration on Sunday, March 13.
The debate will be broadcast live via shortwave radio, satellite
television, and webcast from 7 to 10 a.m. EDT (Sunday, March 13). This
is part of RFA Tibetan's series of seven town hall-style events being
held in Tibetan exile settlements in India and featuring parliamentary
candidates ahead of the March 20 general exile government elections.
At RFA's March 13 forum, one of the three Kalon Tripa candidates -
Lobsang Sangay, Kasur Tenzin Namgyal Tethong, and Tashi Wangdu - will be
in Washington, with the others at two debate sites with live audiences
in India: in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile,
and at India's largest Tibetan refugee settlement in the southern town
of Bylakuppe.
Candidates will answer questions from RFA's on-site moderators, as well
as those from audience members in attendance, in addition to prerecorded
ones from Tibetans worldwide including those living inside the Tibetan
area in China.
"Through this debate, Radio Free Asia provides a means for the Tibetan
exile community worldwide to participate in a unique, democratic process
that will affect the future of Tibetan affairs," said Libby Liu,
President of RFA.
The debate culminates RFA Tibetan's extensive, ongoing coverage of the
March 20 elections to replace Samdhong Rinpoche, the current, outgoing
Kalon Tripa. This includes:
* Hosting one-hour programs that focus on Kalon Tripa candidates,
members of the Tibetan exile parliament, and candidates vying to replace
them, and the exile government political process, every week since May
2010;
* Regularly featuring interviews with Kalon Tripa candidates;
* Conducting the first live debate on the day of the official
announcement of primary elections to choose the final Kalon Tripa
candidates;
* Providing listeners with thorough coverage of the Oct. 3 primary
elections at all the major stations in India, Nepal, Australia, Europe,
and North America;
* Interviewing almost all of the candidates for the Central
Tibetan Administration;
* Holding seven town hall debates in Tibetan refugee settlements
in Dharamsala and Bylakuppe; and
* Covering all Tibetan exile candidates' debates organized by NGOs
and media in North America, Europe, and India.
The Web address for the site on which the debate can be watched is
http://www.rfa.org/tibetan/.
# # #
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news
media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of
opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and
impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board
of Governors.
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Rohit Mahajan
Media Relations Manager
Radio Free Asia
Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org
Desk: (202) 530-4976
Cell: (202) 489-8021
www.rfa.org
