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. If you no longer wish to receive RFA press releases, please send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> . To add your name to our mailing list, please send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org> Rohit Mahajan Media Relations Manager Radio Free Asia Email: mahajanr(a)rfa.org Desk: (202) 530-4976 Cell: (202) 489-8021 www.rfa.org