Central Tibetan Administration

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. In 1974, the 14th Dalai Lama rejected calls for Tibetan independence, 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. 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the Charter of Tibetans in Exile was updated immediately in May 2011, and all articles related to regents were also repealed.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.

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") and aid from governments like India and the US.

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). 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.

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. 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.

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

In 2017, U.S. president Donald Trump proposed to stop aid to the CTA in 2018. Trump's proposal was criticised heavily by members of the Democratic Party like Nancy Pelosi, and co-chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Jim McGovern. 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". In 2025, the Trump administration halted funds to the CTA, which amounted to half of CTA's budget at the time.

Headquarters

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, usually via Nepal.

Green Book

Main article: Green Book (Tibetan document)

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".

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.

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.

Internal structure

Charter of the Tibetans In-ExileThe Central Tibetan Administration currently operates under the "Charter of the Tibetans In-Exile", adopted in 1991, amended in 2011. 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, 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. Lobsang Nyandak Zayul who served as a representative of the 14th Dalai Lama in the Americas and a multiple cabinet member. He currently serves as president of The Tibet Fund.

• 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

The Central Tibetan Administration, together with the Indian government, has constructed more than 45 "settlements" in India for Tibetan refugees as of 2020. The establishment of the Tibetan Re-settlement and Rehabilitation (TRR) settlements began in 1966, with the TRR settlements in South India, Darjeeling, and Sikkim becoming officially "protected areas" and requiring special entry permits for entry.

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. 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". 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.

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.

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".

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, 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.

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

In 2021, the Biden Administration pledged its support for the CTA, to which a representative expressed gratitude.

Footnotes

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

1. "Tibetan Government Official Website". Central Tibetan Administration.
2. "Tibet dying a 'slow death' under Chinese rule, says exiled leader".
3. Chen, Jian. (2006). "The Tibetan Rebellion of 1959 and China’s Changing Relations with India and the Soviet Union".
4. (18 March 2016). link
5. "Members". UNPO.
6. link. (1977). 五洲传播出版社
7. "The Dalai Lama Has Been the Face of Buddhism for 60 Years. China Wants to Change That".
8. (2005-03-15). "Dalai Lama: "Tibet is a Part of the People's Republic of China"".
9. "Tibet wants to stay with China, seeks development: Dalai Lama". The Economic Times.
10. McConnell, Fiona. (2016-03-07). "Rehearsing the State: The Political Practices of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile". John Wiley & Sons.
11. (28 May 2013). "Central Tibetan Administration's Financial Viability".
12. (30 June 2011). "Department of Finance".
13. Backman, Michael. (23 March 2007). "Behind Dalai Lama's holy cloak". [[The Age]].
14. link. zh-Hans-CN. 美国政府的一份解密文件显示，1964至1968年，美国给予达赖集团的财政拨款每年达173.5万美元，其中包括给达赖喇嘛个人津贴18万美元
15. (1998-10-02). "World News Briefs; Dalai Lama Group Says It Got Money From C.I.A.". The New York Times.
16. (16 May 2003). "Tibetan Policy Act of 2002". US Department of State, Archives.
17. (31 May 2017). "U.S. government intends to withdraw aid to exiled Tibetans (美政府拟撤销对流亡藏人援助 )".
18. Samten, Tenzin. (5 October 2016). "Grant Funding for the Tibetan Exile Community Thanks to USAID".
19. (2017-05-26). "Trump administration makes 'tough choices,' proposes zero aid to Tibetans; wants other countries to follow suit-World News". Firstpost.
20. (2 May 2017). "McGovern: America Must Stand Up for Human Rights in Tibet". JimMcGovern.
21. (2020-02-07). "Tibet's disappeared Panchen Lama remembered in US National Prayer Breakfast".
22. "The Dalai Lama faces a horrible dilemma". The Economist.
23. (30 May 2003). "India: Information on Tibetan Refugees and Settlements". United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
24. (31 May 2004). "Dangerous Crossing: Conditions Impacting the Flight of Tibetan Refugees // 2003 Update". The International Campaign for Tibet.
25. (28 April 2006). "China: The 'Green Book' issued to Tibetans; how it is obtained and maintained, and whether holders enjoy rights equivalent to Indian citizenship (April 2006)". [[Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada]].
26. (30 September 2011). "Blue Book: Frequently Asked Questions (Updated 2020)".
27. "Constitution: Charter of the Tibetans in Exile". Central Tibetan Administration.
28. Lim, Louisa. (21 February 2012). "Protests, Self-Immolation Signs Of A Desperate Tibet".
29. (2014). "Tibet: An Unfinished Story". Oxford University Press.
30. (6 October 2005). "Finance Kalon speaks on the financial status of the Central Tibetan Administration".
31. (28 July 2005). "EU Sidesteps Human Rights to Promote Trade, Says Kalon Lobsang Nyandak".
32. "Harford Community College".
33. Punohit, Kunal. (24 September 2020). "Tibetan SFF soldier killed on India-China border told family: 'we are finally fighting our enemy'". [[South China Morning Post]].
34. Goldstein, Melvyn C.. (1978). "Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan Interface". [[Walter de Gruyter]].
35. Pulman, Lynn. (1983). "Tibetans in Karnataka". [[Kailash: A Journal of Himalayan Studies.
36. Römer, Stephanie. (2008). "The Tibetan Government-in-Exile: Politics at Large". [[Routledge]].
37. Staff Reporter. (2020-01-21). "US Congress sanctions $9 million fund for strengthening CTA and Tibetan community in exile".
38. "The Tibet Fund » Links".
39. Goldstein, Melvyn C., The Snow Lion and the Dragon, University of California Press, 1997, p. 119
40. Conboy, Kenneth. (2002). "The CIA's Secret War in Tibet". Univ. Press of Kansas.
41. Staff Reporter. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Former US President Barack Obama meet in Delhi, call for action for World Peace".
42. Gaphel, Tenzin. (4 February 2015). "His Holiness arrives in Washington for annual National Prayer Breakfast".
43. Jackson, David. (5 February 2015). "Obama praises Dalai Lama at prayer breakfast".
44. (4 February 2021). "Biden Administration Promises Continued US Support For Tibet".