Each International Tibet Network Member Group can vote in their regional elections and has vote for each available seat e.g. Two Seats = Two Votes
DEADLINE for voting is the end of day on Friday 30 July.
Western Europe: There are TWO seats available.
The three candidates are:
1. Günther Cologna – current Co-Chair of Tibet Network, nominated by Associazione Italia Tibet:
Dr Günther Cologna is a Director and former President of Associazione Italia Tibet. He has been involved in the Tibet issue for well over 20 years. He would bring to the Steering Committee many years of experience of working on Tibet, superb language skills, and longstanding relationships with key personnel in the Central Tibetan Administration, where he has conducted and facilitated many training courses as a result of his profession. He is the Head of Education at EURAC (European Academy); an applied research centre in South Tyrol that works on the protection of minorities and multilingualism, investigates climate change, draws up sustainable development plans through the use of renewable energy, and contributes to the health of the community by conducting biomedical studies. Günther is a writer and has translated a number of books by His Holiness into German. He has served on the Steering Committee since 2015.
2. Uwe Meya – nominated by Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association:
Board member of Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF) 2004-2007
During interim time 2007-2020 responsible for media and information
Board member of GSTF again since 2021 Given my retirement from work by the end of July, I feel that I have sufficient time available for the Committee and would also be prepared and willing to travel to meetings, if possible again.
Uwe has a long-standing tenure in Tibet Support Groups as a founding member of Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) in 1989, President of TID 1991-1992
Board member of TID 1996-1998.
3. Eleanor Byrne-Rosengren:
Having spent seven years as Executive Director of Free Tibet and Tibet Watch, and many more years as an individual supporter of Tibet, I have the skills and experience required to contribute to the steering committee. I worked closely with the International Tibet Network during my time with Free Tibet and also built good relationships with many other groups around the world. I have maintained a number of those relationships since stepping down. I have also remained involved in campaigning and advocacy, primarily through work with the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Tibet and also through organising some grassroots activity in Scotland. However, I would really enjoy having a more active role in the movement again and see the steering committee as a great opportunity to re-engage at a strategic level. I can confirm that I am a member of TSG-L, I am able to travel (finances and Covid allowing) and I can commit an average of two hours a week to the committee.
South Asia: There are THREE seats available.
The four candidates are:
1. Rinzin Choedon – nominated by Students for a Free Tibet India
National Director at Students For a Free Tibet India
2. Amruth N. Joshi – nominated by Core Group For Tibetan Cause India:
Started Tibet activism as a convener of Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch -Mundgod Chapter in 2004 and presently the National co Convener of Core Group For Tibetan Cause India(Southern Region). Organised awareness programs on various issues pertaining to India Tibet at various intellectual academic platforms across Karnataka. My activism is more focused on Indian community on awareness campaigns. With Karnataka housing three great monastic institution, off late my concentration has been more on academic and research related activism. With respect to Tibetan community at local level, I have been working closely with Tibetan NGO’s , CTA, monastic institutions for their needs from local Indian government and other agencies.
4. Tenzin Dolma – nominated by Central Tibetan Women’s Association
13th President of the Tibetan Women’s Association.
5. Narender Kumar – nominated by Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, East-Turkestan, Manchuria & Inner-Mongolia ( YLFTM )
I am the national chairman of nation wide organization for Tibet & Tibetan support named ” Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, East-Turkestan, Manchuria & Inner-Mongolia ( YLFTM ) based in New-Delhi, India since 1998. I staged uncountable different types of protests & awareness campaigns in different cities & grassroots level of throughout India like protest marches, dharnas, candle lights vigils, fund raising programs for Tibetan brother & sisters, hunger strikes & tried to facilitate them to set up their annual woolen sweater markets in different cities of India. I handed over memorandum to Indian authorities & demanded to arrange dialogue between His Holiness Dalai Lama and People Republic of China. In future, I will try my best to globalise and intensify this Tibetan struggle movement by the platform of International Tibet Network in South Asia, so His Holiness Dalai Lama with Tibetan can return respectfully to Potala Palace, Lhasa in Tibet. Last but not least that i will raise Tibetan flag until Tibetan gets justice & their homeland.
Rest of Asia: There are ONE seat available.
The two candidates are:
1. Lin Hsinyi – nominated by Human Rights Network for Tibet & Taiwan
Hsin-yi Lin first attended a 310 demonstration in 2006. She helped make the social activist community in Taiwan more aware of Tibetan issues; particularly the 2008 Tibetan unrest, and Tashi’s arrest before the Beijing Olympics when he seized the torch during the Olympic torch relay in Japan. Hsinyi, along with the Tibetans residing in Taiwan, has this year begun assisting with many projects including speeches, 310 Uprising day-related activities. Initiated by Tashi Tsering in 2015, Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, HRNTT was formed in 2016. LIN Hsinyi is also one of the founding members. HRNTT is a coalition comprising Taiwan-based NGOs. Individual members include Tibetan and Taiwanese social activists, college professors, writers, students and legislators, amongst people of many other professions. Although the members work on different issues, the common concern is human rights. Members of the HRNTT realize that the value of human rights is universal, and that the suffering of one person in any part of the world is a burden on the whole world. On the other hand, improving the rights of one person anywhere in the world is an inspiration for people everywhere. We also recognize that Taiwan and Tibet share many common grounds, for historical reasons. Both of us need to struggle to protect and improve our rights. There is a lot to be learnt from each other. Not only 310 event, recently, HRNTT organized activities like ‘2021 Free Panchen Lama Campaign’, ‘NoBeijing2022: Global Day of Action 2021’ and July first demonstration in Taiwan. Hsinyi is one of the main organizers. These activities are successfully attract the media and public. LIN Hsinyi is currently the Executive Director of the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty, the steering committee member of World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, so she has well experience in campaigning, fundraising, or other network-related skills.
2. Tsering Dorjee – nominated by Students for a Free Tibet, Japan
Tsering Dorjee has been serving in SFT japan for the last 13 years.
Canada: There is ONE seat available.
The two candidates are:
1. Chemi Lhamo – nominated by Students for a Free Tibet, Canada
Chemi Lhamo is a well known activist in the Tibetan Movement. She has been part of SFT Canada for over a decade, as a member, grassroots coordinator and has served on the board of SFT Canada. She has also served as a Sports and Youth Coordinator for Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario and has completed two summer internships through Canadian Parliamentary friends of Tibet. Chemi brings in a wealth of experience, charisma and skills to any table she joins and would be an indispensable addition to the ITN steering committee.
2. Samphe Lhalungpa – nominated by Canada Tibet Committee
Samphe brings strong understanding of Canada’s foreign policy on China and has many years of experiences working international development and human rights advocacy.
Central & Eastern Europe: There is ONE seat available.
The two candidates are
1. Katerina Bursikova Jacques – nominated by Czechs Support Tibet
A leading person of the pro-Tibetan politically oriented NGO “Czechs Support Tibet”. Secretary of the Parliamentary Support Group in the Senat (2nd chamber of the Parliament). Founder of the Parliamentary Support Group in 2006. Politically most active pro-Tibetan activist with huge network within the country and the EU region. Long term intensive relationship and support of the Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament. Already member of the steering committee.
2. Rūta Norkute – nominated by Latvia for Tibet
Rūta is team player, with good experience in the Tibet issue as supporter with good contacts with Politicians and other supporters
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