{"id":248,"date":"2017-02-10T03:42:14","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T03:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tibetanlegalassociation.org\/en\/?p=248"},"modified":"2023-09-19T22:03:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T22:03:01","slug":"activity-report-of-the-tibetan-legal-association-since-the-inception-of-tla-on-23-july-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tibetanlegalassociation.org\/en\/activity-report-of-the-tibetan-legal-association-since-the-inception-of-tla-on-23-july-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Activities conducts by TLA under the leadership of Mr. Lobsang Dakpa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Legal Fraternity Conference at Dharamsala<\/strong>.
    \n\"tibetan-legal-association-800x445\"<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The importance of forming an association of Tibetan legal practitioner was promulgated by His Holiness and Dalai Lama in 2009.\u00a0 Tibetan Legal Association (TLA) was formally formed with forty \u2013one participants of Tibetans lawyers and law students during the conference of members of the Tibetan Legal Fraternity organized by Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission on 28 June 2013. Five executive members of the association were elected and its aims and objectives were formulated in the said conference.<\/p>\n

    One of the primary aims of the association is to provide free legal assistance to the poor and needy Tibetans and local Indians.\u00a0It will also employ legal measures in its efforts to seek the international community\u2019s support on the issue of Tibet.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His Holiness was very pleased about the establishment of the legal association and\u00a0In his hour-long address, His Holiness the Dalai Lama emphasized the importance and the responsibility of the newly-formed Tibetan Legal Association to provide legal assistance to poor and needy Tibetans and local Indians.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Registration of TLA: \u00a0 <\/strong>The\u00a0Tibetan Legal Association was registered on 23rd July 2014 at Bangalore. Since its registration on 23rd July 2014 at Bangalore with the memorandum of Association drafted during the Legal Fraternity conference on 28-30 June 2013, has carried on few activities as per its objectives which were duly informed to the members from time to time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. First Activity: Legal Awareness Program at Bangalore\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        <\/p>\n

        \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>TLA’s \u00a0<\/strong>\"Bangalore\"First Legal Awareness Program was conducted in collaboration with the Tibetan Youth\u00a0 for Tibetan Students at Tibetan Youth Hostel Bangalore by inviting a Guest Speaker on the topic.\u00a0 “<\/strong>An Empowered Citizens” by (Dr.) VS Elizabeth , Professor of National Law School of India University, at Youth Hostel, Bengaluru on 24th November\u00a02014.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        4.Legal Awareness Program at Mundgod, Karnataka State by Secretary of TLA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \"10860979_906949869336880_175585038269436904_o\"The TLA Secretary Mr. Lobsang Dakpa conducted legal awareness program at Mundgod on 12.12.2014 to approximately \u00a0 60 Tibetan \u00a0Monks and Tibetan students.<\/p>\n

        5.Legal Awareness in Tibetan Newspapers 22.10.2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

        The article of the Tibetan Charter was published periodically in the name of TLA through Tibetan newspaper called Bangchen. The publication was made on 22.10.2014, 31.12.2014 and 21.1.2015.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Legal Awareness to Taiwanese \u00a0at Dharamsala:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Legal Awareness Program was conducted by TLA\u00a0 at Dharamsala to nine Taiwenese by TLA President Mr. Lobsang Dakpa on 19th July 2015. He spoke on the Tibetan situation in India, with reference to legal status and TLA’s objectives.<\/p>\n

          7.Collaboration with Tibet Justice Centre\"10498339_10207090705334432_6766168211368266384_o\"<\/strong>
          \nTLA in collaboration with TJC has conducted an interactive legal meeting at Hotel Tibet, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala\u00a0 in\u00a0 October of 2015 and has participated and assisted in their research work regarding the status of Tibetans in exile.<\/p>\n

          (Picture : Eileen\u00a0 & Iona of Tibet Justice Centre with TLA members and legal luminaries, In October 2015)<\/em><\/p>\n

          The research report is being\u00a0 published by TJC and TLA name is being\u00a0 credited as below .<\/strong>Tibet\u2019s Stateless Nationals II 2016: The Status of Tibetan Refugee in India,\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>A report by Tibet Justice Center, with the support of Tibetan Legal Association, and Boston University School of Law\u2019s International Human Rights Clini <\/em>available at – ttp:\/\/www.tibetjustice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/TJCIndiaReport2016.pdf<\/p>\n

          7.Opening of TLA office at Dharasmala: \u00a0<\/strong>
          \n\"nt2\"<\/p>\n

          As resolved during the legal fraternity conference on 29 June 2013 and followed by the Resolution of the Board dated 31.7.2015, \u00a0TLA’s working office started on 1st March 2016 at Dharamsala at Ratoe Labrang, near Men- Tse Khang, Potala Road, Dharamsala with\u00a0the Rent sponsered by Tso- Pema Non Profit. \u00a0The first working members being \u00a0Namgyal Tsekey,(LL.M)\u00a0 Lobsang Dakpa(LL.M) and Kunsang Topden(Ll.B) followed by Dickyi Peldon(LL.B) recently graduated from JSS\u00a0 Law college, Mysore<\/p>\n

          Picture: (Ms. Namgyal Tsekey, TLA standing lawyer and Board Member, on the \u00a0first working day of TLA at Dharasmala, \u00a0greeted by fellow lawyer Ms Rigzin Wangmo, legal staff at \u00a0TSJC, Dharasmala ) (1.3.2016)<\/em><\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          9<\/em> \u00a0 Free Legal Services rendered since the opening of office at Dharamsala:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \"22<\/p>\n

          With the opening of the office of the Tibetan Legal Association at Dharamsala since 1st March 2016, as many as 100\u00a0 numbers of people were served. \u00a0These services include giving legal opinions & advice, drafting of\u00a0 affidavits and pleadings of the cases, problems related to Identity Certificate (IC), Registration Certificate (RC) and Passport, appearance before the Police Station, Judicial Magistrates, representation before the Tibetan authorities like Justice Commission, Settlement Officers,\u00a0 making documents- affidavits, drafting of the cases, assisting in the visa process \/immigration documentation & translations,\u00a0 Identity Certificate (IC),\u00a0\"Cyberand matters like change of name and date of birth in RC,\u00a0 registration of marriage and divorces, registration of shops,\u00a0 Application for registration of Trademarks, representation before the \u00a0Judicial Magistrate in criminal cases, outstation cases before the Juvenile Justice \u00a0Board\u00a0 for the \u00a0violation of Foreigners Act etc\u00a0 All these services are rendered free of cost thus far.<\/p>\n

          Apart from cases, TLA gives legal awareness through its website \u00a0www.tibetanlegalassociation.org \u00a0and through Facebook and social media in both English and Tibetan language.<\/p>\n

          \"TLA<\/p>\n

          TLA Lawyers announcing \u00a0the dismissal of the case by \u00a0reading out the \u00a0order \u00a0passed by the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission \u00a0in a election dispute on 17th May 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n

          10.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Conference Organized by TLA with Tibetan Centre for Human Rights at Dharamsala:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          In \u00a0collaboration with Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy, Students for a Free Tibet, and the Tibetan Chinese Pen Association, TLA \u00a0organized \u00a0the 11th Interethnic\/Interfaith Leadership Conference, titled \u201cStrengthening Our Alliance to Advance the People’s Dream, Freedom, Justice, Equity and Peace”, at Dharamsala from 28 April to 1st<\/sup> May 2016. TLA \u00a0members have had the privilege to meet \u00a0many scholars and legal professionals,\u00a0the Harvard Law School visiting scholar, human rights activist, and lawyer Dr. Teng Biao, the president of Citizen Power Dr.Yang Jianli,\u00a0 Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin, and many others during the conference .<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Membership with APPRN .\u00a0<\/strong>The TLA is a privileged member\u00a0 of \u00a0the Asian Pacific Refugee Rights Network since 30th <\/sup>March 2016 . There are only two Tibetan offices which have been admitted to the membership of this body (Health Department of CTA and the TLA<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            12)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Legal Survey at the various Tibetan Settlements in the South India:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            (22nd July-2nd Aug 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

            TLA conducted Survey of the legal challenges in Tibetan community by interviewing the Settlement officers, managers of the Co-operative Society, Monasteries, and general public to elicit the legal problems in the Tibetan Society. The President of TLA, Mr. Lobsang Dakpa, along with Ms. Namgyal Tsekey and Mr. Kunsang Topden were the team members and interviews were recorded by TLA.\"img_2350\"<\/p>\n

            One of the main problems in the Tibetan community are the lack of legal knowledge, lack of Tibetan lawyers, lack of basic understand\u00ading of laws of India, especially criminal laws, law of income tax; banking law; traffic rules etc; and some particular problems of Foreigners Registration certificate (RC); Identity Certificate (IC) and of interpretation and application of Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, 2014. The detailed Report was submitted to Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Tibetan Parliament, and Tibetan Kashag Secretariat of the Central Tibetan Administration on 31st August 2016. In its Report, TLA proposed to the CTA to establish a standing Tibetan lawyer at each settlement in the south to advise and assist the settlement office and the general public and to make a provision to nominate a Justice Commissioner with the law background in order to inculcate a faith in the judiciary by the general public.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Capacity Building Conference cum 1st Annual General Body Meeting of TLA (30th- 31st July 2016\u00a0\"IMG_2443\"<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The first Conference since the registration of TLA on 23 July 2014 was held at Mysore as most of the members of TLA are at Mysore and Bangalore. The two day Conference was held at Hotel Quorum , Mysore, as a part of capacity building project by SOIR-IM Rajpur, Dehradun. The members of TLA from Supreme Court, highly experienced lawyer from Darjeeling, law students and law graduates from Mysore and Bangalore with total 29 members participated in the conference.<\/li>\n
            2. The Conference dealt with many issues as detailed in the Agenda, introducing and reiterating the aims and objectives of the TLA, planning strategies, and evaluating the management & the role of Board, electing new Board Members .<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              \"IMG_2882\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

              \u00a0Picture:<\/em>\u00a0 Group\u00a0 Photo of\u00a0 Member of TLA during AGM at Mysore (31.7. 2016)<\/em><\/p>\n

              \"IMG_7725\"<\/em><\/p>\n

              \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0(Election process \u00a0of the \u00a0AGM on 31.7.2016 at Mysore )<\/em><\/p>\n

              \"IMG_2725\"<\/p>\n

              Additionally, New \u00a0members were recruited and trained. Additionally, two regional chapters of TLA were established, one in Mysore and one in Bangalore. The Regional Chapter\u00a0 consist of lawyers and \u00a0law students\u00a0 in Mysore \u00a0and Bangalore.<\/p>\n

              Picture: \u00a0( \u00a0Advocate Tsering Ngodup congratulating New Secretary Kunsang Topden) \u00a0(31.7.2016)<\/em><\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              The objective of the\"IMG_2749\" Regional chapter\u00a0 is to make TLA \u00a0available for reach locally . The chapter will maintain a close and regular association with professional colleagues in the same city or area.\u00a0 The local chapter shall hold periodic conferences- symposiums, and provide a combination of social interaction, professional dialogue, legal aid, and other services at a regional level. Bylakuppe is one of the biggest Tibetan settlements in India. The Tibetan refugees are in need of legal aid and assistance. There are no Tibetan lawyers available for legal advice in those areas at present. Therefore, establishing a regional chapter will help the Tibetans located in Bylakuppe and Bangalore.<\/p>\n

              (Advocate Tsering Ngodup congratulating Mr. Tenzin Yonten,(Law Student) newly elected President of Regional Chapter Mysore)<\/em><\/p>\n

              Training with regard to the management, accounts, and administration of Regional Chapter was also given. The executive members of the Regional Chapters were \u00a0given Rs five thousand as seed money.<\/p>\n

              \"IMG_7734\"<\/p>\n

              The legal debate\/discussion session held by Advocate \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Tsering Ngodup (District Court lawyer) and Advocate Tenzin Tsering (Supreme Court lawyer) which \u00a0has empowered the members of the Regional Chapter.<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              Picture (Mr. Tenzin Tsering, imparting legal empowerment talk to the new members of the TLA 31.7.2016) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

              \u00a0 <\/em>(Newly elected Board Members of TLA and Regional Chapter. (31.7.2016 ) Mysore \u00a0and Bangalore)<\/em><\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              \u00a0 \u00a0\"angalore\"IMG_2758\"<\/em><\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              14) Felicitation to the Principle of the J.S.S Law College, Mysore (1st August 2016).<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \"IMG_2929\"<\/p>\n

              During the Orientation program at JSS Law College, Mr Lobsang\u00a0Dakpa presented\u00a0a\u00a0Memento\u00a0of\u00a0appreciation\u00a0on\u00a0behalf\u00a0of\u00a0Tibetan\u00a0legal\u00a0Association.\u00a0The Principle Mr K.S. Suresh said in his speech that he had audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama who asked him to give admission to all the Tibetans students coming to his college for admission and since then Principle of JSS Law College never turned a single Tibetan students so far. \u00a0Tibetans students are very grateful to the JSS Law college for its \u00a0 \u00a0beneficial treatment\u00a0\u00a0to the Tibetans students .<\/p>\n

              \u00a0(Lobsang Dakpa presenting Momento to the Principle of JSS Law College, Mr. K.S. Suresh and giving a speech .) \u00a0(1.8.2016)<\/em><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \u00a0 \u00a0TLA’s Legal Awareness Program at TCV Schools at around Dharamsala <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Beside our regular works on providing legal aid on pro-bono basis to indigent and Tibetans in exile, and endeavor to provide legal services to underprivileged Indians requiring legal protection, the TLA aims to promote legal awareness within Tibetan Diaspora in India. \u00a0More than 40 percent of the Tibetans in India are children, and educating the young minds with basic ideas on law is crucial. TLA has visited five different Tibetan schools in Dharamsala to educate them on basic legal knowledge necessary in their everyday life. \u00a0Every year there is an increasing number of legal cases in Tibetan exile community. In 2014, Tibet Justice Center illustrated a number of legal issues faced by Tibetan in exile related to Registration Certificate and other official documents, land, deportation, citizenship, voting etc.\u00a0 Lack of legal awareness on relevant laws and basic understanding of democracy is also one of the major issues facing Tibetans in Tibet as well. Legal awareness program was organized at various TCV Schools in Dharamsala from 17th<\/sup> to 23rd <\/sup>August 2016 and TCV Bylakuppe on 2nd<\/sup> August 2016.<\/p>\n

                \"IMG_7591\"<\/p>\n

                \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

                \u00a0 TLA legal Awareness at SOS TCV Bylakuppe ( 2.8.2016) Mr. Tsering Ngodup, Member of TLA Board, an \u00a0advocate with more than 35 years of experience at District Court at Darjeeling sharing\u00a0basic legal \u00a0 knowledge \u00a0to the \u00a0students at SOS TCV Bylakuppe .<\/em><\/p>\n

                TLA had the following objectives behind conducting this legal awareness program:<\/p>\n