Dharamshala, Feb. 2 -- On a chilly Sunday morning, members of the Tibetan community in exile queued up outside polling stations in Dharamshala to vote in the preliminary polls to elect a new Sikyong (political leader) and members of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Similar polling was held at several other locations across India and in 26 countries worldwide.

They termed the exercise a sign that they have not given up on the Tibetan cause, but that it represents their continued struggle for the freedom of Tibet. The Election Commission of Dharamshala-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) had established 309 polling zones under the supervision of 87 regional election offices across 27 countries. In the two-phased elections, the ...