Kasur Tashi Wangdi was appointed Representative of the Dalai Lama to the Americas on April 16, 2005.  He had previously served as His Holiness' representative in New Delhi.  He has served the Tibetan government-in-exile since 1966, starting as a junior officer and rising to the highest rank of Kalon (Cabinet Minister). As a Kalon, he at one time or another was head of the major ministries, including the Department of Religion and Culture, Department of Home, Department of Education, Department of Information and International Relations, Department of Security, and Department of Health.  He is not a Buddhist scholar but describes himself as a civil servant.  He possesses a BA in Political Science and Sociology from Durham University.  
Wikinews reporter David Shankbone recently spoke to him about Chinese-Tibetan relations, the status of the Panchen Lamas, the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, the appointment of Tibetan high monks by the Chinese government and some of the Dalai Lama's views on topics on religions and societal topics.  
David Shankbone:  What is this office's relationship with the government in exile?
DS:  Are you essentially an embassy without a country?
DS:  Professor Venerable Samdhong Rinpoche was elected the head of the Tibetan Administration cabinet--effectively a prime minister of the Central Tibetan Administration, the government-in-exile?
DS:  Retired from administrative functions?
DS:  The Dalai Lama exists as a spiritual leader and essentially a figurehead, similar to Queen Elizabeth?
DS:  As an autonomous region.
DS:  He’s a symbolic head of the people, whereas Rinpoche would be an administrative head?  I understand you may want to shy away from using government-oriented terminology.
DS:  What would be some of the first actions the Dalai Lama would undertake if he were to return to Tibet?
DS:  What are the functions or responsibilities of the Office of Tibet in the Americas?
DS:  How many Tibetans were lost during the Reign of Terror directly after the Chinese invasion?
DS:  How has the Chinese government’s Western China Development program affected ordinary Tibetans?
DS:  The phrase used to describe this by the exiled Tibetan government is “Chinese Apartheid?”
DS:  How are the local people handling this situation?
DS:  But that's not possible.
DS:  Why?
DS:  Have any spoken out as to why they were dismissed?
DS:  What happened when the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal?
DS:  Was there a crackdown?
DS:  What is the status of the monks who were arrested after the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal?  
DS:  At the Drepung Monastery?
DS:  How difficult is it to receive information from Tibet?
DS:  Do you know the situation with Ronggay A'drak, the Tibetan nomad who was arrested?
DS:  What will happen to him?
DS:  Is that standard?
DS:  Where is Chadrel Rinpoche, the man who selected Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the eleventh Panchen Lama?
DS:  Does anyone?
DS:  The Chinese government knew he was in touch with the Dalai Lama over the selection?
—Tashi WangdiDS:  So at age six, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima just disappeared?
DS:  And nobody knows where he is.
DS:  What do you think will happen to him?
DS:  Do you think he is aware of his status?
DS:  But at six years of age, it is probable he was not able to completely comprehend the fight between the two governments over who he was and what role he is to play.  If they were to take him at the age of six and place him somewhere in Manchuria, re-educate him and deny him his heritage, it is possible he does not even know who he is?
DS:  There have been no rumors, no words through the grapevine as to his status?
DS:  That’s pretty amazing when you consider it.
DS:  What do you think is the thinking on the part of the Chinese government that this six year old boy would be a threat to their power?
DS:  It would seem that by the Chinese government installing their own person, they have created their own symbol of illegitimacy as opposed to allowing religious practice to happen whilst keeping their governmental authority intact.  They have created a symbol in the form of Gyancain Norbu of their illegitimacy and meddling in the cultural affairs.
DS:  Do you think Gyancain Norbu, the boy the Chinese government selected as the eleventh Panchen Lama, is a victim as well?
DS:  What would be the right decision?
DS:  But if he insists on his status as the Panchen Lama?
DS:  But he has no legitimacy now as the Panchen Lama, where as the one the Dalai Lama selected does have that legitimacy, is that correct?
DS:  Gyancain Norbu has not made any statements?
DS:  What do the Tibetan people think about him?
DS:  But they are against what he represents.
DS:  He’s not towing the party line but just keeping quiet.
DS:  So in a sense he is a victim himself?
DS:  In September the Chinese government has said they must approve all high monks—
DS:  How will it affect the choosing of the next Dalai Lama?
DS:  How do they force the public?
DS:  How do they keep track of that?
DS:  Did the Dalai Lama support India’s nuclear testing?
DS:  What is His Holiness’ view on abortion?
DS:  He believes that it should be a personal decision and not a governmental decision?
DS:  But that it’s frowned upon as a Buddhist principle?
DS:  What are His Holiness’ views on homosexuality?
DS:  So if somebody is gay they could not be a proper Buddhist?
DS:  Have you ever killed an insect?
DS:  Is the Dalai Lama planning on visiting Latin America any time soon?
DS:  It’s likely next year?
DS:  Do you know why the Dalai Lama has not explicitly said he is a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama?
DS:  It’s that he believes he is a reincarnation, but whether he is the whole and sum of the 13th Dalai Lama is another question?
DS:  Do you have thoughts to share on the situation in Burma?
DS:  Have you any information on their current status?
DS:  It’s such a difficult region with many complex disputes.
DS:  All over Asia so many people have long-lasting conflicts and memories never seem to die.
DS:  What is your view on Arunachal Pradesh? Is the Government-in-Exile's relative silence over the issue due more to a recognition of India as a friendly government, or does the Government-in-Exile view the area as less Tibetan than the areas controlled by China?
DS:  Christopher Hitchens criticized the Dalai Lama for his supposed suppression of Shugden worship?
DS:  Was Lozang Gyatso, the director of Institute of Buddhist Dialectics murdered by Shugden worshipers?
DS:  What is the reason for the Dalai Lama's decision to become involved in the dispute over the identity of the current Karmapa [the leader of the largest sub-school of one of the four main schools in Tibetan Buddhism - ed.] by endorsing one candidate? 
DS:  By all sides?
DS:  Does he still play a role as a peacemaker?
DS:  Do you think Ogyen Trinley Dorje [one of the two contestants in the Karmapa dispute - ed.] will be able to travel freely to visit his followers?

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Dalai Lama's representative talks about China, Tibet, Shugden and the next Dalai Lama