Dalai Lama to Relinquish Political Role

The revered leader says the Tibetan people need an elected leader.

The Dalai Lama announced Thursday on his website that he plans to relinquish his power as the head of the exiled spiritual movement. "Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power," he wrote. "Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect." He said he would work with the government in exile to begin the process of ceding authority.
The announcement falls on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan uprising and the Dalai Lama's subsequent escape to India. This March is also the 3rd anniversary of the anti-government protests that rocked western China in 2008.
The Dalai Lama said Thursday that China as the "potential to contribute to human progress and world peace." But to do that, he wrote they "must earn the international community's respect and trust."
"In order to earn such respect China's leaders must develop greater transparency, their actions corresponding to their words. To ensure this, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are essential."


Source: Times Newsfeed