Tibetan leaders give in to Dalai Lama

Source: DNA

Members of the 14th Tibetan parliament-in-exile, which concluded its 10-day session in Dharamshala on Friday, finally gave in to the desire of the Dalai Lama to give up his political role in Tibet’s government in exile.

The parliament-in-exile unanimously passed a resolution to amend the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile, paving the way for accepting the proposal of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

The Dalai Lama, however, would continue to be the symbolical titular head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, for which suitable amendments would be made. He also remains the spiritual head of the Tibetans.

Earlier, the parliament had rejected the Dalai Lama’s proposal to abjure political role, but gave after the Dalai Lama stood his ground firmly. The members of the parliament agreed to hold a “Special Session” for the implementation of the amendments to the Charter. The lawmakers further agreed that they were bound by a “special responsibility” to find a logical conclusion to the matter before the current parliament dissolves in May this year after completing its full five-year term.

Tibetan government-in-exile prime minister Samthong Rimpoche told the Tibetan Parliament that the house had agreed to the desire of the spiritual leader for an amendment to the Tibetan Charter to relieve him of his political duties.

Tibetan parliament to decide on Dalai Lama move in May

Source: Sify

Dharamsala, March 25 (IANS) The Tibetan parliament-in-exile Friday formally accepted the Dalai Lama's proposal to relinquish political authority and decided to hold a special session by May-end to amend its charter to pave the way for his retirement, an official said. The parliament, before its tenure ends in May, will hold an extra session to entrust responsibility to amend its charter, clearing the way for the 75-year-old Nobel laureate's retirement, Tenzin Norbu, a spokesperson for the parliamentary secretariat, told IANS. The parliament also decided to constitute a committee comprising parliamentarians and members of the Tibetan cabinet to recommend various parameters to amend the constitution for smooth transition of powers from the Dalai Lama to an elected political leader. It will submit its report by April 11. Norbu said a general meeting of Tibetan diaspora, mainly settled in India, Nepal and Bhutan, would be convened in May to hold further discussions on the committee report. He said the parliamentarians on the last day of the budget session also decided to accept the recommendations of a three-member committee formed by the parliament. The committee, that also included Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche and Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari, suggested that the majority of the powers vested in the Dalai Lama be transferred to the prime minister, including the power to make laws, by amending the constitution. The report was submitted to the parliament by Rinpoche March 23. The tenure of the 14th parliament is coming to an end in May-end. Voting to elect the next 'Kalon Tripa' or prime minister-in-exile and 43 members of parliament was conducted March 20. The results will be declared April 27. The Dalai Lama formally announced his political retirement at the onset of the Tibetan parliament's budget session March 14. On March 18, parliament passed a resolution urging the Dalai Lama to reconsider his retirement plans. The resolution was signed by 37 of the 38 members. A day later, the Nobel laureate publicly appealed to Tibetans to accept his decision by making necessary amendments in the Charter of Tibetans to pass on his political authority to an elected leader. 'The rule by spiritual leaders or the rule by kings is an outdated concept. In reality, I have been describing myself as a semi-retired person for the last 10 years,' the spiritual head told a gathering here. According to Article 19 of the Tibetan charter, the Dalai Lama is vested with the chief executive powers of the Tibetan administration. He is also empowered to approve and promulgate bills and regulations prescribed by the Tibetan assembly; confer honours and appointments; summon, adjourn, postpone and prolong the parliament; dissolve or suspend the parliament, etc. 'There are 39 other clauses in the charter outlining the power and the responsibilities of the Dalai Lama. All these will be amended after the discussions,' a parliamentarian said. The Dalai Lama has lived in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland after a failed uprising against the Communist rule. His government-in-exile is based here but is not recognised by any country. Some 140,000 Tibetans live in exile around the world, over 100,000 of them in India.

Why Doesn’t China Want To Let the Dalai Lama Resign?

Source: China Digital Times

In Foreign Policy, Tibet expert Robert Barnett writes about the Dalai Lama’s recent announcement that he would resign his political position as head of Tibet’s government-in-exile in favor of a freely elected Prime Minister:

This means that a 350-year era of Tibetan history will come to an end, and Dalai Lamas will no longer be the political leaders of the Tibetan people.

Instead, the leader of the Tibetan government, which now exists only in exile in India and is charged with “rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and restoring freedom and happiness in Tibet,” will be their prime minister. The last two prime ministers have been chosen democratically by the 150,000 exiles, and an election was held to choose the next one on March 20. (The front-runner is a 42-year-old Tibetan named Lobsang Sangay who graduated from Harvard Law School; however, the final results won’t be announced until late April.) The winner would become the ultimate leader of Tibetan exiles if this proposal is accepted by the exile parliament, which alone has authority to change the exile constitution. But so far 42 of the 43 exile parliamentarians, meeting in northern India this week, are still insisting that the Dalai Lama remain in power, though they have agreed to set up a committee to examine the issue.

Then again, the most important reaction to the Dalai Lama’s statement will come not from the exiles, but from the 5.5 million Tibetans in China, whose willingness to accept Chinese rule is at the root of the China-Tibet question. They constitute just .4 percent of China’s population, but, like Mongols in Inner Mongolia and Uighurs in Xinjiang, inhabit vast areas of China where the central government’s territorial claims are weakest. Each of these peoples has supporters in large numbers among fellow ethnics living just across China’s borders with India, Nepal, Central Asia, Mongolia, and elsewhere. As a result, their ability to draw the worried glance of Beijing and so impact Chinese politics is far out of proportion to their actual numbers. The authorities respond to even slight indications of dissent among these nationalities with disproportionate force and angry rhetoric.

Panel set up on Dalai's proposal

DHARAMSHALA: The exiled Tibetan parliament currently debating the issue of Dalai Lama's formal proposal to retire from his political duties has formed a committee to look into the matter.

The panel members are de facto prime minister of Tibet Samdhong Rinpoche, deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile Dolma Gyar and one parliamentarian. After studying his proposal in detail, the committee would submit the report to parliament on March 23 outlining how to move on this important matter entwined with future of Tibetans. The ongoing budget session of the exiled Tibetan parliament would conclude on March 25.

The Tibetan assembly would have to decide that whether the matter be referred to either select committee or it would be taken care of by the 15th parliament for which elections were held on Sunday.

A parliamentarian also said that some of the members of the outgoing parliament wanted absolute redrafting of the charter of Tibetans (constitution) to pave the way for transition of Dalai Lama's authorityto the new elected leadership in smooth manner. The Dalai Lama had asked the Tibetans to accept his decision to retire from political duties.

Meanwhile, in the Karmapa case, Rubi Chosang alias Shakti Lama appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chandigarh on Monday pertaining to the investigation in the recovery of huge haul of foreign currency from the monastery at Sidhbarri about eight kilometres from Dharamshala during the raids conducted by the state police. The police had raided the premises of the Gyutso monas-tery at Sidhbari in January raising suspicions about 17th Karmapa, Ogyene Trinley Dorjee, suspected Chinese links.

Sources said Chosang was questioned about the financial transactions and management of the money at the monastery.

Earlier, monastery officials had also deposited $1,50,000 with the ED on Thursday. The Karmapa was currently away to Bodh Gaya in connection with teachings. The monastery had all along maintained that the money found had been offerings and donations made by devotees visiting from various parts of the world.

Dalai Lama Rejects Pleas To Reconsider Retirement Plan

Source Credit: Dow Jones Newswires

DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP)--The Dalai Lama rejected on Thursday calls from the Tibetan parliament in exile for him to reconsider his decision to retire as political head of the movement.

"No (I will not reconsider). I gave serious consideration for many years...my decision for the long run is best," he said during a media interview.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
  03-17-110628ET
  Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Grace Under Fire !

Dalai lama has shown grace many times his intention to step down as Political leader of Tibet. His latest formal letter to Tibetan Parliament in Exile, he has urged the deputies to seriously consider his desire to step down in the current session of Parliament. Very thought of Dalai Lama not leading the Tibetan government is hard to digest to the Tibetan people but he has shown that it is in the interest of Tibetan People to have future where state of the affairs are run directly by the leaders elected by the people. In other words, he wanted to see that transition to democratically elected leadership to run the affairs of the government materialize during his life time. His thought is not only pragmatic but also practical in a sense that if there arises any problems during the transition period, he is there to guide them. There can never be a more conducive time for Tibetan to undergo the political changes than one Dalai Lama has proposed, this time he is decisive in his proposal. Many pros and cons are debated mostly from within as to how they can imagine a Tibetan government and for that matter, a Tibet as a nation without Dalai lama leading it. The same can be found from what Dalai lama has said and reminded Tibetan People time and again, to move forward with the changing time.Some worries that world leaders may not receive well the elected leader of the Tibetan People. This may  be an educated guess, but nonetheless not something to show concern about. If the desire and will to continue the cause of Tibetan continues more effectively, then dealing with world leaders will be the matter of protocol. World leaders will continue to show support and respect to the cause of Tibet, no matter who their leaders are. Tibetan people must demonstrate unity and will to support the elected leadership and continue their quest to bring about amicable resolution to the Tibetan issues. The World and in particularly the Tibetan people inside Tibet will be rooting for them.

Keeping these in mind, Tibetan Parliament must decide to support the decision of the Dalai Lama and not get entangle in the web of emotion. Any outcome short of negating the desire of Dalai lama is less desirable.

Tibet's Future sans Dalai Lama

Tibet aftermath of 1959 invasion by Communist China is uniquely interconnected with Dalai Lama. It is beyond imagination and comprehension to think of Tibet sans Dalai lama and vice- versa. More than 50 years in exile with Dalai Lama at the helm overseeing the plight of tibetans from both within and outside had made tremendous stride. If the plight of Tibet is gaining more global support and recognition, then it is the tireless effort of the Dalai lama which has brought about such result. Now the situation is changing and changing rapidly and Dalai Lama has seen it coming and Dalai Lama is determined to see that elected Political leadership in pursuant with Charters of the Tibetan Constitution takes a direct responsibilities of the governance. Dalai lama wanted to see that  there is a smooth and efficient transition to political devolution of power from Him to the elected leadership during his life time. 

There is no doubt that dynamic of Tibetan politics will change with Dalai Lama not being at the helm but however this is the right time to move into transition to elected leadership while Dalai Lama is still around and God himself willing for another 20 years and more and to overcome any challenges that may come. This is exactly what Dalai Lama wants to see during his life time and this responsibility of governance which will fall on the Tibetan people soon be tested in both short and long term, whether they will be able to shoulder this task independently through the democratic discourse available at their disposal. Fear and anxiety of whether being successful in the transition  which is genuine, can best be overcome and ratified while Dalai Lama is still around.
For the past fifty years, the Chinese government has always treated Tibetan issue as a personal matter of Dalai Lama and therefore never recognized the Tibetan Government in Exile. With the elected leadership taking place soon, they can no longer treat Tibetan issue as a personal matter of Dalai Lama. They will be forced to deal with elected Tibetan leadership if they are sincere about resolving the Tibetan issues. World leaders sympathetic to Tibetan cause will find reason to deal with elected Tibetan leadership and hopefully give the long overdue recognition of the Exile Government based in India.

Dalai Lama quits politics, focus now on successor

Source: Times of India
DHARAMSHALA: In a historic decision that sent ripples from Dharamshala to Beijing through Delhi, the 14th Dalai Lama on Thursday decided to give up his political role and shift all temporal power to the prime minister elected by the Tibetan community in exile. The announcement, made at the Tsgulakhang temple here, marks a dramatic shift in Tibetan politics as the Dalai Lamas have served as both the spiritual and the political head of the Tibetan people — god-king, in short — since the mid-17th century.

For long, the Dalai Lama has talked about handing over political power to the exile government. But this time the 76-year-old leader has laid down a timeline. The Dalai Lama's proposal will be discussed by theTibetan parliament on March 14. If approved, the Kalon Tripa (prime minister of the government-in-exile) will inherit the Dalai Lama's political powers.

The Dalai Lama's stepping down is likely to trigger an electoral contest for the prime minister's post between three front-runners, all based abroad. They are Lobsang Sangay, a senior fellow at Harvard Law School, Tenzing Namgyal Tethong, an academic at Stanford University, and Tashi Wangdi, a Brussels-based civil servant. The election is scheduled for March 20.

Thursday's development also brought attention on the awkward relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities. Not surprisingly, the announcement was met with derision in Beijing. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that the Dalai Lama had often talked about retirement in the past few years. "I think these are his tricks to deceive the international community. The government-in-exile is an illegal political organization and no country in the world recognizes it,'' she told reporters.

In his speech on the 52nd anniversary of the failed 1959 Lhasa uprising, the Dalai Lama said, ''As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power. Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect. During the forthcoming 11th session of the 14th Tibetan Parliament in exile, which begins on 14th March, I will formally propose that the necessary amendments be made to the Charter for Tibetans in exile, reflecting my decision to devolve my formal authority to the elected leader.''

A Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Dalai Lama currently presides over Parliament-in-exile meetings. During Thursday's ceremony, attended by many foreign journalists, he also said that many of his supporters had asked him not to retire. "My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility. It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run," he said.

Speaking to reporters immediately after the announcement, Samdhong Rinpoche, the current Prime Minister, entreated the Dalai Lama to stay on. "Despite His Holiness' request, the people and the government do not feel competent to lead ourselves. We beseech His Holiness to continue to lead us until we attain liberation," an emotional Rinpoche said.

The feelings on the ground were mixed. Lopsang Thupten, a Tibetan in his early 20s said, "The Dalai Lama's retirement might discourage a lot of Tibetans. We can elect a Kalon Tripa. But the Dalai Lama's place is very special." However, Dorje Chuki, a 24-year-old nursing student said, "It's ok if His Holiness wants to retire. He is old now, and has a lot of work. He needs rest too."

The current Dalai Lama has indicated his successor would come from the exile community. Beijing, though, insists the reincarnation must be found in China's Tibetan areas giving the communist authorities immense power over who is chosen.
(With inputs from agencies) 
Times View 
The Dalai Lama's decision to call it a day has an important lesson for Indian politicians — retirement. At 76, the Tibetan leader, with a global following well beyond the Buddhists, is at an age when most netas would be hanging on to power using every trick in the book. Seniority isn't a disability. But those ruling for decades should think of stepping aside to allow the younger generation to take up public office and bring — hopefully — greater idealism and higher energy. 

Now it is the Decision Time

Election campaigning for Kalon Tripa is now finally unfolding. Last debate held in Washington, DC organised by VOA Tibetan and many other debates and commentaries made by the candidates during the course of the campaign had given the clear choice of their plans and agendas should they become the next Kalon Tripa. Voters will now have until march 19, 2011 to make up their mind. Unlike past election, this election is unique in a sense that candidates and their surrogates made extensive campaigning  thanks to advancement of modern technologies. This is unprecedented in the dissemination of information to general public. Public got ample and extensive access to information to candidates views on various issues concerning our issues and  causes through blogs and dedicated website.
It is now up to the voters to think judiciously and make their choice for the next kalon Tripa without any feeling of sectarian, regionalism and favoritism and use their own mind and judgement as they enter the polling booth. Let the world knows and specially the People's Republic of China that we are capable of electing our own leader to lead our government in exile.