Dalai Lama to give up political role

The Dalai Lama said Thursday that he will give up his political role in Tibet's government-in-exile, shifting that power to an elected representative.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, speaking in India on the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese control in the Himalayan region, said the time has come "to devolve my formal authority to the elected leader."

He has long insisted that he wants the exile government, based in the Indian hill town of Dharmsala, to have more power, and has previously said he wants to give up his political roles. But the Thursday speech gave a formal timeframe to that transition, saying he would propose amendments to the exile constitution during the exile parliament's next session, which begins later this month.

Despite [the Dalai Lama's] request, the people and the government do not feel competent to lead ourselves.—Samdhong Rinpoche, exile prime minister

Just how much change will come, though, is unclear. While the elected parliament officially wields great power in the exile community, the Dalai Lama's status means he overshadows everyone else.

The 76-year-old Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet amid the failed uprising, remains deeply revered by most Tibetans despite Beijing's decades-long campaign to undermine his influence.

China regards him as a separatist intent on overthrowing Chinese rule over the Himalayan region.

The Dalai Lama, who has long insisted he simply wants more autonomy for the Tibetan people within China, called on Beijing to ease its rule in Tibet.

'Tibetans live in constant fear'

"Tibetans live in constant fear and anxiety," he said in the speech. "The ongoing oppression of the Tibetan people has provoked widespread, deep resentment against current official policies."

Samdhong Rinpoche, the current exile prime minister, later indicated that the political transition may not happen soon.

"Despite [the Dalai Lama's] request, the people and the government do not feel competent to lead ourselves," he told reporters, calling the transition "a long and difficult process."

In the past, the parliament-in-exile has officially asked the Dalai Lama not to give up any of his powers.

Dalai Lamas were traditionally both the political and spiritual leaders of Tibet, and the current Dalai Lama retains almost god-like status to most of his followers.