Dalai Lama wants exiled Tibetan MPs to accept his resignation

Rejecting requests to stay on, the Dalai Lama today pressed the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile to accept his resignation as Tibetan political leader, warning any delay could create uncertainty and pose an "overwhelming challenge".

The 75-year-old Nobel Peace Laureate made a formal request to be relieved in a letter, four days after he publicly announced his retirement to pave the way for a democratically elected political leader

The letter in Tibetan language was read out by Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD), on the opening day of its budget session in this hill town in Himachal Pradesh. The session concludes on March 25.

Conveying his decision to devolve "political authority" to pave the way for putting in place a new democratic system to pursue the cause  of Tibet, the Dalai, who will remain as Tibetan spiritual leader, envisaged a situation in which his leadership was suddenly unavailable and its fallout.

"If we have to remain in exile for several more decades, a time will inevitably come when I will no longer be able to provide leadership. Therefore, it is necessary that we establish a sound system of governance while I remain able and healthy, in order that the exile Tibetan administration can become self-reliant rather than being dependent on the Dalai Lama," the Nobel Laureate said.

"If we are able to implement such a system from this time onwards, I will still be able to help resolve problems if called upon to do so.

But, if the implementation of such a system is delayed and a day comes when my leadership is suddenly unavailable, the consequent uncertainty might present  an overwhelming challenge. Therefore, it is the duty of all Tibetans to make every effort to prevent such an eventuality," he added.

The Dalai said he wished to devolve authority solely for the benefit of the Tibetan people in the long run.

"It is extremely important that we ensure the continuity of our exiled Tibetan administration and our struggle until the issue of Tibet has been successfully resolved," the Dalai, who had come to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, said.

The Dalai had on Thursday announced his decision to retire as political head of Tibetan government-in-exile and to hand over his "formal authority" to a "freely-elected" leader.

"I want to acknowledge here that many of my fellow Tibetans, inside and outside Tibet, have earnestly requested me to continue to give political leadership at this critical time," he said. There are an estimated six million Tibetans. "My intention to devolve political authority derives neither from a wish to shirk responsibility nor because I am disheartened and on the contrary, I wish to devolve authority solely for the benefit of the Tibetan people in the long run," the Dalai said.

However, the Dalai assured the Tibetans that he will continue to serve them so long he was able and healthy.

"As one among the six million Tibetans, bearing in mind that the Dalai Lamas have a special historic and karmic relationship with the Tibetan people, and as long as Tibetans place their trust and faith in me, I will continue to serve the cause of Tibet," he said.

The 14th Assembly Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) would discuss the message of Dalai Lama during the current budget session which would continue till March 25.

As many as 137 out of 143 members of ATPD are attending the session, spokesperson of Tibetan government-in exile Thuben Sanphel said.

He asked the ATPD to take "all necessary steps, including appointment of separate committees, to amend the relevant Articles of the Charter and other regulations, in order that a decision can be reached and implemented during this very session."

Maintaining that one man rule was both anachronistic and undesirable, the Dalai Lama in his message said, "No system of governance can ensure stability and progress if it depends solely on one person without the support and participation" of all.

"We have made great efforts to strengthen our democratic institutions to serve the long-term interests of the six million Tibetans, not out of a wish to copy others, but because democracy is the most representative system of governance," the Dalai Lama said.

In 1990, a committee was formed to draft the Charter for Tibetans-in-Exile and a year later the total strength of the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (ATPD) and in 1991, the eleventh ATPD formally adopted the Charter for Tibetans-in-Exile and assumed all legislative authority.

In 2001, the Tibetan people elected the Kalon Tripa (prime minister), directly for the first time and since then, I have been in semi-retirement, no longer involving myself in the day-to-day administration, the message said.

"The essence of a democratic system is, in short, the assumption of political responsibility by elected leaders for the popular good and for our process of democratisation to be complete, the time has come for me to devolve my formal authority to such an elected leadership," Dalai Lama asserted.

He said, "Given that the line of Dalai Lamas has provided political leadership for nearly four centuries, it might be difficult for Tibetans generally and especially those in Tibet to envisage and accept a political system that is not led by the Dalai Lama and, therefore, over the past 50 years I have tried in various ways to raise people’s political awareness and encourage their participation in our democratic process".