Dalai Lama signals end of political role

Shimla,

March 10: Thursday.

The Dalai Lama today announced he would formally give up his political leadership of the Tibetan government-in-exile, a decision seen as reflecting his intention to strengthen the Tibetan movement’s democratic structure ahead of elections to choose a new generation of political leaders.
The announcement dismayed the government-in-exile whose prime minister, Samdong Rinpoche, feared that a political retirement by the 75-year-old spiritual leader would undermine the “legitimacy” of the Dharamshala establishment and hobble the talks with China.
For years, the 14th Dalai Lama had spoken of his desire to cede political authority, or “retire” as he sometimes put it. He made it official today, saying he would propose the change during the Tibetan parliament-in-exile’s 11th session that begins on March 14 in Dharamshala.
“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 in a speech that came on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan uprising of 1959 against China.
“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,” he said, advocating the “necessary amendments... to the charter for Tibetans-in-exile” to make this possible.
Analysts said the announcement did not mean the Dalai Lama would cease to be recognised as the overall leader of the Tibetan cause. He is regarded as the lone figure capable of uniting and mobilising Tibetans inside and outside China.
But, the analysts said, by formally giving up political power, the monk is trying to deepen the authority and credibility of the Tibetan movement’s democratic government. Later this month, Tibetan exiles are to elect a new prime minister.
“This is designed to give more credibility to whoever is elected,” said Tim Johnson, author of Tragedy in Crimson: How the Dalai Lama Conquered the World but Lost the Battle with China.
Johnson added: “Tibetan exiles have only reluctantly embraced democracy despite the Dalai Lama’s many urgings. Many would prefer that the Dalai Lama continue to make all major decisions. And he has had to push hard for them to accept someone other than himself as a political leader.”
The Dalai Lama said he had received “repeated and earnest requests both from within Tibet and outside to continue to provide political leadership”. He clarified his decision did not mean he felt “disheartened” or wanted to abandon the cause.
“Tibetans have placed such faith and trust in me that, as one among them, I am committed to playing my part in the just cause of Tibet. I trust that gradually people will come to understand my intention, will support my decision and accordingly let it take effect,” he said.
Beijing met the announcement with derision. “We think these are his tricks to deceive the international community,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.
In past interviews, the Dalai Lama, who established the parliament-in-exile in 1960, had signalled his desire to separate the political and spiritual responsibilities within the Tibetan movement. He has long indicated that Samdhong Rinpoche, a lama who in 2001 became the first prime minister of the government-in-exile, has final authority in political matters.
“I usually describe him as my boss in the sort of temporal field,” the Dalai Lama had said in 2009. “And in the spiritual field, I’m his boss.”
However, a worried Rinpoche said: “The legitimacy of the government-in-exile would now be the biggest issue. The decision will also affect the dialogue process (with China). We will have to find a solution to continue the dialogue process.”
Tsewang Rigzin, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress that is opposed to the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way” of demanding autonomy instead of independence for Tibet, said: “We have to wait and see. The retirement issue is not simple.”
He added that the monk would continue to guide the Tibetan exiles even if he retired.
Johnson too said that whoever was elected, the new prime minister would operate in the Dalai Lama’s shadow. But he noted that the frontrunner, Lobsang Sangay, a Tibetan legal scholar currently at Harvard, enjoyed wide popularity among young Tibetans.
“If Lobsang Sangay comes out on top,” Johnson said, “he well could become a formidable global spokesman for Tibetans, at least those in exile.”
The other key issue relating to the Tibetan movement’s political future, of course, is who will be its next spiritual leader — that is, the 15th Dalai Lama. The uncertainty over this has created a high-stakes jousting match between the Dalai Lama and China.
The monk has suggested he might choose his successor before he dies, deviating from the historical practice of senior lamas identifying his reincarnation after his death. But in one of history’s ironies, communist and officially atheist China has insisted on sticking to the reincarnation theory and claimed the authority to choose the next Dalai Lama.
“We must respect the historical institutions and religious rituals of Tibetan Buddhism,” Chinese-appointed Tibet governor Padma Choling said on Monday. “I am afraid it is not up to anyone whether to abolish the reincarnation institution or not.”
More than one lakh Tibetan exiles live in India, with the remaining 40,000 scattered across 55 countries.

MANJEET SEHGAL WARRIOR AND NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE