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The Dalai Lama has announced he will step down as political head of the exiled Tibetan government, but will continue to push the Tibetan cause in his key role as its spiritual figurehead. Photo by EPA/BGNES
The Dalai Lama announced Thursday on his website that he is planning to retire as political head of the Tibetan exile movement.
"Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power. Now we have clearly reached the time ti put this into effect," the leader said in his statement, as reported by CNN.
According to his representative in India, Tempa Tshering, the Dalai Lama will remain at his position as head of state for now and will also continue to be the spiritual leader.
"On March 14, parliament will meet in Dharamsala, India, and decide whether to approve his request. He wants to make a change. He has always believed in democracy and He wasn't elected as head of state," Tshering said.
The Dalai Lama has stated that since he made his intention clear, he received many requests to continue to provide political leadership. However, he said his decision has "nothing to do with a wish to shrink responsibility", but rather aims at benefiting Tibetans in the long run.
"It is not because I feel disheartened. 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.
However, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Dalai Lama is a "religious crook" and this is just "one of his tricks to deceive the international community".
"He is the mastermind of political activism. He has said many times he is leaving," said Jiang Yu, the spokeswoman of the ministry.
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