Tibetan Parliament-In-Exile Amends Tibetan Charter

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile held a special session in Dharamsala on Thursday. They gathered to approve the final recommendations on the delegation of the Dalai Lama's political and administrative responsibilities.

The main purpose of the three-day special session is to find a way to amend the Tibetan Charter, granting the newly elected leadership political responsibilities that were previously held by the Dalai Lama.

[Karma Yeshi, Tibetan Parliamentarian-In-Exile]:
"The special session is being held to make an amendment to the charter according to the statement issued by His Holiness to the house on March 14, stating he wants to devolve his political and executive power to the elected leadership. That is why this session, this additional session was called.”

The spiritual leader has already stated his intention of staying away from political affairs, but made it clear that he will stay committed to the cause of Tibet, and continue as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists.

[Pempa Tsering, Speaker, Tibetan Parliamentarian-In-Exile]:
"Yesterday, when we approached His Holiness with this proposed request, His Holiness outrightly rejected to be the head of the state; that is decided. And regarding the preamble, and the article number 1, His Holiness accepted the first section of the article number 1, which deals with His Holiness to advise the Tibetan community and the Tibetan institutions regarding the preservation and promotion of Tibetan culture, language, heritage and social economic issues.”

In March the Dalai Lama said he would relinquish the four-century-old tradition of political guidance in favor of a popularly elected leader by the Tibetan people.

In giving up his political powers, the 75-year-old has made it more difficult for China to influence the course of the independence movement after his death.