As Dalai Lama Pulls Back, Tibetans Elect Political Head

Lobsang Sangay will follow Dalai Lama's policies

(AP) - A Harvard-trained legal scholar was sworn in today as the new head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, taking over from the Dalai Lama as leader of his people's fight for freedom. Lobsang Sangay, who was elected in April by tens of thousands of Tibetans in exile, was surrounded by hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns as well as the Dalai Lama as he took the oath of office in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala, where the exile administration is based. More»

Spiritual leader making way for elected head of exiled government

(NEWSER) - The Dalai Lama is relinquishing his role as political leader of Tibet's government-in-exile to make way for an elected figure. The 75-year-old leader—speaking in India on the anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule—stressed that he isn't retiring and will remain as his people's spiritual guide and continue to be active on the world stage, the BBC reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The Dalai Lama has told Tibetans his successor should not bear the burden of being both spiritual and political leader to their community, the Independent reports. "When we put the whole responsibility in the person of the Dalai Lama, it is dangerous," he said in a video address at a Tibetan election symposium in India. Tibetans need both a spiritual and a "democratically elected" political leader. More»

Leader to meet 600 exiles on Monday; he may relinquish power or take harder stance

(NEWSER) - Nearly five decades since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, he and his followers are growing restless. Last month, the Lama announced that the “middle way” strategy he pursued for 30 years—an attempt to negotiate autonomy for Tibet rather than pure independence—had failed. “As far as I’m concerned, I have given up,” he said. Experts say China plans to keep discouraging the Lama, 73, until he dies. More»

But he calls new talks with Beijing 'respectful' and promising

(NEWSER) - If Chinese leaders truly believe the Dalai Lama was behind the Lhasa riots, “then they should go to Oslo and see to it that I am stripped of my Nobel Peace Prize,” the spiritual leader tells Der Spiegel. The Tibetan leader is tired of China’s accusations, and he says they should come forward with evidence if they have it. More»