Tibet profile - Overview - BBC News Tibet profile - Overview Read more about sharing. Close share panel Tibet, the remote and mainly-Buddhist territory known as the "roof of the world", is governed as an autonomous region of China. Beijing claims a centuries-old sovereignty over the Himalayan region. But the allegiances of many Tibetans lie with the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, seen by his followers as a living god, but by China as a separatist threat. International attention was focused on the territory in 2008 during the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. Fatal clashes between anti-Chinese protesters and the authorities in Tibet were given wide publicity and the torch relay in London, Paris and San Francisco was dogged by pro-Tibet protests and stunts. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Tibet has supporters of independence around the world Tibet has had a tumultuous history, during which it has spent some periods functioning as an independent entity and others ruled by powerful Chinese and Mongolian dynasties. At-a-glance Sovereignty: The Dalai Lama says Tibet was independent and has been colonised. China says its sovereignty over Tibet goes back centuries. What is Tibet? China considers this to be the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Dalai Lama says it should include neighbouring provinces with Tibetan populations. Repression: Dalai Lama says 1.2 million people were killed under Chinese rule. China disputes this. Culture: Dalai Lama says China actively suppressed Tibetan identity. China acknowledges some abuses but says it is helping the revival of Tibetan culture. Development: China says it has brought improvements in health and the economy. Dalai Lama says development has favoured Han Chinese immigrants. International response: No country openly disputes China's claim to sovereignty, and China has blocked all UN Security Council resolutions on Tibet since the People's Republic took over the China seat in the UN in 1971. The free-Tibet movement: The Tibetan cause has won the sympathy of individuals and groups, many of whom campaign for an independent Tibet. Profiles are compiled by BBC Monitoring China sent in thousands of troops to enforce its claim on the region in 1950. Some areas became the Tibetan Autonomous Region and others were incorporated into neighbouring Chinese provinces. In 1959, after a failed anti-Chinese uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet and set up a government in exile in India.

Most of Tibet's monasteries were destroyed in the 1960s and 1970s during China's Cultural Revolution. Thousands of Tibetans are believed to have been killed during periods of repression and martial law. China accused of repression Under international pressure, China eased its grip on Tibet in the 1980s, introducing "Open Door" reforms and boosting investment. Beijing says Tibet has developed considerably under its rule. But rights groups say China continues to violate human rights, accusing Beijing of political and religious repression. Beijing denies any abuses. Tourism and the ongoing modernisation drive stand in contrast to Tibet's former isolation. But Beijing's critics say Tibetans have little say in building their future. China says a new railway link between Lhasa and the western Chinese province of Qinghai will boost economic expansion. The link is likely to increase the influx of Chinese migrants. 'Reincarnation' Buddhism reached Tibet in the seventh century. The Dalai Lama, or Ocean of Wisdom, is the leading spiritual figure; the Panchen Lama is the second most important figure. Both are seen as the reincarnations of their predecessors.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has lived in exiled most of his life The selection of a Dalai Lama and a Panchen Lama has traditionally followed a strict process. But the Dalai Lama and Beijing are at odds over the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama, having identified different youngsters for the role. The Dalai Lama's choice, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, has not been seen since his detention by the Chinese authorities in 1995. There have been intermittent and indirect contacts between China and the Dalai Lama. The exiled spiritual leader advocates a non-violent, negotiated solution to the Tibet problem and accepts the notion of real autonomy for Tibet under Chinese sovereignty. China has questioned his claims that he does not seek independence. China has also accused the Dalai Lama of inciting the dozens of self-immolations that since 2009 have taken place among Tibetans opposed to Chinese rule. He rejects this and has questioned the effectiveness of such protests. Tibet's economy depends largely on agriculture. Forests and grasslands occupy large parts of the country. The territory is rich in minerals, but poor transport links have limited their exploitation.

Tourism is an important revenue earner. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Potala Palace in Lhasa is the former residence of the Dalai Lama and one of the area's best known landmarks Exiled Tibetans vote for new leader as Dalai Lama steps back Exiled Tibetans vote for new leader as Dalai Lama steps back Tenzin Tsering Share View photos The 80-year-old Dalai Lama is a Nobel peace laureate who continues to be the global figurehead for Tibetans around the world (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu) More Tens of thousands of exiled Tibetans voted Sunday for a new leader tasked with sustaining their struggle for greater autonomy in the Chinese-ruled province as the Dalai Lama retreats from the political frontline. While Tibetans from across the world were geared up to vote, those in the picturesque Indian hill town of Dharamsala where the Dalai Lama lives started lining up at booths at 9:00 am (0330 GMT) to elect the next leader of the government-in-exile.

One by one, hundreds including monks and nuns scribbled the names of their favourite candidates on pieces of paper and slipped them into green ballot boxes as polls were set to close around 5:00 pm. The post of prime minister in exile was a low-profile role before the 80-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader devolved power in an attempt to lessen his own totemic status and foster a democratic setup to keep Tibet's freedom movement alive after his death. While many felt voting could help their campaign against Chinese rule over their Himalayan homeland, several were sceptical given the government-in-exile's lack of effective power. "I am not sure whether the democratic system can help in Tibet's freedom struggle," said Rikten, a 28-year-old teacher who gave one name, after voting. "But its values and rights can definitely... bring more awareness on the Tibetan cause." - A lifetime in exile - The Dalai Lama announced his decision in March 2011, just days before the election of the incumbent prime minister -- or Sikyong -- Lobsang Sangay, who is standing again.

The 48-year-old Harvard-educated former academic is regarded as the front-runner, having already beaten off three of the four other candidates in a first round of voting last October. Both he and his one remaining opponent, Penpa Tsering, 49, favour the "middle way" approach of the Dalai Lama that advocates seeking greater autonomy for Tibet peacefully. In all, 88,000 Tibetans in 13 countries from Australia to the United States were registered to cast ballots for a prime minister and the 44-member parliament-in-exile. Many voters, like Sangay, have lived all their lives in exile and never visited Tibet. One of the eliminated candidates, Lukar Jam Atsok, spent time as a political prisoner in China and had threatened to make waves with his more aggressive policy of advocating complete independence. On policy, there is relatively little to choose between Sangay and his remaining opponent, and opinions on the streets of Dharamsala were mixed in the run-up to Sunday's vote. Many said they would stick with Sangay. But some who voted for him in 2011 said they had been disappointed by his performance in office.

"I will vote for Penpa Tsering, who has decades of experience serving in the Tibetan government in exile and in the Tibetan community. He will have more substance," said Lhadon, a 55-year-old woman who did not give her full name. Both Sangay and Tsering voted on Sunday, while Atsok cast an "empty vote" to express dissatisfaction over the election commission's move to bar his candidacy. The results from Sunday's voting are expected on April 27. - Shadow of Dalai Lama - Tsering was born in India and has served in the Tibetan parliament-in-exile based in Dharamsala for 10 years, where he is currently the speaker. Whoever prevails can expect to remain in the shadow of the Dalai Lama, a Nobel peace laureate who remains the most potent rallying point for Tibetans, both in exile and in their homeland. The Himalayan hill town has been home to him and thousands of Tibetan refugees since he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Despite the Dalai Lama's status, many exiles said it was important to vote. "The election is really important.

It is a basic right of a citizen to vote and we take this opportunity as a blessing," said Sonam, a 22-year-old Tibetan student in Nepal who did not give her full name. She expressed hope the Nepal government would allow voting to go ahead after authorities confiscated ballot boxes in 2011, apparently under pressure from neighbouring China. China has widely been seen as waiting for the Dalai Lama's death, believing that the movement for Tibetan rights will not survive without its charismatic and world-famous leader. The globe-trotting Buddhist monk raised concern among his millions of followers last year when he scrapped a tour of the United States for health reasons. Asked about Sunday's election, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing had never recognised the government-in-exile and hoped other countries "will not provide any stage for Tibetan separatist activities". Reblog What is China’s argument on Tibet? | Free Tibet Search this site What is China’s argument on Tibet? China is very aware of the strength of the movement for Tibet's freedom. Inside Tibet, it uses repression and violence against that movement. Outside China, it uses propaganda. These are the six key arguments in the Tibet sovereignty debate, which China relies on to justify its continued occupation of Tibet.

Read on to discover what China says versus the truth. 1. China says: Tibet is part of China China's argument: Tibet was absorbed about 800 years ago during the Yuan Dynasty, becoming an inseparable part of China. It has not been a country since and no country has ever recognised Tibet as an independent state. The facts: It’s true that whilst Tibet maintained a unique culture, written and spoken language, religion and political system for centuries, it has never been a nation-state in the modern sense of the word. At times in its long past, Tibet has influenced and been influenced by various foreign powers, including Britain and the Mongols, as well as China. However, the Chinese government’s claim that Tibet has been part of China for around 800 years isn't supported by the facts. Tibet was not ruled by the Chinese government prior to the 1950 invasion. In 1912, the 13th Dalai Lama - Tibet's political and spiritual leader - issued a proclamation reaffirming Tibet’s independence and the country maintained its own national flag , currency, stamps, passports and army. It signed international treaties and maintained diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries.

From a legal point of view Tibet remains an independent state under illegal occupation, a fact that China wishes it could whitewash from history. 2. China says: Old Tibet was backwards and needed China to liberate it China's argument: From 1950 to 1959 China peacefully liberated and democratically reformed Tibet, ending the old feudal serfdom where brutality was rife; a hell on earth with the backwards masses enslaved by landlords and priests. This culminated in Serf Emancipation Day in March 1959 when the Tibetan government was declared illegal. The facts: In 1950, the newly established Communist regime in China invaded Tibet, which was rich in natural resources and had a strategically important border with India. With 40,000 Chinese troops in its country, the Tibetan government was forced to sign the "Seventeen Point Agreement" which recognised China's rule in return for promises to protect Tibet's political system and Tibetan Buddhism. Far from welcoming the Chinese as liberators, Tibetans across the country continued to resist China’s armed forces and China responded with widespread brutality.

Resistance culminated on the 10th of March 1959, when 300,000 Tibetans surrounded the Potala Palace to offer the Dalai Lama protection. This date is commemorated as National Uprising Day by Tibetans and supporters. In 1950, many states that are today stable democracies were undemocratic and did not respect human rights. The 14th Dalai Lama was a teenager when his country was invaded and was never able to govern Tibet independently. In exile, he has won the Nobel Peace Prize and has entirely democratised the exiled Tibetan government. In contrast, the Chinese government continues to have no democratic authority. China claims that its vision of a brutal past justifies its occupation. But Tibet under Chinese rule has experienced brutality on a massive scale – from the destruction of thousands of monasteries and the deaths more than one million Tibetans in Mao’s era, to torture, arbitrary arrests and the denial of fundamental freedoms today. 3. China says: Tibet already has autonomy China's argument: Tibet already has autonomy as the Tibet Autonomous Region of the PRC. Tibetans are free to follow their traditions and Tibetan Buddhism is protected.

The facts: This map shows historic Tibet – the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is only part of this and millions of Tibetans live outside it. The TAR has autonomy in name only. In reality, the most senior political position there has never been occupied by a Tibetan and Beijing is in charge. The official language is Chinese, with many Tibetan children losing their ability to speak and write Tibetan. Resistance to China's rule - from singing to environmental protests – is met with repression and brutality . As for the right to follow Tibetan Buddhism freely, monasteries are subject to monitoring and control by the Communist Party and monks and nuns are feared and often persecuted by the Chinese regime. Any Tibetan possessing an image of the Dalai Lama risks imprisonment. 4. China says: Tibetans are prosperous and happy under China’s rule China's argument: Since China peacefully liberated Tibet it has seen glorious development: there’s almost zero poverty, disease and hunger; life expectancy has doubled; literacy has risen from 5% to 85% and former slaves have been given land. There has also been huge investment in infrastructure, jobs, housing, schools and hospitals. The facts: China’s propaganda images, like this one, are designed to show how happy Tibetans are.

This couldn't be further from the truth, with Tibetans left disadvantaged in their own country. For example: Infrastructure projects enable the movement of China’s military, mass immigration of Chinese workers, Chinese tourism and access to Tibet’s rich resources . They enforce China’s control. Economic growth benefits Chinese businesses and workers, and the booming tourism industry aims to legitimise the Chinese government’s occupation. Millions of Tibetan nomads have been forced from their lands, ending their centuries-old way of life and leaving them dependent on the state as second class citizens in their own country. Education is primarily taught in Chinese, disadvantaging Tibetans who can only learn their mother tongue as a second language . The United Nations has repeatedly challenged China on human rights abuses in Tibet, including finding Tibet the worst area for child malnutrition in China . Since March 2011, more than 130 people have set themselves on fire inside Tibet in protest against China's repression. From shouting “Tibet needs freedom” in the street to attending a mass protest, Tibetans resist China’s policies daily. Despite more than 60 years of occupation this resistance to China remains undiminished and widespread.

Tibet has seen economic progress, as have most countries in the last sixty years, but Tibetans have benefited less than Chinese immigrants. Economic progress has not deterred them from rejecting Chinese rule and the evidence shows that Tibetans are far from “happy” under China’s rule. 5. China says: The Dalai Lama wants power, not peace China's argument: The Dalai Lama is the latest in a line of "God King Dictators" - he is a politician in monk’s clothing whose agenda is to secure an independent Tibet which he can rule again. Global Tibet supporters - and some Tibetans inside Tibet - naively buy into lies created by the "Dalai Lama clique". The facts: The Dalai Lama is respected by people the world over. In exile, he has devolved his political power to a democratic institution and is a consistent advocate of friendship with the Chinese people and dialogue with the Chinese government. He does not seek an independent Tibet but a "Middle Way" approach (external link) which seeks greater freedom for Tibetans without independence. Much of the global support Tibet has today is thanks to the Dalai Lama’s popularity. Despite persecution, the Tibetan people inside Tibet remain dedicated to him.

Desperate to maintain its grip on Tibet, the Chinese government is desperate to undermine the Dalai Lama’s credibility 6. China says: Free Tibet supporters are anti-China China's argument: The Free Tibet movement is supported by Western anti-China forces. Human rights are China’s internal affair and Westerners who have never been to Tibet have no right to speak against China’s policies. The facts: Free Tibet supporters have no argument with the Chinese people. They support Free Tibet because they see Tibetans as victims of the undemocratic Chinese government and see Tibetans’ unwavering struggle for freedom as a just cause. Chinese people are also victims of the Chinese Communist Party’s rule and many also face severe punishments in resisting its policies. When they learn the truth beyond their government’s propaganda, many Chinese people also support Tibet. At Free Tibet we share the stories of Tibetans who resist China's rule and who are victims of China's human rights abuses. These voices are hidden from the Chinese government’s official communications. We receive no support from any government or political organisation. We expose the truth and many people around the world choose to support Tibetans. China is desperate to smother the truth The truth is not on China’s side, so it must continue to lie.

Daily the Chinese government is spreading its arguments on Tibet through official statements and propaganda, paid online commentators and even fake social media accounts . But Tibetans won't give up until they have freedom. Until they do, our work - exposing China’s lies and sharing the truth – must continue. Please join us. Ask your government to stand up for Tibet The Tibetan people's courageous resistance to occupation and oppression needs international support. Can you send a message to the foreign minister in your country, asking them to take action to support the people of Tibet? Read more about: How Tibetans are protesting Dalai Lama: China makes life 'hell on Earth' for Tibetans - CNN.com Dalai Lama: China makes life 'hell on Earth' for Tibetans Story Highlights Dalai Lama: "Untold suffering and destruction" brought to Tibet under Chinese rule Beijing accuses Dalai Lama of causing conflict, seeking independent Tibet Dalai says he seeks autonomy for region, not independence Tuesday marks 50th anniversary of failed uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule VIDEO (CNN) -- The Chinese government has made life "hell on Earth" for Tibetans during the half-century since a failed uprising against its rule in 1959, the Dalai Lama said Tuesday.

"These 50 years have brought untold suffering and destruction to the land and people of Tibet," the 73-year-old spiritual and political leader of Tibetan Buddhists said from exile in Dharamsala, India. "Today, the religion, culture, language and identity ... are nearing extinction; in short, the Tibetan people are regarded like criminals deserving to be put to death." But Chinese officials blame the 50-year conflict on the Dalai Lama, accusing him of seeking an independent Tibet. "The Dalai side still insists on establishing a so-called Greater Tibet on a quarter of China's territory," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told reporters last week. "They want to drive away the Chinese armed forces on Chinese territory and ask all non-Tibetans to relocate themselves, people who have long spend their lives in that part of the Chinese territory. You call this person a religious figure?" Yang said China's "contradictions" with the Dalai Lama "is not about religious, human rights, ethnic or cultural issues but whether or not China will remain unified." The Dalai Lama has repeatedly denied China's accusations. He says he seeks genuine autonomy for the region -- not independence -- and advocates the "Middle Way" of non-violence.

Don't Miss In-depth: China The Dalai Lama has won a Nobel Prize for advocating peace and is revered as an iconic figure overseas, but the Dalai Lama has never been allowed to return to Tibet, after fleeing his homeland in 1959. His emissaries have held sporadic talks with Chinese officials. But the talks, encouraged by the United States and other countries, have failed to break the impasse. Watch an online address by the Dalai Lama » "Looking back on 50 years in exile, we have witnessed many ups and downs," the Dalai Lama said. "However, the fact that the Tibet issue is alive and the international community is taking growing interest in it is indeed an achievement." "I have no doubt that the justice of Tibet's cause will prevail, if we continue to tread the path of truth and non-violence," he said. China has ruled Tibet since 1951, a year after sending troops to "liberate" the region from what it said was serfdom under the Dalai Lama.

China has decreed that March 28 -- the day the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India -- is to be celebrated as "Serfs Emancipation Day." Watch a recent history of Tibet » In recent years, the region has seen an influx of Han Chinese and other ethnic groups, enticed by business and job opportunities. Although some Tibetans have benefited from the economic expansion, others have not. China's critics complain of "cultural genocide" and repression of religious freedom. Resentful Tibetans say they are often treated as second-class citizens. Last March, resentment spilled over when a peaceful protest in the Tibetan capital Lhasa turned violent, as mobs burned vehicles and shops and attacked ethnic Chinese. China blames the Dalai Lama for inciting protesters -- an allegation he has denied. Tibetan exiles say more than 200 people died when Chinese security forces clamped down, but Beijing denies this, saying 22 people, mostly Chinese civilians, died during riots. Tension was high ahead of the 50th anniversary. China prohibited journalists from traveling into Tibet, but there are reports that extra security troops were deployed to the region to avert a repeat of last year's unrest.

China's 'ruthless' Tibet policy to blame for monk deaths, says Dalai Lama | World news | The Guardian Tibet China's 'ruthless' Tibet policy to blame for monk deaths, says Dalai Lama Exiled spiritual leader calls on Beijing to halt repressive policies that have led to spate of recent self-immolation protests Dalai Lama says China's treatment of Tibetans is 'illogical'. Photograph: Itsuo Inouye/AP Saturday 29 October 2011 06.18 EDT First published on Saturday 29 October 2011 06.18 EDT Share on Messenger Close The Dalai Lama has blamed China's "ruthless and illogical" policy towards Tibet for the recent deaths of monks who set themselves on fire in protest against Beijing's rule. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader also called on the Chinese government to change its repressive policies in Tibet , which include a crackdown on monasteries and the Tibetan language. "For their own interest, not just the interest for certain sort of problem here and there, but for the whole country's sort of future, they have to act [with a] realistic sort of policy," said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

At least nine Tibetan clerics or former clerics have self-immolated in south-western China over seven months in protest against Chinese rule. Five of them have died of their injuries. Earlier this month a nun became the most recent casualty and the first woman to die. The Tibetan government-in-exile, which has accused China of an official policy of cracking down on religious institutions, called for the international community to urge Beijing to open a dialogue on its policies in Tibet and traditionally Tibetan regions of western China. "Actually, the local leader must look what's the real causes of death," the Dalai Lama told reporters in Tokyo during his visit to victims of the tsunami that stuck Japan in March. "It's their own sort of wrong policy, ruthless policy, illogical policy." Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama and his supporters of encouraging the immolations. The practice was unknown among clerics until two years ago, when one monk burnt himself to death in Sichuan province's Aba county, the predominantly Tibetan area in which most of the deaths have taken place. Amnesty International has said the spate of self-immolations "indicates a new level of desperation" on the part of Tibetans.

Topics Senior religious figure seen as successor to Dalai Lama urges Tibetans in China find other ways to challenge Beijing's policies Published: 10 Nov 2011 UN investigators say security measures are counter-productive and accuse local officials of severely curtailing human rights Published: 2 Nov 2011 His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Remarks on Retirement - March 19th, 2011 | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama Homepage » The Dalai Lama » Retirement » Retirement Remarks » His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Remarks on Retirement - March 19th, 2011 After coming into exile, I have made sincere efforts to establish a democratic system of governance in the last more than 30 years. The Tibetans in exile say “our democracy is a gift from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” Ten years ago, the system of electing Kalon Tripa through democratic elections was introduced rather than nomination of the candidate by the Dalai Lama, which was not correct. Since the direct election of Kalon Tripa, the system of the institution of Gaden Phodrang of the Dalai Lama as both the spiritual and temporal authority has ended.

Since then I described myself as in semi-retired position. Since then ten years have passed and the day will come for us when we have to follow a meaningful democratic system. The rule by kings and religious figures is outdated. We have to follow the trend of the free world which is that of democracy. For example in India, besides its huge population and diverse languages, religions and culture, but on the whole it remains very stable. This is because of democracy, the rule of law, free expression and media. To the contrary, China under the authoritarian rule is always facing problems. It was mentioned in a recent Chinese government's document that it is allocating more budget to maintain internal stability than national defense. This shows that they have more enemies inside rather than outside, which is a matter of shame. The government of the People's Republic (of China) is meant to work for the people's welfare. So fulfilling the people's aspirations must come through democratic elections. If the leaders are selected through elections, it would be a matter of real pride. But to hold power at the barrel of the gun rather than through elections is immoral and outdated as well. So the system of one-man rule is not good.

Therefore, it is not at all good if the Dalai Lama keeps on holding ultimate power. The Dalai Lama as the spiritual and temporal authority of Tibet did not begin during the period of the first four Dalai Lamas. It started during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama under different circumstances and the influence of the Mongol chieftain Gushri Khan. The system has brought many benefits since then. But now as we are in the 21st century, sooner or later the time for change is imminent. But if the change comes under the pressure of another person then it will be a disgrace to the former Dalai Lamas. Since the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the Dalai Lamas have assumed both spiritual and temporal rule over Tibet. As I am the fourteenth in line of that institution, it is most appropriate if I on own initiative, happily and with pride, end the dual authority of the Dalai Lama. Nobody except me can make this decision and I have made the final decision. The leadership democratically elected by the Tibetan people should take over the complete political responsibilities of Tibet.

Some kind of a vestige of the dual system will remain if I am vested with the political authority in the Charter. This should change and now seems to be the time to do it. I can talk a little about the great deal of accomplishments that I have made for the Tibetan cause, as the Tibetan people both in and outside Tibet put faith and trust in me and there are also many people around the world who consider the Dalai Lama as someone they recognise, trust and love. So now is the right time to end the dual system of governance established during the fifth Dalai Lama and retain the kind of unanimity and recognition gained by the first four Dalai Lamas in the spiritual domain. Particularly, the third Dalai Lama received the honorific title of an ecumenical master with yellow hat. So like them I will continue to take spiritual responsibilities for the remaining part of my life. Personally, I have been working for the promotion of moral values and religious harmony in the world. These are proving quite beneficial. Moreover, I receive many invitations from different schools and universities around the world.

They are not asking me to come to preach on Buddhism as such, but to teach how to promote inner happiness and Buddhist science to which many people take interest and love to listen. So when the present Dalai Lama is in such a position, it would be a matter of great pride if the 400-year-old rule of Dalai Lama as both the spiritual and temporal authority gracefully comes to an end. No one else except me can decide to end something started by the fifth Dalai Lama and my decision is final. Recently, I received telephone calls from Tibetans inside Tibet saying they are extremely worried and feel abandoned as I am retiring. There is absolutely no need to worry. After taking retirement, I will continue to lead Tibet in spiritual affairs like the first four Dalai Lamas. Like the second Dalai Lama Gedun Gyatso, who founded the Gaden Phodrang institution and led Tibet spiritually with unanimous mandate, I will also retain that kind of spiritual leadership for the rest of my life. Perhaps if I bring no disgrace on the people and make good efforts in the future, I will continue to lead spiritually.

If such a Dalai Lama with an unanimous mandate to lead spiritual affairs abdicates the political authority, it will help sustain our exile administration and make it more progressive and robust. Similarly, the international community, who support the Tibetan cause, will commend the Dalai Lama's sincerity for the complete democratization of the Tibetan polity. It will raise our prestige in the world. On the hand other, it will fully expose the falsehood and lies of the Chinese government that there is no Tibet problem except the issue of the Dalai Lama's personal rights. The Tibetan people inside Tibet should not feel discouraged because I have made this remarkable decision by taking in consideration the benefit of the Tibetan people in the long run. The Tibetan administration in exile will be more stable and progressive. Contrary to the system of the Chinese Communist's authoritarian rule in Tibet, our small community in exile has been able to establish a complete modern democratic system. In the long run this decision will make our exile administration stronger and efficient. Where else, if we compare our community in exile with the authoritarian communist regime in China, we have actually become a modernized society. This is our glorious achievement. Tibetans inside Tibet should be proud of this achievement.

You all should understand and realise that I am not discouraged and I have not given up on the cause of Tibet. I am a native of the land of snows. All the six million Tibetans from the land of snows carry the common responsibility of the Tibetan cause. As for me, I am also one Tibetan from the Amdo region of Tibet, so until my death I have the responsibility of the Tibetan cause. While I am still healthy and present amidst you all, you should take full responsibility of the Tibetan affairs. And if some problem arises that necessitates my help, then of course, I am still here. I have not given up and neither am I disheartened. The democratic system that we have followed till now can take full responsibility and after considering the many requirements and reasons, I am asking the democratic system to take full responsibility. All of you present here and all of the Tibetans in Tibet should not get disheartened. There is no reason to worry. Just yesterday, I met a Chinese scholar who told me that he was conducting a research on the Tibetan electoral process and had also come here five years ago. He told me that this time around, Tibetans were very actively participating and fully utilizing their democratic rights.

He praised the advancements that the Tibetan democratic system had made. So these developments represent our growing political awareness and the strides that we have taken in our democratic process. And so the decision to devolve my power is also a part of advancing democratization process. Those of you from Tibet when you return and if there are people to whom you can confide then tell this to them. This may also be broadcast on the radio as well. I have made this decision to retire after giving thorough thought over it for years and years and for the ultimate benefit of Tibet. There is no reason at all for you to be disheartened. On the other hand, Ganden Phodrang is not being shut down. Ganden Phodrang is the institution of the Dalai Lamas and as long as I live, I will need a small institution. So, this Ganden Phodrang will still remain. What is happening is that Ganden Phodrang is relinquishing its political responsibilities. And then, regarding the future reincarnations, of course there is no hurry as of now.

But after 20 or 30 years when I am near my end, then depending mainly on the wishes of the Tibetan people and also the people of the Himalayan regions and other Buddhists who are connected to the Dalai Lamas, if they so wish then the 15th, 16th and 17th Dalai Lamas and so forth, will come. So Ganden Phodrang will still remain intact. Political changes are bound to come but such a move will lend stability. Ganden Phodrang reverting back to its role and responsibility as being the spiritual head as during the times of the second, third and fourth Dalai Lamas have great significance and reason. In the long run, if you think about it, then this change and decision I am making has great benefits for the Tibetans. In my letter to the Tibetan Parliament, I suggested that the title of Ganden Phodrang Shung will have to be changed. Ganden Phodrang will remain but it will not take any political responsibilities as we are now a democratic establishment. The Tibetan word ‘shung’ may not necessarily translate in English as government. We don’t use the English word ‘government’ as such to describe our exile administration.

At one instance during a press conference in Delhi, Rinpoche was also there, a journalist addressed Samdhong Rinpoche as the Prime Minister of the exile government. So, I instantly clarified that we don’t use these titles like Tibetan ‘Prime Minister’ or the Tibetan ‘Government-in-exile’. We call our administration the Central Tibetan Administration. Of course there are Tibetans in exile and we need an organization to look after them. This is the direct responsibility of the administration. Generally, the few of us in exile, being Tibetans, have the responsibility to articulate the aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet and to tell the world of the real situation inside Tibet. We have never called our administration the Tibetan exile government. Calling the administration the Ganden Phodrang Shung is another case in matter. So, the precise title is the Central Tibetan Administration whose leaders are all democratically elected. To be true, this provides the leaders of the Tibetan autonomous areas in Tibet a reason to think. Those of us in exile, though remaining as refugees in alien countries, have carried out a genuine electoral process. If those leaders are really capable and confident, then let the Tibetans inside Tibet democratically elect their own leaders.

Whatever the case maybe in the rest of China, if we could emulate the exile system in Tibet itself then it would be very good. So, the many political changes that I have made are based on sound reasons and of immediate and ultimate benefit for all of us. In fact, these changes will make our administration more stable and excel its development. So, there is no reason to get disheartened. This is what I wish to explain to you. --Translated from His Holiness the Dalai Lama's remarks in Tibetan made during a public teaching at Tsulagkhang, the main temple, in Dharamsala on the morning of 19 March 2011. The Dalai Lama resigns: So long, farewell | The Economist The Dalai Lama resigns Tweet AFTER six decades as the living emblem of Tibetans in exile from Chinese-ruled Tibet, the Dalai Lama prepared on March 14th to present his resignation from all “formal authority”. The understanding is that he will cede his role as the community's political leader while retaining his place at the apogee of Tibetan Buddhism.

He announced plans for his departure from political life just last week; many of his countrymen were caught off guard and have yet to regain their footing. Every year on March 10th the Dalai Lama gives a speech commemorating Tibet's national day of “uprising”. He did so last week per usual, from Dharamsala, his abode in northern India, on the 52nd anniversary of Tibet's failed attempt to resist China's takeover. His Holiness spoke at a podium, holding a thin sheaf of stapled pages in one hand and gesticulating with the other, before a packed audience at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamsala. His speech, nearly 20 minutes long, lauded Tibetan resilience and urged China to end repression in Tibet. So much was expected. It was near the end when the Dalai Lama created a stir. The spiritual leader of Tibet reminded his audience that ever since the 1960s he has “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 formally proposed amending the Charter for Tibetans in Exile , a constitution drafted by high-ranking exiles in 1991, to devolve his formal authority when the Tibetan parliament-in-exile started its next session, the morning of March 14th. In the past, the Dalai Lama has played down his formal political role in the Tibetan movement. Nevertheless the executive power of the Tibetan exile administration has all the while been vested in him, according to the terms of the charter. This is not the first time that the Dalai Lama has proposed retiring from the spotlight as leader of the Tibetan movement. But last week's was his most serious declaration yet about transferring political responsibilities to an elected leadership. Whether his resignation is accepted or not, he means to make plain that he can no longer be relied upon as the movement's supremo. This might seem untimely, given Tibet political predicament . Talks between the Chinese government and the Tibetan exiles are badly stalled . The Dalai Lama himself, though in good health, is now 75 years old. The question of his succession is perennial, and thorny, when it comes between China and the exile government.

Last week, Padma Choling, the Chinese-appointed governor of Tibet, made the dumbfounding assertion that the Dalai Lama must follow the tradition of reincarnation and cannot choose his successor. Strange as it is to see the Communist Party dictating the terms of a Buddhist reincarnation, it wouldn't be the first time China has intervened with succession of Tibetan Buddhist leaders. After the Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, died in 1989, the Dalai Lama recognised a young boy living in Tibet as his reincarnation: the “next” Panchen Lama—or the same one, as it were. China however preferred a different Tibetan boy, whom it installed as Panchen Lama on its own. The Dalai Lama's appointee was placed under indefinite house arrest; his whereabouts remain unknown. Yet the Dalai Lama insists that devolution would “benefit Tibetans in the long run”. He emphasised the importance of a democratic, secular government, one that can function independent of his guidance. “We have been able to implement democracy-in-exile that is in keeping with the standards of an open society,” he claimed.

Another step in that process is scheduled for March 20th, when Tibetans living in different 30 countries will have the chance to vote for a new prime minister of the exile government. They will choose from a field of three candidates, all of them Tibetan men of secular credential. A high-ranking monk has been serving as prime minister for the past decade. But the new, elected leader will be expected play a more prominent role in the Tibetan movement. The March 20th election will mark the culmination of a year-long campaign by Tibetan NGOs and bodies within the exile government to raise awareness among Tibetans about the democratic process. They have staged mock elections along the way. The results of the actual election are expected to be finalised by May. The Dalai Lama insists that he will not be abandoning the Tibetan people nor shirking his responsibility to them. He says he has planned the devolution “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.” However determined he may be to cede his political role, the Dalai Lama will not find it easy to relinquish some of his responsibilities.

Many Tibetans, along with the exile government itself, already opposes his new move. The Kashag, or cabinet of the exile government, responded to the Dalai Lama's proposal in a plaintive voice. “A great number of Tibetans in exile...collectively and individually have been ardently supplicating His Holiness the Dalai Lama not to take such a step,” said the Kashag's statement. “We, the Kashag, would like to make the same request in the strongest terms.” The Dalai Lama expected resistance and he addressed that too. “I trust that gradually people will come to understand my intention, will support my decision and accordingly let it take effect,” he entreated. Even if he the Dalai Lama is ready for this move, most Tibetans are not. The Kashag may well reject his formal resignation. But he has made his intention clear. China says Dalai Lama-Obama meeting will damage bilateral ties China says Dalai Lama-Obama meeting will damage bilateral ties Share View photos The Dalai Lama speaks at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., U.S.

June 13, 2016.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque More BEIJING (Reuters) - China has lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over a planned meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday saying it would damage Chinese-U.S. ties, the Foreign Ministry said. China considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing the meeting would encourage "separatist forces". "If the United States plans this meeting, it will send the wrong signal to Tibet independence and separatist forces and harm China-U.S. mutual trust and cooperation," Lu said. Any attempt to take advantage of the Tibet issue and undermine stability would not succeed, Lu said, saying China "resolutely opposed" the plan. China urged the United States to abide by its promises to recognize that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence, Lu said. Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

China describes the incorporation of Tibet into its territory in 1951 as a "peaceful liberation", and says it has brought development to what was a backward region. The Dalai Lama, who fled from Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, not independence. China says Tibet already has genuine autonomy, and exile groups seek to split the country. Tibetans accuse China of eroding their Buddhist culture and flooding the region with ethnic Han Chinese. The Dalai Lama told Reuters on Monday that Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, and on Iran, and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan. Lu said the Dalai Lama was not a purely religious figure, but a political exile who has long used religion to conduct separatist and anti-China activities.

(Reporting By Michael Martina; Writing By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Robert Birsel) Reblog News | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama Dalai Lama in Japan, Meets Former First Lady April 10th 2008 Tokyo, Japan, 10 April 2008 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama on Thursday met with Japan's former first lady as he started his first foreign trip since protests in Tibet a month ago set off an international furore. Tibet's spiritual leader, who has lived in exile in India for nearly 50 years, was on a short stopover in Japan on his way to Seattle, where he will start a series of lectures in the United States on spirituality. The maroon-robed monk smiled, said hello and put his hands together in a traditional Buddhist greeting as several dozen supporters cheered him on at Narita airport near Tokyo. He was due later to give a press conference. He met at a hotel with Akie Abe, the wife of Japan's former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe who stepped down last year. But he is not expected to meet with officials, said the top spokesman for the Japanese government.

"Government officials have no plan to meet with him. I have also not heard that the Dalai Lama expressed a desire for a meeting," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told reporters. The Dalai Lama has frequently visited Japan, where his lectures on religious matters enjoy a wide following, and often transits through Narita on his way to North America. But Japanese leaders, unlike many of their Western counterparts, have almost always refused to meet with the Dalai Lama and no officials were scheduled to meet with him on his stopover. Japan has had uneasy ties with China due in part to the legacy of Japanese aggression in the 1930s. But Japan has been working to reconcile with China, its largest commercical partner, in a process launched by Abe in 2006. The Dalai Lama's previously scheduled trip to North America comes amid high tension after the biggest demonstrations in nearly 20 years in Tibet against China's controversial rule. Tibetan supporters have protested during the international torch relay for the Beijing Olympics, with the procession shortened on Wednesday in San Francisco. "We want autonomy.

We want China to talk to him immediately, otherwise there will be no solution," a supporter surnamed Ohara told Japanese media as he greeted the Dalai Lama. China has regularly protested against countries that agree to visits by the globe-trotting Dalai Lama. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking to split Tibet from China, whose troops overran the predominantly Buddhist Himalayan territory in 1951. The Dalai Lama says he is seeking only autonomy within China and opposes the use of violence.

Question: What former country was ruled by the Dalai Lama?
Answer: Tibet