Tibetans urge Dalai Lama to stay on

The Tibetan parliament-in-exile is debating the Dalai Lama’s decision to give up his political role, with some members pleading for the Buddhist holy man to reconsider.

Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche said about one-third of the 43 members who participated in the debate proposed that the Nobel peace laureate remain as leader.

He told the Associated Press today: “It is very likely that parliament will not accept his suggestion to step down.”

Last week, the Dalai Lama said he would give up his political role in the Tibetan government-in-exile and shift that power to an elected representative.

He asked the parliament-in-exile to amend the constitution to allow this to happen in the current session, which ends on March 25.