The Dalai Lama on Thursday turned down calls from exiled Tibetans to reconsider his decision to quit as their political leader but stressed that he was "fully committed" to the struggle against authoritarian Chinese rule in Tibet.
In a letter to the Tibetan parliament-in-exile Monday, the 75-year-old Nobel laureate had argued that the movement pushing for greater autonomy for Tibet was mature enough for an elected political leader with greater power and responsibilities.
He emphasized the point again to journalists at a meeting in the Indian hill town of Dharmasala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, saying he wants to shed his role as political chief of the Tibetan exiles and hand over power to a new prime minister who will be elected on Sunday.
"No [I will not reconsider]. I gave serious consideration for many years ... my decision for the long run is best," he said in his first public statement since his decision announced earlier this month, AFP news agency reported.
"Rule by spiritual leaders or by kings, these are now out of date," he said, adding that he wants to set an example of a nonelected leader who is happy to relinquish power in the name of democracy.
"I do not want to be like Mubarak," Reuters agency quoted him as saying in reference to Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in a popular uprising in February that has also triggered protests in other Arab states seeking to topple autocratic rulers. "The world is changing," the Dalai Lama said.
Cause undermined?
The overwhelming majority of members of the 43-seat Tibetan exile assembly have argued against his decision to give up the political role, with many saying that their cause would be undermined.
The parliament-in-exile must approve the Dalai Lama's move by a two-thirds majority. Opposition to the Dalai Lama's decision may lead to a constitutional deadlock.
"If [the parliamentarians] come tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, then I will tell them: No, my decision as far as an institution as a head of both temporal and spiritual, that must end, that is outdated."
"My decision is for the long run, it is best. Now let them carry full responsibility. If they really feel something difficult, then I am available."
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed 1959 national uprising against Chinese occupation, has been the face and symbol of the Tibetan struggle for almost sixty years.
He is the 14th in a line of Tibetan spiritual leaders. His predecessors had ruled Tibet virtually unchallenged for centuries before.
Radical proposal
The current prime minister, Samdhong Rinpoche, told AFP that there had been "thousands" of petitions to the Dalai Lama from followers who are "disturbed" by his radical proposal.
"There is no way to argue with him or disobey his instructions," he conceded.
"Of course, no one can replace or substitute the Dalai Lama, but we have to build our own image and our own structure," Rinpoche added.
On Sunday, about 85,000 Tibetan exiles scattered across 13 countries will go to the polls to elect a new prime minister, known as the Kalon Tripa, who will assume greater powers and prominence under the Dalai Lama's plan.
The Dalai Lama said that he had been in semi-retirement since the holding of the first elections for a prime minister in 2001, when the process of transferring some of his powers to the parliament began.
"I felt that now 10 years have already passed with me in a semi-retired position. Now the time is coming for complete retirement," he said, pointing out that the gradual power transition should be an example for those in the Communist Party of China.
"Overnight democracy in China may create a lot of chaos. Gradual change is necessary. Now the Communist Party should think about retirement with grace."
Reported by RFA's Tibetan service and news agencies. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.