Dharamshala: - A huge meeting of exiled Tibetans will be held in Dharamshala this weekend, ahead of the community approving of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to step down from his position. This meeting of Tibetan diaspora has been called just two days before the parliament-in-exile allows with three-fourths majority in the house of 43 MPs to amend the Tibetan Charter (constitution) that will allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to retire from his political duties. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, will retain his role as spiritual leader after the charter amendment.
The first such meeting of Tibetans was held in Bylakuppe near Mysore in Karnataka in August of 2010. Various issues like political affairs, promotion of democracy, advocacy for Tibetan issue, sustenance of the settlement, education, health, economy, religion and culture were discussed.
This meeting will start on 21st May to discuss the issues related to transition of political powers entrusted with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Over 500 delegates of diaspora, mainly settled in India, Nepal and Bhutan, would participate.
The crucial meeting will be followed by a special four-day session of the parliament to be held from May 25 where the actual amendment to the constitution will be carried out.
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama formally announced his political retirement at the onset of the budget session March 14. On March 18, the parliament passed a resolution urging the Dalai Lama to reconsider his retirement plans. The resolution was signed by 37 of the 38 members. A day later, the Nobel laureate publicly appealed to Tibetans to accept his decision by making necessary amendments in the Charter of Tibetans to pass on his political authority to an elected leader. He said "The rule by spiritual leaders or the rule by kings is an outdated concept. In reality, I have been describing myself as a semi-retired person for the last 10 years".
The parliament-in-exile on the last day of the budget session March 25 formally accepted the His Holiness the Dalai Lama's proposal to relinquish political authority and decided to hold its special session by May-end to amend its charter to pave the way for retirement of the 75-year-old spiritual leader. The parliament agreed that they were responsible for finding a logical conclusion to the issue before the five-year tenure of the 14th parliament comes to an end May 30.
They also accepted the recommendations of a three-member committee submitted to the parliament March 23. The committee, that also included Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche and Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari, suggested that the majority of the powers vested in His Holiness the Dalai Lama be transferred to the prime minister, including the power to make laws, by amending the constitution.
