Tibet’s exiled leader announced that after half a century of floating the idea, he is ready to hand over his political power to an elected official. The 14th Dalai Lama has led his government in exile since the Tibetan uprising of 1959 was put down, forcing him to flee the country.

BBC:

“As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power,” he said at Dharamsala, the Indian town that has become his base.

“Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect.”

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