Exiled Tibetan Parliament to meet on Thursday

Dharamsala, May 25: The Tibetan Parliament -in-Exile will hold a special session starting on Thursday, 26 to approve the final recommendations on the devolution of the Dalai Lama's political and administrative responsibilities to the democratically elected Tibetan leadership.

The recommendations were made during the General Meeting on the draft amendments to the Charter.

The three-day session which would be the last session of the 14th Parliament-in-Exile was scheduled to held from May 25 but was deferred by a day as the national general meeting was extended by a day. It concluded on Tuesday (May 24).

The four-day Tibetan National General Meeting held from May 21-24 unanimously approved a proposal to appeal to the Dalai Lama to assume the role of ceremonial head. The proposal will be put before the Dalai Lama today for his formal consent, the parliamentary secretariat said.

The meeting also endorsed a proposal to request the Tibetan leader to accept the inclusion of the new Preamble and responsibilities assigned to him in Article 1 if he does not wish to become the ceremonial head of state.

On March 14, the Tibetan spiritual leader had formally announced his intention to transfer all his administrative, political powers and responsibilities to the elected leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The ''Constitution Amendment Drafting Committee'' has suggested that the Dalai Lama should continue to provide advice and encouragement with respect to the protection and promotion of the physical, spiritual, ethical and cultural well being of the Tibetan people.

PTI