Sikkim’s Tibetans want Dalai Lama to reconsider

A NOW! file foto of the Dalai Lama speaking to Tibetans at Tsuklakhang, Gangtok

“AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, NO ONE AND NO POLITICAL PARTY CAN FILL THE VACUUM HIS HOLINESS LEAVES”

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 15 March: The formal proposal of the Dalai Lama to retire as the political head of the state and the decision of the Tibetan Cabinet to accept his resignation to retire as the political head of the exiled Tibetan government has raised a stir of reactions from the Tibetan community in Sikkim. Joining Tibetans across the world, Tibetans here have beseeched the Dalai Lama to reconsider, pleading that they do not know how and do not want to continue without their Kundun as their religious and titular head.
Emotional outcry from various sections, including the Tibetan Settlement, Gangtok [earlier known as the Tibetan Welfare Office], the Tibetan Youth Club and the Tibetan Women’s Association started coming in soon after the Tibetan Cabinet today accepted the Dalai Lama’s decision.

“The news is heart-breaking for all Tibetans within and out of Tibet as we have seen him as our head for over 370 years now. As the common people we once again request His Holiness to reconsider his decision and continue his services to Tibetans throughout the world since as far as we are concerned no one and no political party can fill the vacuum His Holiness leaves,” stated an emotional Karma Damdul, Settlement Officer, Gangtok when NOW! contacted him today.
The news came after the Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the exiled Tibetan government; Professor Samdhong Rinpoche said in the House, “With a heavy heart, we have to accept His Holiness’ decision of retirement as political head of the state”.
The seven Cabinet members unanimously accepted Dalai Lama’s decision to retire as political head of the exiled Tibetan government.
In this regard the Settlement Officer, Gangtok, Karma Damdul also expressed that at the same time, the Tibetans all over could also not “go against” the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since this was his way of telling the Tibetan people that his relinquishing active politics was to show and educate the Tibetans for the future governance of Tibet.
“What we want to express here is that His Holiness’s decision is to see that the Tibetan Government in Exile will execute and amend the charter very intelligently,” he stated.
However, the Tibetan Parliament is still going against the decision taken by Dalai Lama. Three Members of Parliament, including Dawa Phunkyi, Gyalrong Dawa Tsering and Karma Choephel, who spoke in the House, till the tea-break, has outrightly rejected Dalai Lama’s decision to retire.
Even after the Cabinet has accepted the decision taken by Dalai Lama, the Cabinet ministers are still feeling that the decision will not be passed or accepted by Parliament. “The Cabinet has always accepted the wishes and orders of His Holiness (Dalai Lama). This decision, wherein he has expressed his wish to retire as the political leader of the Tibetans, has also been accepted by the Cabinet; but since Members of Parliament are elected representatives of the people, it is unlikely they will accept this decision. People are not ready to accept Dalai Lama’s decision to retire,” Rinpoche said in the House today.
Speaking on similar lines, Yangden Bhutia, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association said that they were still not ready to accept that His Holiness would no longer look after the political affairs of the Tibetan Government in Exile.
“We sincerely request His Holiness to at least consider a few more years before he actually takes this decision. We shall be left as ‘orphans’ if he leaves us at this moment. He has taught us to stand on our own two feet and feel that he wants to test us but what we want to say is that we are still not ready to accept this decision and in the coming days shall decide what has to be done now,” stated the Tibetan Women’s President.
Similarly, the former President of the Tibetan Youth Club, Gangtok, Zimba Pintso has also expressed that His Holiness’s decision to retire as the Supreme leader has touched many hearts and is a very emotional subject for the Tibetans.
“We know that age has caught up on His Holiness and he needs rest but the fight for freedom is still on  and he should not disseminate all his powers as we Tibetans world over believe that what Tibet and Tibetans have achieved so far in terms of respect and human values is all because of His Holiness. As an individual he has a decision to make and we  respect that but still we feel that he should reconsider his decision as he should first train and give his guidance to the government in exile for the next five years. His decisions are crucial for us and no one understands the issues of Tibet and Tibetans better than His Holiness himself. The world knows Tibet because of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” expresses Zimba Pintso.