Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday turned down appeals from the exile Tibetan community to accept a ceremonial head of state role in the Tibetan government-in-exile.
More than 400 delegates from around the world have traveled to the four-day conference in northern India to deliberate changes to the charter pertaining to the Dalai Lama's new role in the current exile Tibetan Administration after the Tibetan leader announced that he wanted to give up his political power.
The second Tibetan General Meeting concluded Tuesday with the Tibetan parliament and exiled Tibetans reaching a consensus to appeal the Tibetan leader to assume a role of “ceremonial head of the state”.
The Dalai Lama refused the request and told the participants of the second Tibetan General Meeting that he cannot accept the ceremonial role.
The Dalai Lama, however, said he will go through the report submitted by the second Tibetan General Meeting to him.
The 75-year-old said he would still serve as Tibet's spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. He says he is not seeking independence for Tibet, just greater autonomy. China considers him a separatist.
The Tibetan legislators will meet for two days starting May 26 for a special session to discuss and evaluate the proposed amendments to the Charter and Preamble.
