Dalai Lama may 'step aside'

The Dalai Lama "has no intention of resigning, but he is ready to step aside for democracy in Tibet," according to Kesang Takla, Foreign Minister for the Tibetan government in exile. Referring to the Tibetan spiritual leader's vow to "resign" if violence gets out of control in Tibet. Takla told AsiaNews Wednesday, "Western media misinterpreted the words of our leader: what he meant was that, if he is the problem, then he is ready to cede his temporal power in exchange for real democracy in the country."

Lama Geshe Gedun Tharchin, founder and spiritual director of the Lamrim Institute for Tibetan Culture and professor at Rome's Institute for Oriental and African Studies, said "The Dalai Lama cannot resign. His role as spiritual leader is an integral part of his person ... What he meant is that he could step down from leadership of the exiled government, but only if China consents to begin process of real democracy in Tibet."

China accuses the Dalai Lama of being a dangerous secessionist. Lama Geshe said "in light of this, our leader could step aside, but nothing more. Moreover, with those words he wished to emphasise that he is not a dictator and that the Tibetan violence has had a profound affect on him."

Secretary of the Tibetan Communist party Zhang Qingli called the Dalai Lama "a monster, a wolf with a human face and the heart of an animal" and "we are in the middle of a harsh and bloody battle with the Dalai Lama's clique, a battle for life and death against a ferocious enemy."