This week’s Kunleng looks at the possibilities and implications of how the next Dalai Lama might be selected. Sparked by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent statements regarding this issue, Beijing has reacted strongly to this topic, and Tibetan society has finally begun to debate an issue that has always been a taboo subject.
The Dalai Lama has thrown up the possibility of a referendum to decide whether the institution of the Dalai Lama is desirable for Tibetans in the future, and that if indeed it was declared to be useful and in need of continuation, then all sorts of options were on the table for deciding the process of succession. Beijing has reacted negatively to both the idea of a referendum and the possibility of a new method of choosing the next Dalai Lama, as they counter Beijing’s ability to control the outcome and the person of the next Dalai Lama.
Kunleng invites Mr. Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama to discuss these issues and their implications for the future of Tibetan Chinese relations.
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