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Tibetans in Exile Vote for New Leader

   VOA News  March 20, 2011
   Tibetan  spiritual  leader,  the  Dalai  Lama,  looks  on  during  the
   commemoration  of the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against
   Chinese rule in Dharmsala, India, March 10, 2011

Photo: AP

   Tibetan  spiritual  leader,  the  Dalai  Lama,  looks  on  during  the
   commemoration  of the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against
   Chinese rule in Dharmsala, India, March 10, 2011

   Tens  of  thousands  of  exiled  Tibetans  around the world are voting
   Sunday  for  a  new  political leader to replace the aging Dalai Lama,
   after he insisted he is giving up politics.
   The  75-year-old  Nobel  Peace  laureate  sent a letter to the Tibetan
   parliament-in-exile in Dharmsala, India, 10 days ago, pleading with it
   to accept his resignation.
   Although  the  parliament asked him to stay on, the Dalai Lama said it
   is  important  to preserve continuity in the Tibetan movement while he
   is still alive and healthy.
   The  Dalai  Lama,  who  wants  autonomy  for  Tibet  within China, has
   spearheaded  the  cause  of exiled Tibetans since he fled his homeland
   more than half a century ago.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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