The Dalai Lama threatened Tuesday to step down as leader of Tibet's government-in-exile if violence committed by Tibetans in his homeland spirals out of control.
The rioting prompted Premier Wen Jiabao to denounce the Dalai Lama's supporters as separatists and accuse them of instigating the violence in Tibet's capital of Lhasa. It was China's highest-level response to date to the unrest.
The Dalai Lama, speaking to reporters, urged his countrymen to show restraint.
He said that "if things become out of control" his "only option is to completely resign."
Later, one of his top aides clarified the Dalai Lama's comments.
"If the Tibetans were to choose the path of violence he would have to resign because he is completely committed to nonviolence," Tenzin Taklha said. "He would resign as the political leader and head of state, but not as the Dalai Lama. He will always be the Dalai Lama."
[ap]
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Comments (1)
He can't resign. He's the r... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Chuck Simmins | March 18, 2008 11:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
He can't resign. He's the reincarnation of the last Dalai Lama and so on and so on. He could kill himself and then everyone could look for the next reincarnation. Resign, don't see how.
1. Posted by Chuck Simmins | March 18, 2008 11:12 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 18, 2008 23:12