He will remain in his role as spiritual leader. The political leader of the Tibetan government will be elected democratically. Chinese leaders must have more transparency. Demands for press freedom and freedom of expression.

Dharamsala (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Dalai Lama announced today that in the coming days he will resign from his political post as head of the Tibetan government in exile. The decision had been rumoured for some time, but he is now set to propose amendments so the Tibetan people can be governed by a “freely elected leader " It is not yet certain, however, that the government - which meets next March 14 - will accept the decision of the Ocean of Wisdom.

For some time the Dalai Lama has wanted to retire from politics and to devote himself solely to his role as spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism. He also hopes to return to China, from where he fled in 1959 after a revolt against the occupying Chinese was violently repressed. Beijing has often accused the Dalai Lama of being an astute politician who tries to divide the country even using terrorism to achieve independence for Tibet. In fact, the Dalai Lama has arrived at calling for only a "cultural autonomy" of Tibet, to save its culture and religion from "genocide."

The decision comes as the Dalai Lama and Tibetans are preparing to elect a new prime minister through elections, unknown to China.

In his speech today on the anniversary of the uprising of 1959, he praised China as an “emerging world power "and its enormous" economic development ". He said it "has a high potential to contribute to human progress and world peace. But to do this China must earn the respect and confidence of the international community. To have that respect, China's leaders must develop a greater transparency, their actions must match their words. For this to happen, we need freedom of expression and press freedom".

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• Buddhism