The prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile speaks about the future of the Tibetan cause.
When the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, said recently that the tradition of the Dalai Lama should end with his death, a new debate began about the future of the Tibetan movement. At a time when the world is focused on containing violent struggle, can the peaceful, democratic Tibetan movement retain international attention? With China expanding its sphere of influence and creating a new geopolitical paradigm, the Tibetan movement is also losing some of the support it previously enjoyed. For instance, Pope Francis recently declined a meeting with the Dalai Lama, citing the “delicate situation” with China. Where does the Tibetan movement stand now? How relevant is in today? And what comes after the Dalai Lama?
The Diplomat’s Sanjay Kumar put these questions to Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile and the second most powerful Tibetan leader after the Dalai Lama. Sangay is a democratically elected leader who came into the limelight in 2011 when the Dalai Lama decided to abdicate political responsibility. From humble beginnings in a refugee camp in Darjeeling, he went on to study at Harvard Law School. The suave and erudite Sikyong, as the leader of the Tibetan government in exile is officially known, carries the burden of not only keeping the movement alive but also sustaining the passion for the Tibetan movement among a new generation of exiles.[Source]