Dalai Lama takes backseat role

It seems likely that the Dalai Lama (pictured), the spiritual leader of Tibet, is to be relegated to a backseat role in his country's campaign to gain independence from China. Many Tibetans believe that while he has been good at winning over high profile supporters, among them Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn and Sharon Stone, he has become something of a liability, attracting only the ire of the Beijing government. According to the Independent on Sunday, the Tibetan Government in exile and other activists are meeting this week in Dharamsala, India, where the Dalai Lama lives, to discuss his future.

Tsewang Rigzin, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, is one of the many who believe it is time for a rethink. "His Holiness said that if he was becoming a hindrance he would rather not be there," he said. "He called his meeting for the Tibetan people to discuss this."

Another factor could be the 73-year-old Dalai Lama's health - he has been admitted to hospital for treatment twice since August. However, his supporters claim that he will not stand down altogether. And as the IoS points out, he will keep his position as a living God - until he dies.