Aug. 8, 2012, is a notable date for Tibet. Last year on this day I was inaugurated as the first democratically elected Tibetan leader under a new political system in which the Dalai Lama ceased to have a presiding role.
Last year, despite impassioned appeals by many Tibetans, the Dalai Lama officially relinquished his political power, including his power to dismiss the Tibetan parliament, judiciary and executive and to sign or veto bills. The Dalai Lama remains only as Tibet’s spiritual leader.




