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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tibetans 'should pick Dalai Lama' | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says his people should have a role in finding his successor. | The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says his people should have a role in finding his successor. |
| Speaking in Amritsar, northern India, he told the BBC that Tibetans would also have to decide if the institution should continue at all after his death. | Speaking in Amritsar, northern India, he told the BBC that Tibetans would also have to decide if the institution should continue at all after his death. |
| The Dalai Lama's successor is usually chosen by senior Buddhist officials. | The Dalai Lama's successor is usually chosen by senior Buddhist officials. |
| Analysts say the 72-year-old is considering breaking this centuries-old tradition in order to reduce the influence of China in the process. | Analysts say the 72-year-old is considering breaking this centuries-old tradition in order to reduce the influence of China in the process. |
| Traditionally, Buddhist elders congregate after the death of the current leader and identify a young child to succeed him, after being guided by dreams and signs. | Traditionally, Buddhist elders congregate after the death of the current leader and identify a young child to succeed him, after being guided by dreams and signs. |
| The Dalai Lama warned that when he dies, China would try to promote its own candidate. | The Dalai Lama warned that when he dies, China would try to promote its own candidate. |
| You cannot have harmony under the gun Dalai Lama Dalai Lama speaks out | You cannot have harmony under the gun Dalai Lama Dalai Lama speaks out |
| But he stressed, in an interview with the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, that ultimately it would be up to the people of Tibet to decide who they accepted, if anyone at all. | |
| "The Tibetan nation is 2,000 years old. The Dalai Lama institution is relatively recent - only a few centuries old," he said. | "The Tibetan nation is 2,000 years old. The Dalai Lama institution is relatively recent - only a few centuries old," he said. |
| "If I die, it will be a setback for the Tibetan people for some time. But then the struggle will continue. | "If I die, it will be a setback for the Tibetan people for some time. But then the struggle will continue. |
| "If the Tibetan people decide that the Dalai Lama institution is no longer relevant, then it will automatically cease to exist." | "If the Tibetan people decide that the Dalai Lama institution is no longer relevant, then it will automatically cease to exist." |
| 'Violation of tradition' | 'Violation of tradition' |
| Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet, which it has controlled since invading in 1950. However, many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959. | Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet, which it has controlled since invading in 1950. However, many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959. |
| And the spiritual leader reopened a war of words with Beijing by criticising the way it rules Tibet. | And the spiritual leader reopened a war of words with Beijing by criticising the way it rules Tibet. |
| "Stability and genuine harmony - that is the Chinese government's top priority. But you cannot have harmony under the gun," he said. | "Stability and genuine harmony - that is the Chinese government's top priority. But you cannot have harmony under the gun," he said. |
| Beijing responded by accusing the Dalai Lama of violating his own religious traditions. | Beijing responded by accusing the Dalai Lama of violating his own religious traditions. |
| "The reincarnation of the living Buddha is a unique way of succession of Tibetan Buddhism and follows relatively complete religious rituals and historical conventions," China's foreign ministry said in a statement. | "The reincarnation of the living Buddha is a unique way of succession of Tibetan Buddhism and follows relatively complete religious rituals and historical conventions," China's foreign ministry said in a statement. |
| Beijing has denounced the Dalai Lama's many foreign trips, including recent visits to the US, Germany and Japan. | Beijing has denounced the Dalai Lama's many foreign trips, including recent visits to the US, Germany and Japan. |
| It says he should stay out of politics and restrict himself to a religious role. | It says he should stay out of politics and restrict himself to a religious role. |
| Buddhists believe the current Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of his predecessors. | Buddhists believe the current Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of his predecessors. |