Tibetans vow to continue struggle for independence

Dharamsala: The Dalai Lama may have declared his intension to step down from politics, but Tibetans remain committed to the struggle for their homeland, said Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

"Tibet's struggle will continue. In the absence of his holiness' direct involvement, things would be difficult but we will not let our struggle stop. We have an elected leadership that will continue the fight," Rinpoche said a day after the Dalai Lama announced his decision to retire. "His Holiness' leadership cannot be substituted, but we have to learn to live without it. Moreover, he will not move away from our struggle," he added.