SpicyTricks

After
being sworn in at a colourful ceremony in the Indian hill town of
Dharamshala, Sangay warned China that the Tibet movement was "here to
stay" and would only grow stronger in the waning years of the Dalai
Lama.

In an historic shift from the dominance of Tibetan politics
by religious figures, the new prime minister, who has never set foot in
Tibet, is assuming the political leadership role relinquished by the
76-year-old Dalai Lama in May.

In his inauguration speech, Sangay
sought to dismiss concerns that the Dalai Lama's advancing years and
eventual death would mark the demise of the movement that the Nobel
peace laureate has led since fleeing his homeland in 1959.

Sangay
said his election in April had sent "a clear message to the hardliners
in the Chinese government that Tibetan leadership is far from fizzling
out."

He pledged to sustain the movement "until freedom is
restored to Tibet," stressing that the fight was "not against the
Chinese people or China as a country.

"Our struggle is against
the hardline policies of the Chinese regime in Tibet... against those
who would deny freedom, justice, dignity and the very identity of the
Tibetan people," he said.

"There is no 'socialism' in Tibet. There is colonialism. Chinese rule in Tibet is clearly unjust and untenable."

Sangay's
age and former membership of the pro-independence Tibetan Youth
Congress has fuelled speculation that he may harbour a radical agenda of
seeking full independence for Tibet.

In his speech, however, he
stressed his commitment to the principle of non-violence and support for
the Dalai Lama's "middle-way" policy, which seeks "meaningful autonomy"
for Tibet under Chinese rule.

Despite devolving some powers to a
democratically-elected premier, the Dalai Lama will retain the more
significant role of Tibet's spiritual leader and a major influence on
major policy-making decisions.

The political transition makes
Sangay a far more prominent figure than his predecessor as prime
minister, but the challenges he faces are daunting.

The
government-in-exile is not recognised by any foreign states, China
refuses to acknowledge it, and its legitimacy in the eyes of Tibetans in
Tibet might be questioned without the Dalai Lama's patronage.

Born
and raised in the northeast Indian tea-growing region around
Darjeeling, Sangay went on to study at Delhi University before
completing a master's degree at Harvard Law School.

He took up residency in United States and became a senior fellow at the school.

His
profile is not unusual among the new generation of exiled Tibetan
activists who, while observant Buddhists, see their professional
qualifications as a crucial asset for leadership.

Before his election, he was little known outside the narrow confines of the exile community.

Monday's
ceremony, presided over by the Dalai Lama, was held in the Tsuglagkhang
Temple, the spiritual centre of Dharamshala where the government in
exile is based.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed
uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. He later founded the government
in exile in Dharamshala after being offered exile by India.

Following
traditional offerings of tea and sweetened rice, Sangay took the oath
of office at exactly nine seconds after 9:09am (0339 GMT) -- the number
nine being auspicious.

At a press conference afterwards, Sangay
acknowledged that he was unlikely to be involved in direct talks with
Beijing, which refuses to negotiate with anyone except envoys of the
Dalai Lama.

"If China doesn't want to talk to me as a person and
only with the representatives of His Holiness, it's fine with us," he
told reporters.

"What we are interested in is resolving the issue. It's not about personalities."