Dharamshala, Oct 5: Criticising the South African government for not issuing a visa to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-exile said South Africa was acting under Chinese pressure.
Interacting with mediapersons here, Thubten Samphel, a spokesperson of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said South Africa was acting under Chinese pressure.
?I believe this denial of visa to His Holiness Dalai Lama is something very unfortunate. It is unfortunate because we believe this denial of visa has come about clearly because of Chinese pressure and South Africa as a country has very rich tradition of anti-apartheid movement where rights denied to ordinary people have been restored through a process of non-violent action. So one sovereign country acting and cringing like this to China becomes a huge source of discouragement for everyone who loves freedom,? said Samphel.
Pempa Tsering, Speaker of Tibetan parliament-in-exile, said that it would be a huge loss for South African people.
?A luminary like Desmond Tutu invited His Holiness with the blessing of Nelson Mandela and the state, the government of South Africa is audacious enough not to grant visa to a personage like His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a big loss for the South African people,? said Tsering.
Tenzin Tsundu, a Tibetan activist, who had visited South Africa in 2005, said that the Dalai Lama would be sorely missed.
?You know, the people of South Africa they love His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu is a chummy friend of His Holiness and I am sure when the Gandhi award, which will be given to His Holiness very soon, Desmond Tutu will definitely miss His Holiness and his absence will be deeply felt both by Desmond Tutu and the people of South Africa,? said Tsundu.
The Dalai Lama had cancelled a trip to South Africa at the last minute on Tuesday because he has not been issued with a visa by the country which has increasingly close trading links with China and will not be able to attend fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu?s 80th birthday party. (ANI)
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