World

Dalai Lama denied S Africa visa, won't attend peace conference

by TDH | March 23, 2009 at 08:45 am

271 views | 45 Recommendations | 9 comments

The South African Department of Foreign Affairs has denied the Dalai Lama permission to attend a peace conference in Johannesburg.

The Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel laureate was denied entry due to concerns that his presence might shift the world's focus from the upcoming 2010 World Cup to China and Tibet.

The peace conference was billed as an opportunity to showcase South Africa's role as a human-rights champion ahead of its hosting of soccer's World Cup next year.

China has an ever increasing economic sphere of influence in Africa and the Dalai Lama's unrelenting quest for Tibetan independence might prove to be a disadvantageous and illuminating presence if allowed to speak in South Africa.

Critics of the decision allege the government bowed to pressure from China, one of South Africa's largest trading partners...

Former President and fellow laureate F.W. De Klerk backed Archbishop Desmund Tutu in his intention to boycott the conference should the Dalai Lama be denied entry.

De Klerk said that the decision to refuse the visa made a "mockery" of the peace conference.

"The decision to exclude the Dalai Lama is irreconcilable with key principles on which our society is based including the principles of accountability, openness and responsiveness and the rights to freedom of expression and free political activity," he said.

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Swan

at 11:15 on March 23rd, 2009

China may have threatened S. Africa with economic sanctions if they allowed the Dalai Lama entry into the country - and that would really hurt them. I really can't see why else S. Africa would pull something like this.
~ Swan

sara star

at 11:26 on March 23rd, 2009

How can there ever be peace?

Blue Crush

at 08:50 on March 23rd, 2009

Shame on them!

albertacowpoke

at 08:54 on March 23rd, 2009

I hope that the intention to boycot the conference by DeKlerk and Tutu brings them to their senses

tikun

at 09:32 on March 23rd, 2009

This from a government that trashes other countries on their so-called human rights violations. Hmm. When it hits home all bets are off. Shame on them. For too long they have played the "holier than thou" game on the international scene.

Barbara McPherson

at 09:40 on March 23rd, 2009

Soccer is more important than peace?

Roy C

at 11:54 on March 23rd, 2009

There can only be peace when there is justice.

Jarrett Martineau

at 12:19 on March 23rd, 2009

What a missed opportunity for South Africa to demonstrate that it is "a human-rights champion" rather than a discriminatory and fearful nation that will now be widely discredited for failing to allow a recognized spiritual leader to participate in -- of all things -- a peace conference! Good for Bishop Tutu for planning to boycott.

Mikasi

at 13:23 on March 23rd, 2009

Soccer is probably very important - sports are one way to overcome some other big divisions.

However, this wasn't about the soccer. They just said it was. My guess - and know that I am just an ill informed cynic - is that the line about China being a big trading partner is the most important one to understanding the story.

I woudl be appalled myself if I weren't an American who knew his own government had done this oodles and oodles of times.