Nathan 28 March 2009 People 252 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

by Chuck Warnock

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader to the world’s Buddhists and peace advocate, was denied a visa to attend a South African peace conference.  As a result of the South African government denial, other prominent peace conference participants canceled their appearances.  On Tuesday, the South African government announced the postponement of the peace conference itself.

The South African government has been accused of bowing to pressure from China in the decision to bar the Dalai Lama’s visit.  According to The Sunday Times, ‘Foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said suggestions that South Africa had bowed to pressure from China were “mischievous.”‘

China also weighed in with its point-of-view.  Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency quoted the president of the African National Congress to bolster their position.

“I don’t think it amounts to the undermining of the human rights. I think this country is more sensitive to human rights than many,” Jacob Zuma, the ANC president, said Thursday at a meeting with Afrikaner professionals and business people in Pretoria.

“What should have happened so that it should not have had to reach this point, there should have been consultation as people were beginning to say this is what we want to do,” Zuma said, according to Xinhua.

As the crisis escalated, South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu revealed he had received a letter from the Dalai Lama.  In the letter, the Dalai Lama expresses “regret” about the denial of his visa, and “feels snubbed” according to Tutu.  Former South African president FW de Klerk joined Tutu in boycotting the conference, leading to its cancellation.

The peace conference was to have showcased soccer’s role in overcoming racism and xenophobia.   The World Cup of soccer is scheduled in South Africa for 2010.

On Saturday, in a late development, former South African Home Affairs Minister “Mangosuthu Buthelezi has brought an urgent court application to order the government to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama “in the nearest future” to enable him to participate in a postponed peace conference.”

(Compiled from news reports around the internet.)