Dalai Lama cancels trip to South Africa due to visa delay
October 6th, 2011 - 12:17 am ICT by BNO NewsDHARAMSALA, INDIA (BNO NEWS) — The Dalai Lama on Tuesday cancelled his planned visit to South Africa after the government failed to issue a visa on time, his office said.
The Dalai Lama’s office in India released a statement saying his trip had been cancelled. “Since the South African government seems to find it inconvenient to issue a visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness has decided to call off this visit to South Africa,” the statement said.
The Dalai Lama was to depart for South Africa on Thursday but visas had not been granted as of Wednesday. “His Holiness does not wish to be the subject of anyone’s inconvenience whether they are individuals or governments. He particularly regrets the inconvenience caused to his hosts and the many members of the South African public who were keenly waiting to receive him,” the statement added.
The Tibetan spiritual leader had been invited to attend the Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday. He was also scheduled to give public lectures at two universities and accept the Mahatma Gandhi peace prize in Durban.
There was no explanation from the South African government, which has been slammed as “unaccountable, secretive and disrespectful” for its inaction over granting the Dalai Lama a visa.
The Dalai Lama has resided in the Indian city of Dharamsala, which is now the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, since 1960 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule of Tibet. China continues to claim Tibet as a region of their territory, though Tibetans have disagreed for many years.
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Tags: 80th birthday, archbishop desmond tutu, bno, chinese rule, dalai lama, desmond tutu, dharamsala india, durban, gandhi peace prize, holiness, inaction, inconvenience, mahatma gandhi, nobel peace laureate, public lectures, south african government, tibet, tibetan government in exile, tibetan spiritual leader, tibetans