kagablog

Dear friends,
South Africa the country of high idealism for racial equality after the apartheid and giving hope for equality, justice, freemind non-violence today is compromising its integrity by rejecting a visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a visit. His holiness’s bosom friends like Arch bishop desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela would be embarassed to see such policy from the present government.
-tenzin tsundue
Dharamsala

From: Elizabeth
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 6:25 PM
Subject: HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA - SNUBBED

We received information this afternoon (Friday 19th March) that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will not be attending the South African Peace Conference in Johannesburg next week.

His Holiness was one of the first Peace Laureates to accept a personal invitation from the 3 Nobel Peace Laureates in South Africa to attend this prestigious event organised by the Premier Soccer League in order to promote peace through sport, especially with 2010 on the horizon.

Apparently the South African High Commission in New Delhi had not issued His Holiness a visa to visit South Africa and it has been confirmed by the Office of Tibet in Pretoria that the High Commission asked His Holiness to postpone his visit to SA but gave no explanation when asked. His Holiness’ office in turn said that he had no intention of withdrawing from the conference since it was an invitation by the 3 Peace Laureates in SA.

His Holiness in fact wrote to the SA Peace Laureates informing them of the situation.

Since a visa for His Holiness has not been issued he will be unable to attend and this is indeed a very sad moment in the history of this country!

As South Africans who would like to see peace promoted in our country we would like a clear explanation why this has happened to perhaps one of the greatest of Peace Makers of our time…. why has it happened???? Why has His Holiness been snubbed?????

Please follow through with your contacts because we would dearly love an explanation!

The hosting body - the Premier Soccer League must be highly disappointed by this situation and Mr Siem is the contact person for comment. (sorry no tel number…. )

The Office of Tibet representative for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sonam Tenzing can be contacted on 012-6641194.

The citizens of this country need to have a explanation and hopefully this will be forthcoming very soon.
thank you
Sincerely
Elizabeth Gaywood
(sent on behalf of the Tibet Society of South Africa)
tel: 031-7014307 - home
or Chris Kudla 083.654.8182 (Chairperson)