Frustration at refusal of Dalai Lama

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Published on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 19:36

Written by Olivia Wainwright

On the evening of Monday 3 October, demonstrators gathered outside parliament as part of a protest to allow the Dalai Lama to enter South Africa.

Approximately 200 people gathered for candlelit vigil. This followed weeks of public outcry in reaction to the South African government’s decision to reject the Dalai Lama’s visa application.

On the morning of Tuesday 4 October the Dalai Lama cancelled his trip to South Africa. The purpose of his trip to South Africa was to attend Desmond Tutu’s eightieth birthday party on 7 October.

Many have been angered by this situation, not only because of the denial of such a highly esteemed religious leader’s entry into the country, but also because of alleged reasons behind the visa applications denial. Many believe the South African government has denied the visa due to their political relationship with China.

Since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959, the Chinese government has put pressure on countries they associate with to avoid accommodating him.

Kate Muller of Landmark Foundation commented, "I stand for religious freedom and I don’t think commercial gain should interfere with this freedom." Others felt it was unfair that Desmond Tutu, a man who fought hard for the freedom of this country, should be denied his friend’s presence at his birthday celebrations.

The Civil Society Coalition, with the slogan "Let him in now! No pass laws for the Dalai Lama" said, "We are also hurt because the SA government has decided to cause unnecessary suffering and inconvenience to the Archbishop, who with others, has given his entire life for our freedom."

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille also commented, "To deny Desmond Tutu, who fought so hard for this country, the right to have his friend to his birthday party seems particularly mean-spirited."

Tutu showed his disappointment at the ANC over the visa issue on Tuesday 4 October when he said, "We will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the Apartheid government. We will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us."

The Dalai Lama has entered South Africa three times since the end of apartheid. The first time his entry was refused was in 2009.