South Africa Bars Dalai Lama From Peace Conference

Move outrages fellow Nobel laureates

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 23, 2009 9:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – One notable Nobel laureate won’t be at this week’s peace conference in South Africa: The Dalai Lama. South Africa has denied the Tibetan spiritual leader entry, bowing to pressure from trading partner China, the Times of London reports. The Nobel laureates organizing the event are outraged, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu calling the decision “disgraceful,” and vowing not to participate unless the government changes course.

“We are shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure,” Tutu said. “I feel deeply distressed and ashamed.” South Africa says the Lama would distract from the intended topic—next year’s soccer World Cup. “We have nothing against him,” said a spokesman, “but we have a key strategic relationship with China and we would really not want to do anything to jeopardize that.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Exiled Tibetans shout slogans against the Chinese government during a protest at Bodhnath, a Buddhist religious place, in Katmandu, Nepal, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo)

The Dalai Lama greets the crowd gathered to welcome him as he arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple for a prayer session in Dharmsala, India, in this March 8, 2009, file photo (AP Photo)

Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of South Africa, speaks during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in this file photo. Tutu called South Africa's exclusion of the Lama "disgraceful." (AP Photo)

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If His Holiness’s visa is refused, I will condemn the Government’s behavior as disgraceful, a total betrayal of our struggle history. - Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The Government is involved in organizing this function and is responsible for issuing invitations. If you have not been invited to a party you cannot say you have been prevented from coming. - Ronnie Mamoepa, Foreign Ministry spokesman

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South Africa Bars Dalai Lama From Peace Conference