South Africa Disses the Dalai Lama: We're About Human Rights, Just Not Yours

Spokesmen for President Kgalema Motlanthe had little explanation for the decision to refuse His Holiness the Dalai Lama a visa to attend the now-canceled peace conference in Johannesburg on Friday.

The best they could come up with was that the conference was World Cup-related, and they didn't want the World Cup to be about Tibet. But anyone who has ever watched a soccer match ---- much less a World Cup match --- knows the chances of that.

What doesn't need to be said is that someone -- most likely Motlanthe himself -- got a visit or call from a Chinese official. And South Africa caved.

Like the Olympics, the 2010 World Cup has the world's attention. It's a great time to make a statement. And as the Olympics were for China, it's a chance for South Africans to showcase who they are, and how far they have come. In this case, it also became a chance for China to step in and force its anti-Dalai Lama message onto the stage.

The problem is, unlike China, it happens to be impossible for South Africa to showcase anything without recognizing human rights. You can't say Nelson Mandela without thinking freedom. You can't say Desmond Tutu without thinking human rights. Not human rights of Africans. Human rights. The rights you have, no matter your country, color, or gender, just because you are human. They are in the very DNA of South Africa.

South Africa would not be what it is today if it weren't for the international activist community standing up for the rights of black South Africans. This same activist community is now staring, stunned, at Motlanthe.

Tellingly, Tibet was never an issue connected to the World Cup. I've been in touch with people lining up programs around the 2012 World Cup, and they are focused on violence against women, benefits for UNICEF, and issues relevant to Africa. Had the Dalai Lama come and gone from the peace conference, it might have been the last mention of him or Tibet in the press around the World Cup.

The only thing that made it an issue at all was China seeing an opportunity to throw its weight around and use a peace conference to make an anti-Dalai Lama statement. If anything is being showcased now, it's the Chinese influence over individuals in the South African government, and their ability to corrupt with economics.

I have had the opportunity of corresponding with Archbishop Tutu this week. TheCommunity.com has published a letter from him about the Dalai Lama, and people have been adding their names in support of his message.

The irony of this happening over a peace conference full of Nobel Laureates and the Nobel Committee was not lost on Archbishop Tutu. He wrote: "How could we possibly sit in a room talking about peace while ignoring such rotten treatment of one of our own?"

"China leans on other governments to disrespect the Dalai Lama and ignore their repression of the Tibetans. If they're successful, they make our leaders look like fools or hypocrites."

"The Dalai Lama is not a politician. He is a holy man. He is a precious gift to us. When government officials are told to disrespect him 'or else', they should consider it an insult. They should object, and keep their dignity intact."

The Archbishop was heartened by the signatures on his letter, which asks China to stop "naming, blaming and defaming the Dalai Lama". Signatories have included nine other Nobel Laureates, notables including Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Jeff Skoll, Peter Gabriel and others.

In a message to those who are adding their names to the letter, he said, "It's a joyful thing, to turn around and see you --- people from all countries, from all walks of life, who are willing to step forward, put their name down, and say "wait a minute, I object to this mistreatment!

"It lets me know, once again, that good will ultimately prevail in this world."

The letter is still open for signature at www.thecommunity.com.

Comments

[Feizel]

SA scores an own goal

By its action against the Dalai Lama attending a peace conference related to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, South Africa has scored an own goal and lost the World Cup.

No manner of hype to exploit the event to benefit South Africa’s image and standing will now be credible.

By its action South Africa has gone directly against the spirit of the World Cup as an event that brings the world together in shared humanity above all its differences and disputes. Ironically this should have been our greatest selling point and contribution in hosting the World Cup given our own inspiring example of avowed enemies recognising their shared humanity to resolve an intractable conflict.

Now we will live an empty lie instead of truth and meaning in the representation of our country through this event.


Feizel Mamdoo

[Thuli]

Good article, thank you.

May all beings practice love and compassion

[FairTalk]

I believe that we are on different sides of this issue, however, your nicely written piece demonstrates exactly what SA means when they say they do not want the World Cup to be upstaged by "Tibet." You piece has nothing in it about the World Cup. Who will be involved, what to look for, the evolution of the game and it's importance in various countries. All you have written about is the Dalai Lama, China and Tibet. You have made SA's case for excluding the Dalai Lama. Well done!

[wereeverywhere]

"Upstaging" world sporting events was part of the strategy of the anti-apartheid movement. I could see where you'd be interested in excluding social justice from sporting events- or more precisely social justice from any events. Exclusion, banning, and censorship have an ironic way of bringing attention to themselves, however.

[FairTalk]

No it wasn't!

[BADRALDUJA]

Signatories have included nine other Nobel Laureates, notables including Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Jeff Skoll, Peter Gabriel and others.

MMMM..nice Her Majesty Queen Noor..how about your signature for PALESTINE'S INDEPENDANCE,how about your signature to return all non palestinians back to their original homelands in europe and PEACE ATLAST.

ps.I DID NOT HEAR A WORD UTTERED FROM THE PEACEFULL DALAI LAMA AGAINST ISREALS ACTIONS IN GAZA,OR THE WHOLE PALESTINIAN ISSUE.....hypocrisy

[klaatu barada nikto]

anyone wishing to sort out the truth of the situation in Tibet should check out the following link

http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=422

It explains the main points of the Chinese propaganda and offers rebuttals to their accusations. The oppression of the Tibetan people has been extensively documented over the years although the CCP is trying to hide this fact with a far reaching disinformation campaign.

[wereeverywhere]

Given the title of the post and some of the comments below, maybe some background is in order. I thought the Chinese mistreatment of Tibetans was already well known. Try Amnesty International website http://www.amnesty.org/ search under Tibet and see what they think. There's always googling: human+rights tibet. In HufPO there's http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7961069.stm and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-novick/china-makes-a-song-and-da_b_179061.html
Both of those HufPo links are funny and depressing at the same time. The CC(sic)P can be pretty amusing sometimes for sheer camp value.

Apparently some think that no free speech, no free press, no political parties, limited access to information including internet, and jailing and torturing dissidents (short list) isn't enough to damn Chinese occupation of Tibet. Mary Wald's post adds pernicious stifling of exchange of ideas and travel to SA, a country that is indebted to past international support as its people overthrew their own human rights nightmare.

[klaatu barada nikto]

Chinese propaganda is explained and answered here:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=422

[klaatu barada nikto]

Chinese propaganda explained
http:// www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=422

[RogerBurke]

Expanding on my immediately previous or "following" meandering post (depending upon whether you prefer your chronology Huff-empty or Huff-full), there is some excuse for how China sees the rest of the world, and the Tibetan-on-Chinese resentment nature of some of the violence usually requires looking a little farther behind the headlines. On the other Han (sorry......again), the Tibetan theocracy may very well have been oppressive under professed American values. Hey, what good is a theocracy if it’s not? But as seen by most Tibetans? Which Tibetans? By the communist Chinese “liberators?” They had me going there for awhile too.

Yes. His Holiness may have the better agent, and the best the Chinese might have attained to date is semi-well-meaning brute, at least in their own eyes. But, unless this guy’s also the King of Coy, little in his demeanor or actions contradicts the image of a good and gentle man of peace, reason, and absence of artifice -- although among the religious ilk, that was also my first impression of Jerry Falwell. I'm so confused. Mary, from your own association, although not disinterested, I accept you’d know better than most. S.A., I hold you high among nations, but where’s that truth and reconciliation stuff when you need it more than once? Can’t wait to see the “red” carpet welcome for that rep. from Taiwan.

BTW, terrific photo; you must use the Dalai Lama’s guy.

[RogerBurke]

Mary, I look forward to your posts and perspective, only objecting to the length of time between them (slacker :) Bear with a “non-hominem” (fair-use-expurgated) prelude trying to conclude full circle:

In far Tibet, there lives a lama,
Got no poppa, got no momma,
Got no wife, got no chillun,
Got no use for penicillun,
Indeed, the ignorant Have-Not
Don't even know what he don't got.
If you will mind the box-tops, comma,
I think I'll go and join that lama.
- Ogden Nash

These earnest comments, seeming to emanate as much from differing world views as from differing observations, all reveal their own truths. I hope the dialectical (Dalaiectical?) tone also reflects how nuance/qualification/doubt fall by the wayside in electronic communication -especially when crushed by a 250 word (*hint”, A.H.). I’m talking this over with my “cultural relatives.”

To this marginally-informed observer, Tibet has legitimate moral/cultural, if not completely historical, claims to, at least, autonomy. China, historically to some client-state relationship. However if the Chinese aren’t careful (depending upon how far back one goes-or-stops), one could build good case for it as a Han-Mongolian province.

Besides if I’m not mistaken, this post isn’t so much about Tibet as about the South African paradox, a Nobel peace conference, and a realpolitick world not limited to China. The latter I learned from Henry Kissinger’s tome “Diplomacy.” Halfway through the book, somebody stole it!

[wereeverywhere]

Desmond Tutu's recognizes not only how important The Tibetan struggle is, but fights his own party to block this latest Chinese export of unfreedom to SA. Tellingly, his opponents in SA are throwing out their own principles of self determination and internationalism for the crassest of reasons. The issue is censorship and the gross human rights violations and colonization by CC(sic)P. Let the Tibetan people fight for their future themselves. To see the government in exile as somehow a static entity that has the power to not only turn the clock back 50 years but also to impose its will on the Tibetan people who will magically have no say or influence after having thrown off its Chinese masters is absurd. To oppose some hypothetical theocracy when the Tibetans live in such a nightmare is absurd.
The Chinese are systematically abusing the Tibetans. Their interference in SA, demanding censorship, is repugnant. I'm proud to be on the same side as Tutu on this one.

[wereeverywhere]

Desmond Tutu knows a little about fighting a tyrannical system against all odds and how important and welcome international support is to freedom struggles. He can see beyond his own borders and fight his own party's (ANC) opportunism. This is in the best tradition of the left-progressive movement. To any and all Tibetans out there who face the everyday brutality of the Chinese Communist(sic) Party, you are not alone. We may be kind of weak compared to the armed might of the Chinese state, but persistence will prevail. At least you scared the CC(sic)P or they wouldn't have put so much effort in this visa scandal. It took the Irish centuries to get the British (mostly) out of Ireland, and hopefully you can get free a little quicker.

[papapj]

"This is in the best tradition of the left-progressive movement."

RUBBISH!

The Dalai Lama represents a repressive theocracy - period. That's anything but left-wing.....

[wereeverywhere]

For the sake of clarity, I'd gladly join in criticism, boycott, whatever if the Tibetans were stupid enough to establish a theocracy if they threw out the CC(sic)P. If I thought suspect leadership meant I had to abandon a self determination struggle, the Palestinians would be the first people I'd have to drop- Arafat was a crook; Hamas openly calls for a theocracy, Fatah is hopeless. But I support the people of Palestine despite their leaders because they should be free to work out their problems themselves.

[klaatu barada nikto]

No Tibetan believes that. Tibet wasn't perfect and they were actually moving towards democracy and land reform when the Chinese invaded and ki11ed over 1 million Tibetans.

[papapj]

What the heck has the Dalai Lama ever done for Tibetan independence, anyway?

The CIA stooge does nothing for Tibetans and is rarely challenged by the press because of his so-called religious preeminence.

[shotei]

Besides lobbying incessantly for Tibetan rights, being a symbol of peaceful resistance, trying to get the Tibetans more autonomy within the Chinese dictatorial system and going to exile to save his life and make a politica statement...he hasn't done anything.
What would you challenge him about? Read some of his interviews and you'll see he never avoids questions, quite the opposite of the Chinese, that refuse to even mention Tibet.

[papapj]

He lobbies for the right for him and his nepotistic dictatorial cronies to return to power. Tibet's Buddhist monastic nobility controlled all land on behalf of the ``gods''. They monopolized the country's wealth by exacting tribute and labor services from peasants and herders. This system was similar to how the medieval Catholic Church exploited peasants in feudal Europe.

Tibetan peasants and herders had little personal freedom. Without the permission of the priests, or lamas, they could not do anything. They were considered appendages to the monastery. The peasantry lived in dire poverty while enormous wealth accumulated in the monasteries and in the Dalai Lama's palace in Lhasa.

The Dalai Lama and the majority of the elite agreed to give away Tibet's de facto independence in 1950 once they were assured by Beijing their exploitative system would be maintained. Nine years later, only when they felt their privileges were threatened, did they revolt. Suddenly the words ``democracy'' and ``human rights'' entered the vocabulary of the government-in-exile, operating out of Dharamsala in India ever since.

And he's a natural crony for the CIA to influence gullible students and the like into thinking that theirs is a heart rending tale of Chinese hegemony at work!

Boohoo and boolsheeat - some of us aren't falling for it.....

[klaatu barada nikto]

The Dalai Lama was not connected with the CIA. He never received a check from them. There were seperatist movements in Tibet that weren't answerable to the Dalai Lama. It wasn't a totalitatian regime like the CCP.

[Pema]

The Dalai Lama is a wonderful quiet and respectful man. I have had the pleasure of seeing him, being around him for a short time. He is the real deal, he is a kind as people think he is, he is a humble as he appears. He is Chinas greatest fear, there is over 1 million deaths in Tibet at the hands of the Chinese government. Lamas and nuns beaten tortured and "dissapeared".
The ruleing class of Tibet has gotten a bad rap, I have met many Tibetans,. not a one ever felt oppressed. It is a mass of prc=People Republic of China pr war, to try to make him and the Tibetan out as horrible and they were done a favor by China. Genolcide to the Tibetan people and China uses Tibet as a place to dump their nuke waste. that not progress its gencodie and mass destruction of nature.

[Inquisitr]

I'm not saying China is better, I'm saying the Lama is not an upgrade.


I have also met many Tibetans, and hearing some of the stories that were related from grand parents, they and I rightfully want the Lama never to be in power again.

He financed Militias in America with American money,a nd we have AMERICAN not chinese documents as proof of this. You cannot deny this, IT IS FACT!

[klaatu barada nikto]

You have nop evidence to support your claims. Every Tibetan I have ever met wants the Dalai Lama back in charge and feels horrible about the torture and mistreatment they have suffered at the hands of the CCP.

[klaatu barada nikto]

People should be free to self-determination and they want their Lamas back. The Dalai Lama has spoke in favor of democracy for Tibet. He was moving that direction before the Chinese invasion.

[shotei]

I agree...if there's any genocide happening in the world, it's in Sudan and Tibet. In Sudan, it is physical, more shocking with people dying. In Tibet, it is more subtle, more covert, but nonetheless a Genocide. By suffocating a culture in order to exterminate it (prohibition of religious schools, sending Tibetan boys to China, kidnapping the Panden Lama, etc.), China is trying to exterminate an enitre group through it's traditions and values.

[FairTalk]

Secret agent man! Secret agent man! The Dalai Lama took $180,000 yearly and ran! he is a secret agent man! He is a tool of the CIA.

Sorry, Pema, it is what it is.

[Inquisitr]

Ok, the Dhali Lama is a fraud, and you should be ashamed for trying to promote him

Tibet under the Lamas was one of the most oppresive, horrid places to live ever. You had a beyond oppresive priest class and a broken, impovrished, working class they exploited.

He has used American taxpayer money to finance secret Militias.....some man of peace.

Read about this figure before you honor him.

[papapj]

Good post.

He above any other world figures has nurtured the cult of personality to an art form.

[shotei]

Secret Militias? Hahahahaha
Now the Dalai Lama has its own terrorist infrastructure, that keeps organizing lotus flower suicides and Bhuddist prayers...
The Chinese is using state terrorism to nulify a 3,000 year culture

[klaatu barada nikto]

hilarious! Why do Tibetans want their old government back? They just like punishment?

[wereeverywhere]

Let's accept your charges against Dalai Lama for argument's sake. Then:
(1) Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela are fools for inviting him.
(2) That justifies his visa denial how exactly?
All this justification for repression by the anti-Tibetan people crowd is chilling.