%2Band%2BJody%2BWilliams%2Bof%2BUS%2B(R)%2Bat%2Ba%2Bpress%2Bconference%2Bin%2BDharamsala%2C%2BIndia.jpg "Nobel Laureates condemn South Africa visa denial to Dalai Lama")
Addressing a press conference in Dharamsala today, Jody Williams of the US and Shirin Ebadi of Iran expressed their deep concern over the denial of visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by South Africa to attend the Nobel summit in Cape Town.
“We immediately sent a note expressing our deep concern that South Africa has been chosen as the venue of the Nobel summit given its history of bending to Chinese pressure and refusing to allow His Holiness to visit. A level of confusion was made for many us when he was even not allowed a visa to join the celebration of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday. How that could possibly be a threat to the government of China was extremely confusing for us?,” said Jody Williams.
“We are here to show to the Chinese government that the Tibetan people and His Holiness the Dalai Lama are not alone in their fight for justice, righteousness and human rights. And that’s why the world supports you. There is a history of fighting against racial discrimination in South Africa and that’s why we don’t accept this country refusing the visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” said Shirin Ebabi.
“Nobel Women’s Initiative sent two letters to the organizers and we did media interviews expressing our dismay and decision to boycott the summit in Cape Town. In our letter, we underlined that His Holiness the Dalai Lama advocates the Middle Way Approach and not the Chinese government’s propaganda that His Holiness is seeking Tibet’s separation from China,” said Jody Williams.
“As the mission of the Nobel Women’s Initiative is to stand with people, we believe that we are not in good conscience to go to South Africa when the human rights of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people are being violated,” she added.
“The venue of the summit has been shifted out
of South Africa. The new venue for the summit would be announced later.
We feel proud that the summit has been cancelled after we lodged
protest over denial of visa to the Dalai Lama. Even other Nobel
laureates have lodged their protest over the issue,” Jody Williams said.
“I hope that the people of the Tibet both in Tibet and in exile understand that they really do have our support”, said Jody Williams.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay thanked the two Nobel laureates and Nobel Women’s Initiative for visiting Dharamsala to show their solidarity with the Tibetan people’s non violent struggle and especially to pay respect to His Holiness as This year is marks the 25th anniversary of the conferment of Nobel peace prize on His Holiness.
Tomorrow, the two Nobel laureates will join His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 25th Nobel prize anniversary celebration being held on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday which is observed as the International Day of Non-violence
http://tibet.net/2014/10/01/nobel-laureates-visit-dharamsala-to-show-support-for-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/
1/10/14
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***Photo: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay with Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi of Iran (L) and Jody Williams of US (R) at a press conference in Dharamsala, India on Aug 1, 2014/DIIR Photo
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Nobel Summit relocates to Rome after row over SA visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama ...
ReplyDeleteDHARAMSHALA : The Nobel Peace Laureates Summit has been relocated to Rome from 12-14 December after the South African government failed to issue visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, according to a statement issued by organizers on 16 November.
The summit was suspended earlier in September after the South African Government failed to issue a visa for His Holiness the Dalai Lama who had hoped to attend the world peace summit in Cape Town, the organiser said.
Instead the 14th global peace summit will be hosted by the City of Rome, at the invitation of Mayor Ignazio Marino between December 12th to 14th.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with 22 other Peace Laureates have confirmed their attendance. Among these include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee, Tawakkol Karman, Mrs. Mairead Maguire, President José Ramos-Horta, David Trimble, President Lech Walesa, Betty Williams.
The Chinese government praised South Africa’s decision to deny visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama from attending the Nobel summit scheduled in Cape Town.
Supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause with their presence in Dharamshala on October 2, two Nobel laureates, Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi, said they decided to boycott Nobel summit in South Africa to send a strong message to China that they won’t bend under its pressure.
The two Nobel laureates said the real aim of the Nobel summit in South Africa was to celebrate the legacies of the Nelson Mandela. “We are greatly saddened when South Africa denied visa to His Holiness to attend the summit. The summit was cancelled as the Nobel laureates will not attend it.”
http://tibet.net/2014/11/18/nobel-summit-relocates-to-rome-after-row-over-sa-visa-to-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/
18/11/14