Dalai Lama (martin louis)

This was peace conference that was organised by the World Cup 2010 organising committee. A peace conference that had the support and patronship of three of South Africa’s nobel laureates, Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk and the Bish, Desmond Tutu.

The famous, humble, headstrong and very political holy man will now be spending the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan exile in any place but South Africa. At the behest of the Chinese. Or so we are led to believe by the media although this is vociferously denied by the ruling ANC government.

Why has the ANC, and therefore the government take these contrary positions on a number of very questionable regimes? Libya and Myanmar benefited while South Africa were on the United Nations security council.

• So, should the Chinese be in Tibet? Probably not. Although the history of the area is very complex with a multitude of treaties, wars and invasions.
• Does the Dalai Lama have the right to protest the Chinese in his country? Absolutely.
• Was the Dalai Lama going to use the 2010 World Cup Peace Conference as a platform to push his agenda? Almost certainly.
• Would he have got as much publicity this way compared to what the ANC handed to him? Unlikely.
• Did the ANC give the Chinese too much respect? Probably.
• Has this damaged South Africa’s international image. Almost guaranteed, especially in the light of all the other strange decisions around pariah nations.