Korea Refuses to Issue Visa to Dalai Lama

The South Korean government has refused an entry visa to the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, as Seoul is concerned about possible repercussions from Beijing which considers him a separatist rather than a religious leader.

China has accused the exiled Tibetan leader of instigating Tibetans to seek independence from China, but the Dalai Lama says his exiled government in India might accept full autonomy in a
compromise.

Human rights and religious groups have denounced the Seoul government in past years for kowtowing to Beijing, which fears any independence movement in Tibet could have a domino effect to lead other regions with ethnic minorities such as Xianjiang and Taiwan to seek independence.

It is the third rejection of a visa for the Dalai Lama by South Korea following rejections in 2000 and 2001.

Religious leaders from the Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant communities have asked the Dalai Lama to visit the country as a symbol of global peace amid warming inter-Korean relations after the second inter-Korean summit in October and progress in ongoing multilateral talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions.

"We were notified by the foreign ministry that his visit can't be allowed," a staff member of the Buddhist Solidarity for Reform, a nation-wide Buddhist group, said.

Analysts here said South Korea needs diplomatic support from China in the ongoing multilateral talks on North Korea's nuclear dismantlement, and in bringing to Seoul North Korean defectors.

The United States, Japan, Taiwan and many other countries often permit visits by the Dalai Lama despite China's repeated warnings against accepting him.

(Yonhap)

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