Dalai Lama Visits New Zealand
November 18th 2009
Press Release
The decision by
the Prime Minister not to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama
when he visits next month has been met by disappointment but
not surprise by the organisation responsible for the
visit.
Dalai Lama Visit Trust New Zealand Trust
spokesperson, Neil Cameron, says “the decision was
inevitable given the reluctance of New Zealand governments
to meet with the Dalai Lama in recent years.”
“We
have entered a period of time when China wields significant
influence over the economies and internal policies of many
nations around the world and New Zealand is no
exception”.
“There can be only one reason for
that and that reason is China’s political and economic
influence in New Zealand either directly or indirectly. The
issue of human rights abuses in Tibet by China no longer
concerns New Zealand governments.”
“The Prime
Minister may or may not have been pressured by Chinese
officials or agencies over the visit but direct and vocal
pressure would have been applied if the invitation had been
accepted.
“Over the course of our preparations for
this visit we have seen the refusal of Chinese newspapers in
Auckland to run paid editorial or advertisements promoting
the visit, so this pressure is applied in a number of
spheres even before His Holiness arrives, it’s the reality
of China’s political presence in New Zealand”.
The
invitation was formally issued by the Liason Office of Tibet
New Zealand on behalf of the Dalai Lama Visit Trust New
Zealand, the New Zealand Tibetan Community and Friends of
Tibet (NZ)
The Leader of the Opposition, Phil Goff has
accepted an invitation to meet with His Holiness during the
visit.
ENDS