http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1845&ncid=1845&e=9&u=/cpress/20040408/ca_pr_on_na/dalai_lama_politics
Dalai Lama's visit puts Canadian officials on political
tightrope
Thu Apr 8, 5:10 PM ET
EMILY YEARWOOD-LEE
VANCOUVER (CP) - B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell will meet with
him, but Prime Minister Paul Martin isn't saying how the federal government
will greet the Dalai Lama, who arrives in
Will Martin meet with the Nobel Prize winner, prompting a
tiff with
Martin wasn't answering Thursday, the same day as news that
Martin wouldn't say what communication his government has
received from
"They've not talked to me," Martin said Thursday
while touring
"There is an enormous amount of interest in this. But
we're in the process of seeing if the logistics and the whole thing can be
worked out."
As the Dalai Lama's popularity has increased along with the
cause of Tibetan independence, government leaders have been placed in the
sticky situation of figuring out how to treat him.
The Dalai Lama will be in
A spokesman for
That's how Tony Blair (news - web sites) handled it, said
Charles Burton, a
U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) has also
seen him, "without making any kinds of claims about the capacity in
which" they were meeting, said
And then-U.S. president Bill Clinton (news - web sites)
dropped in on the Dalai Lama during a meeting at the White House.
"In the past, Mr. Clinton met with the Dalai Lama but
it was sort of a walk-by, meaning the Dalai Lama was in the White House meeting
with lower-level officials and Mr. Clinton at least made a pretence that he
happened to be passing by the office and saw the Dalai Lama in there and
decided to say 'Hi'. "
The Foreign Affairs Department has acknowledged the Dalai
Lama's visit is politically sensitive.
"I think in terms of a calculation of Canada's national
interest, it's probably perceived as not being a benefit to us to do that, in
the sense it would lead to diplomatic protest by the Chinese and it's largely a
symbolic matter," Burton said.
The Tibetan leader was refused an audience with Brian
Mulroney when he visited
Liberal MP Sophia Leung said the Prime Minister's Office
called asking for her advice on the matter.
"I suggest we should if at all possible . . . the PM
could meet with Dalai Lama," said Leung, who was born in
The Canada Tibet Committee, which is organizing the
Leung said that's not the same as telling the Chinese
government what to do.
"I think the Canadian government could . . . be a
peacemaker," she said.
The matter of whether Martin should meet the Tibetan leader
is obviously sensitive, but Leung said the question of whether that meeting
happens is not "a big issue" to the Chinese Canadian community.
Popular support for the Dalai Lama, whose fans include
Hollywood stars and famous musicians, makes it hard for Canadian politicians to
ignore him, said Arthur Sheps, who teaches religion
and politics in
Tickets for his spiritual teachings were snapped up fast as
any rock concert. The academic community will also honour him with honorary
degrees at several universities, noted Sheps.
"It's more fraught with politics than many other
religious visits, because he is . . . both a religious and a national
leader," said Sheps.
"Many people are saying should the prime minister see
the Dalai Lama. They are not just saying should he be nice to the leader of a
small religious community in
"Because if that's all it was, it wouldn't be a big
question. (It's) because it's a big human rights question for
Sheps doubts Martin will see the
famous Buddhist monk, whose religious followers believe is the reincarnation of
the previous Dalai Lama and the incarnation of Avalokitesvara,
the Buddha of Compassion.
"I think if there's a way in which Mr. Martin could
find a way to receive the Dalai Lama as a religious leader, but not a national
one, that would be a nice thing. That would be hard for him to do."
The national president of the Canada Tibet Committee said
he's not looking for a photo op.
"What I'm really interested (in is) if the prime
minister is going to deliver on the requests put to him by the Canadian members
of parliament," said Thubten Samdup,
in reference to the MPs who signed letters saying Canada should play a mediator
role.
The leaders of the federal New Democrat and Conservative
parties will meet him in
Emphasizing it was his group and not the Dalai Lama that
requested the meeting with Martin, Samdup said the
Tibetan leader is better known than Martin abroad.
The publicity wouldn't hurt the prime minister with an election
coming, Samdup said.
"He needs something, especially a blessing from the
Dalai Lama."
The Dalai Lama will be in