China cautions India over apparent defection of religious leader

January 12, 2000
Web posted at: 6:20 p.m. HKT (1020 GMT)

In this story: Analysts expect India to offer refuge Spokesman: Karmapa collecting relics Dalai seeks Tibetan autonomy within China RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

BEIJING (CNN) -- China has warned India to tread carefully in its dealings with the apparent defection of the Karmapa Lama -- who some expect will receive asylum from New Delhi.

VIDEO CNN's Kasra Naji shows how the arrival of the Karmapa is having various effects in India. (January 11) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD Dalai Lama     RESOURCES TIME: Thunder Out of China

"The Indian side has said in explicit terms that Tibet is an inalienable part of China. It has also stated that the Dalai (Lama) clique cannot carry out political activities in India," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said.

"We hope the Indian side can strictly honor its commitments on the relevant question so that bilateral relations can improve and develop," he added.

Indian authorities have been pondering how to respond to the Karmapa's unexpected arrival. They have said the Karmapa had not applied for asylum, but analysts said it was likely India would offer him refuge.

"We have not applied to the government of India," K.A. Lontashiwangd, religious affairs minister in the Dalai Lama's administration at Dharmsala, said. "But if the government decided to give asylum, that can be accepted."

Indian newspapers reported earlier in the week that the Dalai Lama requested asylum for the Karmapa. Reports said the young lama was frustrated by religious repression in China, and that he was upset he was not allowed to meet with his teachers.

Chinese authorities reportedly denied several requests for an entrance visa by the Karmapa's principal teacher, Tai Situ Rinpoche, who has a monastery near Dharmsala.

The Karmapa's apparent defection is the most significant departure from Tibet since the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of his followers left their homeland after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. It is also an embarrassment to Beijing.

China approved the 17th Karmapa's enthronement in 1992 and used him as a symbol to project its toleration of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the only high lama whose accession had been agreed upon by both the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama.

China's spokesman repeated Tuesday his government's official explanation that the 14-year-old Karmapa Lama left Tibet to collect symbolic ritual implements and relics, leaving the door open for his return.

But Beijing showed no sign of softening its policy towards the Dalai Lama, and state media quoted Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and State Councilor Ismail Amat as calling for stricter implementation of religious policies.

"In a country that boasts over 100 million religious followers, it is extremely important to rally them around the ruling Chinese Communist Party, the government and the modernization drive," the premier was quoted by official Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the State councilor, a Uighur from the predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang, told Xinhua that China would enhance efforts to combat separatism in its border areas -- and infiltration by religious extremists.

Freedom of religion is enshrined in the Chinese constitution, but religious groups accuse Beijing of persecuting those who worship outside "official" churches.

The Dalai Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, has said he advocates a non-violent campaign for genuine autonomy within China that would preserve and promote Tibetan culture, religion and language.

But China's spokesman reiterated Tuesday his government's conditions for talks with the Dalai Lama.

"The Dalai Lama should truly give up advocating Tibetan independence, admit Tibet is an inalienable part of China, Taiwan is a province of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China represents the sole Chinese government," Zhu Bangzao said.

Many Tibetans living in India are planning to celebrate the Tibetan new year in Dharmsala in the hopes of receiving personal blessings from the young lama. The Tibetan new year, based on the lunar calendar, will be celebrated on February 6.

A monk preparing to leave for Dharmsala told CNN on Tuesday he hoped to be blessed by the Karmapa. "We are all honored," he said during an interview in a neighborhood of Tibetan exiles.

Correspondent Kasra Naji, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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