Daily Independent (Lagos)
Okekearu Michael
15 April 2009
opinion
Lagos — South Africa, the self-acclaimed rainbow nation, is in the news again and for all the wrong reasons. The authorities of that country recently barred the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibet from participating in a peace conference slated for South Africa. No cogent reason was given for their action which has drawn an outcry from the rest of the world.
The Dalai Lama is not just any folk out there. He is the spiritual head of Tibet, a region in China that is currently under asphyxiation on account of its self-determination activities. Even though he lives in exile, the Dalai Lama commands cult followership from Tibetans all over the world and is seen as the symbol of the Tibetan struggle. Despite his larger than life image, the Dalai Lama still appears very humble and steadfast in his ideals and struggle. He despises violence and subscribes fully to the rule of law. It is in recognition of these sterling qualities that the immediate past president of the United States of America, George W. Bush bestowed him with one of the highest national honours of the United States last year. Mr. Bush was not alone in this regards. Recall also that the current French Prime Minister, Nicholas Sarkuzy, also gave a top flight French national honour to the Dalai Lama last year. Both events were received in Beijing with anger.
Globally, the Dalai Lama is not seen as a political featherweight. And even though he lives in exile, Beijing catches cold whenever he sneezes. Testimonies to these abound especially in the build-up to the last Olympics games in Beijing. Recall that (that) Olympics was almost marred because of threats from the human rights community who used every opportunity in the tortuous journey of the Olympic flames across the cities of the world to draw attention to the abject human rights condition in Tibet. Recall also that many heads of state threatened to boycott the opening ceremony of the same event owing to similar excuses given by the human rights community. The combination of both events made China to soften its policy in that region. Now, a mere mention of the Dalai Lama attending the South African Peace Conference has thrown up a lot of dust not only in South Africa but also China.
The South African authorities must be condemned totally in unequivocal terms for barring a noble man in the mould of the Dalai Lama from entering South Africa by denying him visa. Even though the voice is that of Pretoria there is no doubt that Beijing is the unseen hand in this debacle. And despite the denial issued by the South African government spokesman that Beijing was not the reason for denying the Dalai Lama visa, the rest of the world cannot all be wrong. South Africa by this singular act of indiscretion has suffered a great image loss, especially coming in the wake of the recent xenophobic attacks in that country.
A quick peep into history would reveal that South Africa and Tibet both share a similar trajectory. Both have shared a common history of long-term oppression. In the case of South Africa, the oppression was by a minority white rule during the dark days of apartheid while in Tibet, the oppression is by the Beijing authority. South Africa benefited immensely from the goodwill of the rest of the world in those trying days. Human rights activists used every opportunity that came their way to draw the attention of the world to the glaring injustices going on in South Africa then. It is against this background that one had expected the South African authority to have reflected soberly by showing empathy and strong commitment to a people in dire need of support at this crucial moment. Therefore, the denial of visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African authorities smacks of arrogance, gross insensitivity, amnesia and bad faith.
Perhaps, the most important lesson to be learnt from this Dalai Lama visa saga is the re-examination of the relationship between Africa and the emerging world economic powers that currently see Africa as a testing ground for both their political and economic clout. Take the issue of Dafur for instance. The war crime going on there has persisted because Omar Al-Bashir, the defiant Sudanese president has the backing of China. At a point when the world wanted to say enough is enough through the United Nations, it was China that voted against the tide. And today, Dafur remains an ugly site in Africa that reminds us of not only failure of leadership in Africa but the consequences of meddlesomeness in Africa by the so-called emerging super powers. Of course I need not mention the Zimbabwean story under Mugabe and its relationship with China. Africa and indeed Africans must begin to ask the Chinese what they want in Africa. Is it our mineral resources or interference in our political affairs?
But all hope is not lost on South Africa. I was so glad to hear that Dr Nelson Mandela, the conscience of South Africa, alongside Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu and other human rights activist have all risen to condemn the despicable action of the South African government. Mandela and his associates must be commended for voicing their opposition to the denial of visa to the Dalai Lama for no justifiable reason. This is especially so because on the continent of Africa such opposition is strange for serving and ex-presidents who tend to flow with the currents of the ruling establishments in their respective countries. Above all, I am glad that the peace conference has been cancelled as a result of the global outcry. But whether South Africa will come out of this mess a better country remains to be seen.
*Dr Okekearu Michael writes from Kano.
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you fucking asssoooo you don't know where we from? than why you saying doesn't matter either you white or African. and fuck you we African not like Chinese from bottom to top. you got it asooo. let me tell you something we all human being need to respect each other. if we do not harm will come no matter what. that's why there is always a title of {Revenge}. fuck you because we talking about dalai lama not the white invasion here. i curse you that you will die soon with vomiting blood from your eyes ,mouth and nose. i said it because you don't know even little bit of Dalai lama. firstly i tell you all chinese name comes with che, wang, lee, dong, etc. i read about Tibetan i live with them about 2 years. their name comes with Tsering, kalsang, nyima and all those name has meaning like Tsering means long life nyima means sun etc. their name come from their mother father and their priest not chinese government you assooo. people like you making more and more pollution in this world with dirty mind. money money money
listen up spuzz monkey! spelling is crucial!
you can haz english?
kthnxbai
Dalai Lama title is given by Chinese Govenment?? Haahhaha Are you joking or what?! That's why I always say Chinese school textbooks are all modified. What does it say to Mahatma Gandhi in your school books?.. evil man witha stick?? tsk tsk.. I mean, seriously, it supprised me when you said its a title given by Chinese government.. Anyway, learn this, the title is given by Mongolian king..
Issue recycling.
The issue has been authoritatively resolved. It is a dead issue; let's move on, for crying out loud.
There nothing the 'Tibetans' or the "international community" can do to change the position of the South African Govrnmnent and, in politics, that is where the buck stops.
I disagree. Dialogue is exactly what causes change. For the first time in a long time organization and dialogue on the grassroots level made a change in American politics. I know I was part of that grassroots movement. People decide when an issues is dead. Issues die because people stop talking about them. When people continue the dialogue and raise the volume then issues are revisited. You could not be more wrong. The international community in part is why the ANC has adopted neo-liberal policies that have had sever determining affects on its severely impoverished population. Unfortunately you know not of what you speak. The international community is very powerful and with the use of hard or soft policy can force states to abolish or institute policieswithin their borders. Not so long ago there was very little dialogue regarding apartheid... when the level increased, when international organizations demanded that their voices be heard there was a response that rocked the economic and political foundations of South Africa. Voices are speaking out against what appears to be an ill-thought out decision to deny such a proponent of peace should continue to be an embarassment to SA until it provides him with a visa.
Since the issue is decidedly closed, politically, that is, it is pointless to substantively refute your theoretical speculation, better delusion, about the power of the "international community," and since you will be well-advised to refrain from irresponsible averments of our lack of understanding---a delusion, we hasten to add---it is best we end this post now, before this ultra limpid thread becomes hot.
Wow. I don't know where you people comes form . I do not care if you are white or African. Normally Africans are just like the Chinese. We suffer under white western invasion and exploitation.
You may be western educated there by you have a thing about he white being superior to the colored.
"Dala Lama" is a title that was given by Chinese government for eons to a religious head in Tibet (much like a knighthood from England's queen) and method of his appointment is clearly written in Tibetan text. As a westerner or a western inclined writer you may not know the reality and facts of Chinese religion.
So go do some research before you repeat western lies. These lies are indented to degrade the Chinese to stop its advance. (The west hated the ultra high quality of the Beijing Olympic)
Learn from fellow Africans who has studied in China. In China black Africans are treated as equal to the Whites. That is why many white in China are angered.
Go get the fact for yourself. Don't just repeat lies.
By the way China is acting to bar Dala Lama from ever going back to China. That is why he is applying to become an Indian. His title "Dala Lama will be stripped from him soon by Chinese government.