The Dalai Lama reiterated the religious purpose of his trip prior to his arrival in Taiwan last night following an invitation from the heads of seven southern Taiwan cities and counties to host Dharma sermons for victims of Typhoon Morakot, which killed hundreds of people.
The visit marks the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader’s third trip to Taiwan. He first visited Taiwan in 1997 and again in 2001.
Upon arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the Dalai Lama was to immediately board a high-speed train for Kaohsiung. As the Dalai Lama and his staff were scheduled to arrive after the high-speed railway’s last train from Taipei departed at 10:12pm, the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the de facto representative office of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Taiwan, applied for a special train service, which was paid for by the foundation.
Prior to his departure for Taiwan from New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Dalai Lama issued a three-point statement, reiterating that his trip had nothing to do with politics or any political group.
Stressing that the main purpose of his visit was to console surviving victims of Morakot and release the souls of those killed in the disaster from their suffering, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner said he had not considered anything other than praying for blessings and well-being for Taiwanese.
More than 200 people, including members from the Taiwan Friends of Tibet, Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association and Guts United, Taiwan, gathered at the airport to welcome the Tibetan spiritual leader.
According to an itinerary originally publicized by the Kaohsiung City Government, the Dalai Lama’s public activities would start with an international press conference today in Kaohsiung before setting out for the typhoon-affected area, including Kaohsiung County’s Jiasian (甲仙) and Meinong (美濃) townships.
However, the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness The Dalai Lama yesterday afternoon said the press conference had been canceled, even though reporters from some 130 local and foreign news organizations had signed up to cover it.
Tsegyam Ngaba, secretary-general to the Dalai Lama’s Office, said the press conference was canceled because Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) had “strongly” suggested that the Dalai Lama spend more time visiting disaster areas.
While Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) denied she had asked the foundation to cancel the media conference, saying she and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) had merely exchanged opinions on whether the Dalai Lama should visit typhoon victims or hold the press conference first, Wang said he had suggested to Chen canceling the press conference to avoid politicizing the visit.
Wang said he made the suggestion in a bid to keep the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit simple as the media was bound to ask “sensitive questions” at the press conference.
“This is a simple religious visit. There would not be any problem if you [reporters] refrain from raising political questions [at the press conference], but it is impossible for you [reporters] to do so,” Wang told reporters on his way to a religious ceremony in Taipei.
But Wang dismissed media speculation that he was afraid the Dalai Lama’s visit might upset China.
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