Dharamsala, October 3 – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will not meet the Dalai Lama during the latter’s visit to Australia in December. “The Prime Minister has met with the Dalai Lama in the past, however, will not be meeting with him on this visit,” a spokesman for the PM said in a statement. Last year the Dalai Lama was met by senior representatives of the government and that will also happen on this visit, the statement further said.
Rudd met the Tibetan leader while in opposition but has not met him since becoming Prime Minister.
The decision has caused “disappointment” to Tibetans and supporters not just in Australia but also in other parts of the world. Australia Tibet Council’s Paul Bourke said, “China makes their views known on the Dalai Lama wherever he goes. Generally they would bring pressure on any government leader not to meet him.”
“However, the Prime Minister has spoken strongly on the Tibetan issue in the past and we think it is appropriate that he meets with the Dalai Lama … (and encourages) negotiations between the Tibetans and the Chinese government,” Bourke added.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ will be on his third visit to Australia in three years.
Ties between Australia and China soured after the collapse of the $US19.5 billion alliance between Rio Tinto and Chinalco in June and arrest of four Rio employees, including Australian Stern Hu.
Australia further irked China recently by granting visa to Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer.
The Tibetan leader will give teachings and lectures in Australia and New Zealand between December 1 and 10, 2009.
