Dharamsala, November 21: The Dalai Lama Visit Trust New Zealand has urged the country’s Prime Minister John Key to keep his pre-election promise to meet the exiled Tibetan leader.
Mr Key said on Wednesday he would not meet the Dalai Lama when he comes to Auckland early next month because there “is no particular reason” to do so.
However, Thupten Kesang, chairman of the Dalai Lama trust, said yesterday: “The reason is for him to keep his promise.”
Despite saying New Zealand had not been asked by the Chinese Government not to meet the Tibetan leader, Mr Key said he told President Hu Jintao at the Apec summit in Singapore last week that he would not be meeting the Dalai Lama.
“They must have been discussing the visit when they met in Singapore, and I am absolutely sure Chinese pressure has everything to do with the Prime Minister’s decision,” New Zealand Herald reported Mr Kesang as saying.
Parliament was told yesterday that Mr Key had sought advice on foreign policy consequences of meeting the Dalai Lama before deciding not to, according to the report.
Green MP Keith Locke said the refusal to meet the Tibetan monk was an “unofficial boycott”.
While announcing his decision not to meet the Dalai Lama on Wednesday, Mr Key said he did not believe it would be seen as kowtowing to the Chinese, as President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had also decided not to meet the Dalai Lama.
Mr Locke at the time said Mr Key’s decision sent the wrong signal to the Chinese government.
“It is just giving China a signal that we’re not serious about helping the Tibetan people in their hour of need,” Mr Locke told NZPA.
“It contrasts greatly with John Key’s position in opposition, when he did meet the Dalai Lama.
“Now he is in government and has some power and ability to influence the situation, he’s backing off,” Locke said.
When the Dalai Lama was last in New Zealand in 2007, Key was leader of the opposition and “dropped in” on a meeting between the Tibetan leader and his National Party foreign affairs spokesman, now minister, Murray McCully.
The Dalai Lama is due to visit New Zealand on December 5 and 6, and meeting the Dalai Lama usually draws vehement protests from China.
