MINNESOTA February 27: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is currently on a three-week visit to the United States will be celebrating the Tibetan New Year here in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 2, his first outside his adopted home India since coming into exile 55 years ago.
Sources say that Mark Dayton, governor of Minnesota, has turned down an invitation to join the exiled leader on the first day of the Tibetan New Year citing health reasons. The newly elected Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, will accompany the Dalai Lama on the Tibetan New Year celebrations organized by the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. The mayor will read “the Tibet Day proclamation in honour of the Dalai Lama and Tibet” during the celebrations.
A day before the Tibetan New Year, the Tibetan spiritual leader will speak at the 26th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum organized by the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Augsburg college in St Paul, the capital city of Minnesota.
The Tibetan leader will meet with around 270 Chinese students and take questions on various issues including the Middle Way Approach policy of the Tibetan administration, according to Ngawang Chime, a member of the organizing committee. His Holiness regularly meets with Chinese people, especially students, during his visits to various countries.
China often calls the Nobel Peace laureate a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and accuse him of seeking “disguised independence” through the policy of middle way approach.
Beijing warns world leaders against meeting the Tibetan leader saying it opposes any meddling into “China’s internal affairs.” However, US president Barack Obama last Friday met the Tibetan spiritual leader in the White House, and sat for about an hour discussing range of issues.
submitted by Tendar Tsering in Minnesota.
