The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet’s Bhuddists, makes a rare visit to Canada this spring. He will be receiving honourary university degrees from Toronto and UBC and will participate in a series of conferences and tributes.
But so far, there’s no indication that the federal Liberal government is going to officially recognize the Nobel Peace laureate, who has been one of the world’s most respected religious leaders for four decades.
It would be another black mark on this country if the Dalai Lama receives the same treatment as he did on his last visit here. In 1990, then-prime minister Brian Mulroney wouldn’t meet him. The federal External Affairs Department tried to excuse the PM’s snub by stating that the Dalai Lama was not an invited head of state or on an official visit to Canada.
(Those rules weren’t followed in the case African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela, who met with Mulroney and addressed Parliament.)
In the past, Ottawa’s reluctance to acknowledge the Dalai Lama seems to have been based more on fears of offending China than concerns about following protocol.
China occupied Tibet in 1950 and nine years later, suppressed an uprising by Tibetans who sought independence. This resulted in the Dalai Lama and 120,000 of his followers fleeing the country for what has since developed into a lifelong exile. China has routinely squelched any attempt by the Tibetans to seek autonomy and religious freedom.
It’s time for Canada to officially recognize the Dalai Lama. Other world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush, have been willing to meet the spiritual leader, irrespective of China’s constant pleas to ignore him.
One way for Canada to acknowledge the importance of the Dalai Lama would be to give him the opportunity to address Parliament. Prime Minister Martin plans to extend this courtesy to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan later this year and the Dalai Lama is certainly a greater symbol of tolerance and rights than is the UN.
A chance to address Parliament would send a clear message that the federal government and Canadian citizens support religious freedom and the Dalai Lama’s campaign to reclaim his country from the clutches of communism.
