Dalai Lama calls off South Africa visit

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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday called off his visit to South Africa, where he was invited by his ‘close friend’ and fellow Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, his office said here.

"His Holiness was to depart for South Africa from October 6 but visas have not been granted yet," the Dalai Lama's office said in a statement.

"We are, therefore, now convinced that for whatever reason or reasons, the South African government finds it inconvenient to issue visa to the Dalai Lama," it said.

Two years back too, the elderly monk was refused a visa by the South Africa government as it has close ties with China. He was to attend a peace conference there.

The Dalai Lama's office said he has been invited to South Africa by a number of universities and organisations, including Stellenbosch University, the Tutu Centre and the Mahatma Gandhi Trust to give public talks, deliver Bishop Tutu's 80th birth anniversary inaugural lecture and to receive the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation.

"The visa applications for the Dalai Lama and the entourage members were submitted to the South African High Commission in New Delhi at the end of August and original passports were submitted Sep 20, over two weeks ago," said the statement.

It said the Dalai Lama had cancelled his visit because he "does not want to create any inconveniences to anyone, individuals or governments" in his work, but that he "regrets the inconveniences caused to his hosts and the large number of South African public".

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet during a failed uprising in 1959. He favours ‘greater autonomy’ for Tibetans rather than complete independence.

Chinese leaders have, in fact, called him a separatist who wants Tibet to secede from China.